USC’s offensive line will face a significant challenge as the Trojans prepare to take on Wisconsin on the road Saturday, following a key victory over Penn State and a subsequent bye week. Head coach Lincoln Riley emphasized the consistency and steadiness of the group under offensive line coach Zach Hanson, noting that the players feed off Hanson’s reliable approach.
The Trojans enter the second half of their schedule with their offensive front as healthy as it has been all season. All five starting linemen will be available, including Paige and left guard Hayden Treter, who has not played in the last two games. This return comes at a crucial time as USC prepares to contend with one of the Big Ten’s top pass rushers, Wisconsin senior Sebastian Cheeks. Cheeks leads the conference with 28 quarterback pressures, although Wisconsin’s defense has surrendered just eight sacks this season.
USC’s offensive line has been notably effective in protecting quarterback Jayden Maiava through seven games, conceding only seven sacks and yielding 29 combined pressures—just one more than Cheeks has generated individually this year. “We’re a unit,” center Tobias Raymond said, highlighting the cohesion of the line. Right tackle Justin Tauanuu added that the team used the bye week to revisit fundamental techniques, a vital approach given the coming challenges against Wisconsin’s and other Big Ten pass rushers.
Maiava’s protection has played an essential role in his success this season. He has faced pressure on just over 20% of his dropbacks, a figure that ranks tenth nationally and represents a significant improvement over recent USC seasons under Riley, where the lowest previously was 30.5%. While Maiava’s quick release aids his performance when under duress, statistics show a sharp contrast in his effectiveness: he completes 79% of passes when unpressured compared to just 39% under pressure.
In addition to protecting the quarterback, USC’s offensive line faces criticism for its less effective run blocking this season. The Trojans currently rank ninth in the Big Ten in rushing yards per attempt (4.33) and tenth in runs of 20 yards or more, which coach Riley acknowledges is an area requiring improvement. “We’re going to need to run the ball better. Good is not good enough for us,” Riley said.
The offensive line’s present stability contrasts with earlier seasons, where Riley initially sought to improve the unit through the transfer portal with uneven results. The position group suffered from injuries and limited depth, including the loss of last year’s starting center Kilian O’Connor to a season-ending injury. However, the foundation Hanson has built in recent years is now bearing fruit, with healthy starters and promising young players, such as five-star freshman Keenyi Pepe, progressing on the depth chart.
Riley emphasized the homegrown nature of the group, noting the lack of reliance on transfers and the importance of Hanson’s role in assembling and developing a young, healthy, and cohesive offensive line heading into the crucial part of the season.