LOS ANGELES – Luke Weaver completed 21-of-32 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with 42 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown to lead San José State football (0-1, 0-0 MW) to a 42-26 season-opening loss to No. 14 USC (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) on Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

USC controlled the opening half, scoring on four of its first five possessions to take a 28-0 lead at the break. San José State’s best first-half opportunity came on a 14-play, 66-yard drive in the second quarter, but the Trojans stopped the Spartans on fourth down at the USC 9-yard line.

The Spartans broke through midway through the third quarter. A 42-yard highlight completion from Weaver to Carson Clark sparked a 69-yard drive that ended with Trajan Sinatra’s 22-yard field goal.

In the fourth quarter, Weaver connected with Jerry McClure for a 28-yard touchdown on the first play of the period, then found Kamaehu Kopa-Kaawalauole for the two-point conversion.

After USC answered to make it 42-11, the Spartans responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive. Weaver completed a 21-yard pass to Anthony Ivey before finding Jordan Anderson for a 3-yard touchdown with 5:11 remaining.

Naseri Danielson then intercepted USC quarterback Jonas Williams and returned the ball six yards to the Trojans’ 35. Three plays later, Weaver scored on a 7-yard run and completed another two-point conversion, this time to Cooper Hoch, to close the scoring.

McClure and Clark led the San José State receiving corps with six catches apiece. Clark finished with a team-high 74 yards, while McClure collected 68 yards and a touchdown. Jabari Bates paced the running backs with 37 yards on 11 carries.

Danielson recorded a team-high 10 tackles and the Spartans’ lone takeaway. Caleb Womack and Ethan Powell added eight tackles apiece, while Dylan Lee and John Norwood each registered a sack.

San José State finished with 336 yards of total offense, committed no turnovers and was penalized just once. The Spartans outscored the Trojans 23-7 and produced 119 yards in the fourth quarter.

San José State scored 23 fourth-quarter points and finished with three consecutive touchdown drives and four consecutive scoring drives
The Spartans generated 221 yards after halftime
The Spartans went 2-for-2 on two point conversions
Weaver’s 42 rushing yards set a new career-high, and he also notched his first career rushing touchdown
Clark led the Spartans with 74 receiving yards in his first career collegiate game as a true freshman
Anderson’s touchdown was the first of his career
McClure’s touchdown was also the first of his career
This was the first time the Spartans did not turn the ball over since the Spartans defeated Hawai’i on Nov. 1, 2025
Dominique McKenzie recorded his first career reception on an 18-yard strike in the second quarter
Ivey notched a career-high 34 receiving yards, and his reception of 21 yards was a career-long
The Spartans had six players with six or more tackles
Danielson’s 10 tackles set a new career-high
Danielson’s interception was also the first of his career
Lee’s seven tackles also set a new career-high, and he recorded the first sack of his career
Norwood’s sack was the second of his career
Powell tied his career-high with eight tackles and also tallied a tackle-for-loss
Womack also set a career-high with eight tackles
Tuli Tagovailoa-Amosa had six tackles in his first-ever game as a safety
Sinatra was perfect on the day, making a 22-yard field goal and knocking through his lone PAT attempt
The Spartans limited USC to just one sack for a loss of one yard
The Spartans have racked up 100 yards rushing in back-to-back games against USC, with 102 today and 198 in 2023

UP NEXT: The Spartans will face Eastern Michigan on Friday, Sept. 4, from Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Mich., at 3:30 p.m. PT.  Watch the game on ESPN+ and listen on the SJSU Spartans Sports Media Network.

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