USC can't afford an early slip up at home against feisty Fresno State team

The USC Trojans host in-state rival Fresno State this week, looking to secure a 2-0 start to the season before most teams have even played their opener. Following a dominant performance against San Jose State, USC aims to capitalize on this unique Friday night spotlight to maintain their early season momentum.

The Trojans return to the Coliseum for the second of three consecutive home games to open the 2026 campaign. Under Lincoln Riley, the team has been dominant at home since joining the Big Ten, boasting an undefeated record that dates back to November 2024.

USC faces a motivated Fresno State squad under the Friday night lights

This Friday night, the Trojans face a slightly more formidable opponent in Fresno State, led by head coach Matt Entz. From a talent perspective, USC should control the game, and the final outcome should never be in doubt. While Fresno State consistently produces competent offenses capable of finding the end zone, the game's flow will likely hinge on how USC manages its personnel.

Similar to the San Jose State opener, if the Trojans build a comfortable halftime lead, I expect them to empty the bench. However, it is also possible that the staff keeps the starters on the field longer to build continuity and momentum before the conference schedule ramps up later this month.

During the win against San Jose State, USC opted for a conservative approach, utilizing basic run concepts and standard passing progressions while keeping the defensive scheme relatively vanilla. Given the comfortable nature of that victory, I anticipate the coaching staff will open up the playbook a bit more this week.

Look for more defensive stunts, diverse blocking schemes, and increased variety in the passing game as the staff looks to put Maiava in the best possible position to distribute the ball to his playmakers on the perimeter.

I expect the Trojans to win by multiple scores and continue building upon their performance from Week Zero. USC is the more talented team in this matchup and while Fresno State has historically played them tough, the Trojans simply possess too much firepower for the Bulldogs to contain.

Score Prediction: USC 38, Fresno State 17

Nicholas Burmood has been covering USC Athletics on Reign of Troy since 2025. Follow Nick on X @FightOnNick

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