Fresno State’s entrée to the Pac-12 and the 2026 season opened with a thud Friday as No. 14 USC rolled to a 39-0 victory at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Bulldogs were held to 39 rushing yards and 77 passing yards while USC quarterback Jayden Maiava carved up Fresno State’s defense for 349 yards and three touchdowns, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The big picture: Fresno State never advanced beyond USC’s 39-yard line and finished with nine first downs.
USC accumulated 552 yards, recorded 27 first downs and held the ball for nearly 39 minutes. Fresno State converted just two of 10 third-down attempts and averaged 2.6 yards per play, according to the official game statistics.
Driving the news: The Trojans scored on their opening possession, marching 82 yards before Maiava found Tanook Hines for an eight-yard touchdown.
Fresno State kept the deficit at seven points through the first quarter, but USC broke the game open with 23 points in the second.
Maiava connected with freshman Trent Mosley for a 68-yard touchdown.
USC safety Kennedy Urlacher sacked Bulldogs quarterback Jayden Mandal in the end zone for a safety.
Mosley caught his second touchdown from nine yards out.
Waymond Jordan scored on a two-yard run shortly before halftime, giving USC a 30-0 lead.
USC added another safety in the third quarter when Alex Graham brought Mandal down in the end zone. Deshonne Redeaux closed the scoring with a five-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
By the numbers: Maiava completed 23 of 25 passes without an interception and played only one series after halftime.
Mosley caught four passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt added six receptions for 102 yards, giving USC two 100-yard receivers.
Urlacher led the Trojans’ defensive effort with two sacks, a forced fumble and one of USC’s two safeties. Prophet Brown also intercepted Mandal during the first half, according to USC Athletics.
For the Bulldogs: Mandal completed seven of 15 passes for 77 yards in his second collegiate start.
Rayshon Luke led Fresno State with 21 rushing yards, while Harold Duvall caught two passes for a team-high 34 yards.
The Bulldogs’ defense forced two fumbles and stopped USC on downs once, but Fresno State’s offense could not turn those opportunities into points.
What they’re saying: Head coach Matt Entz offered a blunt assessment after his team’s first game against a ranked opponent during his Fresno State tenure.
“I know we’re a better football team than this, and this is unacceptable,” Entz said, according to CBS Sports.
What’s next: Fresno State returns home Sept. 12 to host Sacramento State at Valley Children’s Stadium.
USC improved to 2-0 and will host Louisiana next week.