USC football scores 73 in season-opening rout of Missouri State

LOS ANGELES — USC scored six rushing touchdowns in a 73-13 season opener win on Saturday against Missouri State, which was playing in its first game as an FBS team and member of Conference USA.

It’s the first time USC scored over 50 points in a game since beating California 50-49 in 2023.

The Trojans (1-0) finished with 233 rushing yards, and the defense held the Bears (0-1) to 224 total yards of offense.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava went 15-for-18 in the game with 295 yards and two touchdowns.

Missouri State scored its only touchdown of the game on a 33-yard pass from Jacob Clark to Tristian Gardner. Yousef Obeid made two field goals of 44 and 46 yards.

Waymond Jordan (42 yards) was the first USC running back to carry the ball, as Riley previously indicated would happen, and did not squander the opportunity.

Maiava handed the ball to Jordan on a second-and-4 on the Trojans’ second series of the game, and the former JUCO star smoothly weaved through defenders for a 26-yard run that placed the ball at the 5-yard line.

Jordan punched the ball in from five yards out for USC’s first touchdown of the day and a 7-3 lead with 6:58 remaining in the first quarter.

Eli Sanders (33 yards) had a run nearly as long with a 17-yard scamper later in the opening quarter. USC continued to rotate in players and a third running back, Bryan Jackson, entered the game on the next play for a 3-yard touchdown run.

Sanders appeared to be more of a downhill runner compared to Jordan and also caught a short pass from Maiava and ran it in 74 yards for a touchdown and returned punts for USC in the second quarter.

USC balanced out its rushing attack with Maiava’s passing to build a 42-10 lead by halftime. He plopped a shot pass over the heads of the linemen and into the hands of tight end Lake McRee, who took off for a 64-yard touchdown to open the second quarter.

McRee finished with two catches for 72 yards. Starting receivers Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon were also major contributors — Lane had three catches for 33 yards and Lemon had seven catches for 90 yards.

Bishop Fitzgerald was one of the top defensive performers of the day with four total tackles and a pass breakup in addition to a 19-yard pick-six. He read the Bears’ passing play and ran in front of slot receiver Dash Luke for an interception that was returned for a touchdown and a 28-3 lead in the second quarter.

Freshman backup quarterback Husan Longstreet came into the game in the second half and scored on a five-yard quarterback sneak with 10:26 remaining in the third quarter.

The Trojans added four touchdowns in the second half on Longstreet’s run, a 75-yard rush by running back King Miller, another 17-yard rush by Longstreet and a 9-yard pass from Longstreet to Carson Tabaracci. Ryon Sayeri also hit a 32-yard field goal.

Sayeri, another freshman, was responsible for kickoffs, field goals and PATs and went 8-for-8 on PATs.

USC will play one more nonconference game against Georgia Southern, which is coached by former Trojans head coach Clay Helton, before beginning its Big Ten slate at Purdue on Sept. 13.