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Dec 30, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) carries the ball against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second half during the Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n
But becoming a College Football Playoff-caliber team won’t start in Week 4 when the Trojans host the No. 2 Oregon Ducks. Instead, it starts in Week 0, where the Trojans must accomplish more than what’s expected to be the first “W” on their record.<\/p>\n
The Trojans must show they can take that first step against San Jos\u00e9 State, with this game having the potential to set the tone and lay the foundation for everything that comes next.<\/p>\n
How to WatchDate: Saturday, August 29Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. PT \/ 3:00 p.m. ETLocation: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum \u2014 Los Angeles, CaliforniaTV: NBCAnnouncers: Noah Eagle, Todd Blackledge and Kathryn Tappen<\/p>\n
Fans can stream the matchup on Peacock, the NBC Sports App and NBCSports.com, as well as through live TV streaming services such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.<\/p>\n
Betting Odds:<\/p>\n
DraftKings Sportsbook lines<\/a> for USC vs. San Jos\u00e9 State:<\/p>\n Spread: USC -38.5 (-105) | San Jos\u00e9 State +38.5 (-115)Over\/Under: 60.5 (-110)Moneyline: USC -9900 | San Jos\u00e9 State +2400Preview:<\/p>\n The Trojans open the 2026 season Saturday against San Jos\u00e9 State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, beginning one of the most anticipated seasons in recent USC history. Ranked No. 14 in both the AP Poll and USA Today Coaches Poll, USC enters the year with an FBS-leading number of returning starters and the No. 1 freshman class in the country.<\/p>\n San Jos\u00e9 State, on the other hand, enters unranked with nothing to lose.<\/p>\n Dec 30, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Tanook Hines (16) gestures after a reception against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second half during the Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n On paper, this is a game USC should win comfortably. The Trojans are 6-0 all-time against the Spartans, with every meeting taking place at the Coliseum. USC also won the teams’ most recent matchup 56-28 back in 2023.<\/p>\n The history does not exactly suggest a dramatic Week 0 matchup, but the circumstances surrounding this USC team make Saturday more important than just a win.<\/p>\n Lincoln Riley enters his fifth season at USC without a College Football Playoff appearance. The Trojans went 9-4 last season after opening the year unranked, then climbed all the way to No. 14 entering 2026.<\/p>\n Saturday gives USC its first opportunity to show that the changes made during the offseason can translate into a stronger team. One of the biggest changes is Hall of Fame coach Gary Patterson taking over as defensive coordinator after USC allowed 34.4 points per game in 2023 before improving to 24.1 last season.<\/p>\n Nov 22, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Tanook Hines (16) celebrates scoring a touch down with wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane (8) during the first quarter at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n The defense has made some progress statistically, but San Jos\u00e9 State will provide an early test after scoring 28 points and gaining 396 total yards against USC in the teams’ 2023 meeting. A cleaner performance in 2026 would be an encouraging first look at Patterson’s unit.<\/p>\n Then, of course, there is the No. 1 freshman class. USC has enough veteran talent that its freshmen will not be asked to carry the team Saturday, but Week 0 gives the coaching staff a chance to see which young players can earn meaningful roles. Mark Bowman, Trent Mosley, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Keenyi Pepe, Luke Wafle, Talanoa Ili, Jaimeon Winfield and Elbert Hill IV are among the freshmen who could see opportunities.<\/p>\n At the center of it all is Jayden Maiava. The redshirt senior returns after a breakout 2025 season in which he led the nation with a 91.2 QBR, threw for 3,711 yards and 24 touchdowns and started all 13 games for the Trojans.<\/p>\n San Jos\u00e9 State has several connections to the USC roster, too. Spartans safety Maliki Crawford previously played at USC, and San Jos\u00e9 State wide receiver Anthony Ivey was teammates with USC defensive lineman Zuriah Fisher at Penn State. Several other players on both rosters also share high school ties throughout Southern California.<\/p>\n Prediction:<\/p>\n The expectation is clear: USC should and will win this game.<\/p>\n For a program entering 2026 with CFP expectations, however, the first step matters. The final score will tell one part of the story. How USC gets there will tell us much more about what this season has in store.<\/a><\/p>\n Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.<\/p>\n Sign up to our free newsletter <\/a>and follow us on Facebook<\/a>, and X<\/a> for the latest news. <\/p>\n![\"USC](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/01m102zw9rqa6th8j4a5.jpg\" "\\"USC")
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