USC secured a dominant 39-0 victory over Fresno State on Friday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, marking the Trojans' first shutout of the 2024 season. The win improved USC’s record to 2-0, highlighting significant improvements on both sides of the ball after a shaky finish in their previous game.

Freshman running back Trent Mosley was a standout performer, rushing for 104 yards and scoring two touchdowns, both coming in the second quarter. Mosley’s breakout play was a 68-yard touchdown reception, thrown by quarterback Jayden Maiava, who delivered a near-perfect performance by completing 23 of 25 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Maiava has now completed 48 of 54 attempts through two games, an accuracy rate that has drawn praise from teammates like wide receiver Corey Simms.

While USC’s offense excelled, it was the defense, led by coordinator Gary Patterson, that set the tone from the outset. After allowing 23 points in the fourth quarter against San José State last week, the Trojans’ defense completely stifled Fresno State, holding the Bulldogs to just 56 yards going into the final drive. The defense did not allow a single first down or yard in the second and third quarters, surrendering just one completed pass during that span.

Patterson’s defensive strategy, particularly his use of the nickel blitz, created significant pressure on Fresno State quarterback Jayden Mandal. The Trojans recorded four sacks overall, including two safeties within one quarter—one from defensive back Kennedy Urlacher and another from sophomore Alex Graham. Both safeties came from well-timed blitzes that caught the Bulldogs unprepared deep in their own end zone.

Despite struggling with the running game—USC averaged under four yards per carry and lost a fumble by leading rusher Waymond Jordan—the offense did not rely heavily on ground production thanks to Maiava’s efficiency and wide receivers Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, who had 102 yards on six receptions.

Fresno State mounted some resistance late in the game, gaining 60 yards on their final drive and advancing to USC’s eight-yard line. However, the Trojans’ defense held firm, bringing down Mandal on a fourth-down sack to end the game. The victory showcased USC’s potential on defense and offense as they look to maintain momentum throughout the season.