Twenty-eight to nothing at the break
Half-time on Saturday, San Jose State had not scored. Southern California had 28. The game finished 42-26, which is the kind of final score that lies about what happened.
Jayden Maiava did most of the damage in what amounted to 45 minutes of work: 25-of-29 through the air for 286 yards, two touchdowns thrown and one run in himself. Completing 86 percent of your passes in a season opener is not normal, and the Trojans led 35-3 after three quarters before the reserves let the margin shrink.
Now the 14th-ranked Trojans host Fresno State on Friday in Los Angeles, and the Bulldogs arrive knowing exactly who they are dealing with.
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Matt Entz used to work here
Fresno State’s head coach spent time on Lincoln Riley’s staff coaching linebackers, and his stint overlapped with the moment Maiava took over the starting job midway through 2024. Entz got that job after winning two FCS national titles at North Dakota State, in 2019 and 2021.
“Everybody knows Jayden, when you talk about being a Heisman candidate and one of the best players in the country coming back at that position,” Entz said on CBS47 Fresno’s Ultimate Insider programme.
He returned to head coaching last season and took Fresno State to 9-4 on the back of a defence that conceded 18.8 points a game. The pass defence was the standout: 153.8 yards allowed per game in 2025, second in the country behind Ohio State’s 129.7. Riley brought that number up himself on Trojans Live on Monday.
“They did a good job eliminating explosive plays and yards after the catch,” Riley said.
Jahzon Jacks, who led the nation with four fumble recoveries last year, is back on the line. So is linebacker K’vion Thunderbird.
First snap in a rebuilt Pac-12
Fresno State have not played yet this season, and Friday brings their first competitive snap under the Pac-12 banner. They left the Mountain West alongside Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State and Utah State, joining former Sun Belt member Texas State and the two holdovers, Oregon State and Washington State. USC, for their part, are in year three of Big Ten membership.
Jayden Mandal was named the Week 1 starter on Monday. The Clovis native attempted nine passes in 2024, made one start, then missed all of 2025 with arm and shoulder injuries. Entz said timing, accuracy and ball security separated him from Maryland transfer Khristian Martin after a fall camp in which the staff kept metrics on everything.
USC’s freshman receiver Trent Mosley caught seven balls for 118 yards and a touchdown on debut. Fresno State’s secondary gets its first read on him early.
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