It was Week 0 for USC football.

For the poor San Jose State Spartans, it was more like ground zero.

Say what you want about Trojans coach Lincoln Riley, still vying for that College Football Playoff breakthrough going into Year 5, but he knows how to pour it on against overmatched teams in season openers.

He’s now a crisp 10-0 as a head coach going back to his Oklahoma days after No. 14 USC made quick work of the Spartans at a sweltering Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.

The Trojans methodically drove for a touchdown on the game’s opening possession and barely let up from there except for a few second-half hiccups on the way to a 42-26 triumph that wasn’t nearly as close as the score indicated.

The biggest nuisance for USC – besides its late letup after leading 28-0 at halftime – might have been the late August heat, an old-fashioned temperature dial near the peristyle end of the stadium hovering uncomfortably close to 100 degrees at kickoff for the announced crowd of 51,144.

A new season gave rise to a fresh set of faces, with one quickly emerging as a possible superstar.

True freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley was a force to behold catching passes and returning punts, his reliable hands continually pulling in passes that were a bit off the mark.

While he put up big numbers, completing 25 of 29 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns, USC quarterback Jayden Maiava did not live up to his billing in the team’s game notes, which described him as “the nation’s best quarterback.” That remains to be seen after Maiava struggled with his touch on more than a handful of passes, his receivers often saving him with tremendous catches.

With USC leading big entering the fourth quarter, Maiava gave way to top backup Jonas Williams. He had earned the rest of the day off.

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What it means

Notwithstanding some late-game sloppiness, it was a convincing opening statement for the Trojans across the board.

Their offense produced 505 yards and their defense was in lockdown mode until things got out of hand, holding San Jose State to 334 yards in a promising debut for defensive coordinator Gary Patterson. The Spartans managed just 102 yars of offense in the first half and didn’t score a touchdown until early in the fourth quarter.

Turning point

After falling behind, 14-0, San Jose State could have made things interesting early in the second quarter.

A Spartans offense that hadn’t done much of anything finally put together an impressive drive, reaching the red zone. But on fourth and one at the Trojans’ seven-yard line, USC defensive tackle Jide Abasiri stuffed running back Isaiah Carlson for a two-yard loss.

The Trojans tacked on two more touchdowns before halftime and that was that.

MVP: USC’s Trent Mosley

The Trojans started three true freshman wide receivers and a true freshman tight end, but one stood out above the rest.

Mosley broke multiple tackles on a 41-yard punt return and stretched his arms into the air to haul in a 20-yard pass from Maiava that initially appeared as if it was going to be overthrown.

He kept making big plays, including a 14-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter, before finishing with seven catches for 118 yards in a performance that should add him to every watch list for national awards involving freshmen.

Up next

USC is bound for a short turnaround, with a game against Fresno State coming up Friday evening at the Coliseum. That means the Trojans will have played two games before most teams kick off their season.