LOS ANGELES — The 2026 season for Lincoln Riley and No. 14 Southern California starts off on the right foot.
USC had little trouble in the Week 0 Golden State affair, comfortably beating San Jose State 42-26 on Saturday, Aug. 29 to begin the campaign 1-0.
The Trojans came out hot right out of the gate, scoring on its opening drive to start the wire-to-wire victory in what was a great day for the offense. Quarterback Jayden Maiava got his Heisman Trophy campaign off on the right foot, throwing for 286 yards and two touchdowns on 25-for-29 passing, as well as running it in for the score. With the rushing game also succeeding, USC accounted for 479 total yards.
San Jose State was limited for most of the day, but was able to generate offense in the second half to show some glimpses of good play. It mostly came from quarterback Luke Weaver, who threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns, while leading the running game with 42 yards and an additional score.
With the win, Lincoln Riley is now 5-0 in season openers at USC, and starts a highly-anticipated season on the right foot in what's expected to be a big year for the Trojans.
USA TODAY Sports for live score, highlights and more from USC vs. San Jose State.
This section will be updated throughout the game.
| TEAM |
1Q |
2Q |
3Q |
4Q |
SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USC |
7 |
21 |
7 |
7 |
42 |
| San Jose State |
0 |
0 |
3 |
23 |
26 |
Refresh the page for the latest updates .
06:08 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
The Spartans offense doesn't quit, making the score much closer than what the fourth quarter began. After an interception, quarterback Luke Weaver scrambles in for a 7-yard touchdown run. The San Jose State converts the two-point conversion to cap off a valiant effort from the team in the fourth quarter.
Weaver has accounted for all three San Jose State scores, and although it may be too late for a comeback, a positive sign for the Spartans.
05:52 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
The Spartans continue to play through the game, going down the field again for its second touchdown of the day. Luke Weaver tossed it to Jordan Anderson from three yards out and it's a 42-18 game with 5:11 left in the contest.
05:36 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
The offense continues to play exceptionally well even with the starters out, going 75 yards down the field in 10 plays for another touchdown.
Backup quarterback Jonas Williams looked great in his college debut, throwing for 47 yards on 4-for-5 passing to get USC deep in San Jose State territory. From there, freshman running back Shahn Alston runs it in for a 1-yard score to make it 42-11 with 9:42 left in the game.
05:31 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
Even with the San Jose State score, Lincoln Riley feels comfortable enough to pull his starting quarterback. It was a big day for Jayden Maiava, throwing for 286 yards with two touchdowns, as well as a rushing score.
Now in the game is freshman Jonas Williams. The Chicago native had been competing with senior Sam Huard for the backup role.
05:29 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
The Spartans aren't quitting, opening the fourth quarter with a touchdown and two-point conversion to add eight points.
On the first play of the quarter, Luke Weaver found Jerry McClure running down all by himself for a 28-yard touchdown. The offense stayed on the field, and Weaver rolled to his right and found Kamaehu Kopa-Kaawalauole for the extra two points.
USC now leads 35-11 with 14:56 left.
05:26 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
Just 15 minutes remain of what's been a satisfying day for USC, on its way to another season opening win.
San Jose State was able to get points with a field goal, but the Trojans responded with a touchdown that just about sealed the result in the Week 0 game. USC has enjoyed success on the ground and the air, with Jayden Maiava throwing for 286 yards with the rushing attack accounting for 118 yards.
Spartans quarterback Luke Weaver has thrown for 159 yards on 16-for-23 passing.
05:18 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
The Trojans are on the scoreboard in the second half, and it's Jayden Maiava finding another freshman receiver. He stays in the pocket and connects with Trent Mosley streaking across the middle of the field for the 14-yard touchdown pass.
It highlights what's already been a big day for both players. Maiava has 286 yards with three total touchdowns, while Mosley has shined with a team-high 118 yards on seven catches.
05:08 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
There will be no shutout in Los Angeles. San Jose State scores with a 22-yard field goal from kicker Trajan Sinatra to get its first points of the season.
The scoring drive was aided by an incredible 42-yard diving catch from Carson Clark that set the Spartans up in USC territory. They were able to get inside the 10-yard line, but for the second time on the day, couldn't find the end zone. San Jose State then opted to take the points instead of going for it on fourth-and-six.
04:57 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
Neither side can get a first down on their opening drive of the third quarter, each resulting in a three-and-out.
04:27 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
USC has been just as hot as the weather in Los Angeles, dominating San Jose State in all phases of the game for a 28-0 lead at the break.
The Trojans have been able to move the ball however it was, with Jayden Maiava throwing for 201 yards, 86 of which have gone to freshman Trent Mosley, and the rushing attack gaining 111 yards on the ground. King Miller leads it for the running back room with 58 yards on 11 carries.
On the opposite side, San Jose State has just 102 total yards and just six first downs. It did get in the red zone in the second quarter, but was stopped on fourth down.
04:23 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
The onslaught continues for USC, scoring another touchdown to make it 28-0 second before the second quarter ends.
USC got the ball at its 20-yard line with 1:44 left and went down the field in a flash, highlighted by Jayden Maiava and freshman receiver Trent Mosley connecting on two big plays to get in the red zone. That allowed the Trojans to not rush things, but King Miller did rush it in from four yards out for the touchdown with 30 seconds left in the half.
04:09 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
The game is in blowout territory, with another Trojan score making it a 21-0 game with just under three minutes left in the first half.
USC had little trouble going 91 yards down the field following the fourth down stop, with Jayden Maiava doing most of the damage with his arm, the best he's looked so far. He found five different players on his seven completion during the drive, capped off by the easy 9-yard strike to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt for the touchdown. Dixon-Wyatt gets his first score of his college career.
Maiava already has 138 yards in the air.
03:59 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
The Spartans took the gamble in the red zone, and USC denies the payoff.
San Jose State had its best drive so far, getting to the USC 7-yard line, facing fourth-and-one. It kept the offense on the field, and after a timeout, got completely stuffed by the Trojan defensive line, with running back Isaiah Carlson getting sent back two yards courtesy of USC's Jide Abasiri.
The ball goes back to USC and San Jose State is still searching for its first score.
03:50 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
It is noticeably emptier than expected for USC's season opener , with huge portions of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum not having many fans.
While you'd expect better from a football team like USC, the game does come as there is an extreme heat advisory in Los Angeles, with the temperature 94 degrees at kick off.
03:48 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
The lead is doubled for the Trojans, opening the second quarter with another score. Riley Wormley runs it in for a 5-yard touchdown, the first college football score for the freshman.
USC's touchdown came after it got great field position, needing eight plays to go 43 yards down the field. The running game continues to be the main source of attack.
03:44 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
It's just a touchdown lead but USC has dominated this game in the first 15 minutes. It scored a touchdown on its opening drive and nearly did on its second, but was stuffed at the goal line. The Trojans are currently driving into the red zone.
The Trojans already have 121 yards on the day, while the Spartans have run just six plays and gained 11 yards.
03:26 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
San Jose State goes three-and-out on its opening drive, and after a 41-yard punt return from Trent Mosley and a penalty from San Jose State, USC is set up in great position at the San Jose State 22-yard line.
However, the Spartan defense holds on and stops USC from scoring.
The Trojans faced fourth down at the 4-yard line and kept the offense on the field. Quarterback Jayden Maiava had all day to throw but couldn't find an open receiver. He tried to scramble and San Jose State Ethan Powell drags him down right at the 1-yard line. SJSU gets the ball back.
03:12 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
The Trojan offense starts off firing, going right down the field in 13 plays to get on the scoreboard in drive No. 1 of the season.
It was the running game that did most of the damage, with the duo of Waymond Jordan and King Miller combining for 56 yards on the drive. On third down at the 1-yard line, quarterback Jayden Maiava sneaks it past the goalie to cap off the six minute drive.
USC leads 7-0 with 8:55 left in the first quarter.
03:02 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
The Trojans receive to kickoff the season.
02:48 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
Start time: 3 p.m. ET | noon PT
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles)
USC and San Jose State starts at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT on Saturday, August 29 from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.
02:19 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
The Spartans will turn to transfer Luke Weaver to lead the offense.
After spending three seasons at Modesto Junior College in California, Weaver spent 2025 with Hawai'i. He didn't earn the starting job out of the gate as a backup to Micah Alejado, but did start two games in place of him of injury. In five games of action, he threw for 628 and three touchdowns.
02:13 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
Maiava enters his third season with USC and he is generating plenty of hype, although he finds it hard to believe where he's at.
That's not something you'd expect from the USC starting quarterback, a spot that has always leaned into LA's glitz and glamour, with Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Caleb Williams proof they never shy away from the Hollywood spotlight.
This is a kid from Pālolo, a neighborhood near Honolulu, just a mile away from the famed Diamond Head crater. To most, living on the island sounds like paradise, especially when he had all seven siblings, uncles and aunts in the area to be with, but it was anything but for Maiava.
"It was a rough neighborhood. Definitely a neighborhood I wouldn't want my own kids to live in," Maiava told USA TODAY Sports. "We faced a lot of adversity, a lot of ups and downs."
So you can imagine as he sits inside USC's brand new $225 million, 163,000 square-foot football facility as the man at the center of a college football blue-blood, it's tough to grasp this reality — especially when your team needs the whole country to know who you are.
The 2026 season is a pivotal one for the Trojans , and it can all hang on Maiava in taking the team to its first College Football Playoff appearance.
- Read more about Maiava here .
02:00 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
It's a hot one in Los Angeles. The temperature at kickoff will be 91 degrees, with a real feel of 99 degrees, according to AccuWeather . That comes as there is a heat advisory in the area in what has been a scorching stretch of weather in Southern California.
01:48 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
USC's lone returning starting receiver Tanook Hines is a game-time decision to play, according to Riley.
Hines had an off-season procedure for an undisclosed injury and missed the majority of fall camp. He had been practicing in recent weeks and is close to being 100%.
01:45 PM ET, August 29 2026
The Trojans are already without center Kilian O'Connor for the season after a leg injury, and they'll be without a key contributor to start 2026.
Defensive lineman Jakeem Stewart will miss the game against San Jose State with a foot injury. It's something he dealt with during his freshman season, and it's lingered into this season; he was recently wearing a boot and using crutches.
Coach Lincoln Riley said ahead of the game he doesn't expect Stewart to miss much time, and expects to have him back for the Week 1 game against Fresno State on Friday, Sept. 4.
01:30 PM ET, August 29 2026
The Trojans are going to want to get out to a fast start, proving early that this team is capable of a playoff run, regardless of who the opponent is. USC's offense is relentless out of the jump to turn this game into a blowout way before halftime, with the defense flexing its muscle a bit, cruising to a victory that sets the tone for 2026.
01:15 PM ET, August 29 2026, Jordan Mendoza
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, Aug. 27
Spread: USC (-39)
Over/under:60.5
Moneyline: USC (N/A); San Jose State (+10000)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USC vs. San Jose State highlights: Trojans cruise past Spartans in Week 0
