{"id":462435,"date":"2026-09-13T09:22:41","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T09:22:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/462435\/"},"modified":"2026-09-13T09:22:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T09:22:41","slug":"trent-mosleys-stellar-season-continues-as-no-14-usc-beats-louisiana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/462435\/","title":{"rendered":"Trent Mosley’s stellar season continues as No. 14 USC beats Louisiana"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At the end of a topsy-turvy Saturday that saw the Big Ten\u2019s top contenders tumble<\/a>, Trent Mosley<\/a> stood just inside USC<\/a>\u2019s 15-yard line, looking skyward.<\/p>\n

By that point, Ohio State had just blown a 20-point, fourth-quarter lead to Texas, and Oregon had, hours earlier, been stunned by Oklahoma State. The path to the top of the Big Ten suddenly seemed open as ever, just as the Trojans\u2019 tremendous freshman caught the punt and took off in search of an opening himself.<\/p>\n

With his stunning start to the season, no one player at USC \u2014 and perhaps in all the nation \u2014 had manufactured more hope through two games. While the conference\u2019s other top teams spent the day licking their wounds, here, once again, was Mosley weaving joyfully through the open field and conjuring the very same magic from thin air. He shook off one tackle, then another. Soon enough, he was gone for an 86-yard punt return, and the No. 14 Trojans were rolling, comfortably on their way to a 49-30 win<\/a> over Louisiana.<\/p>\n

The second half didn\u2019t feel quite as hopeful, as the Trojans let up and let Louisiana linger around through a victory that coach Lincoln Riley deemed \u201cup and down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, the win was USC\u2019s 10th straight at home, going back to the 2024 season, and gives the Trojans\u2019 a spotless nonconference slate in 2026 \u2014 not that anyone would confuse their early-season schedule for a murderer\u2019s row. There won\u2019t be any easy home wins from here, though, with USC\u2019s next three games against Oregon, Washington and Ohio State.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been good getting adjusted to this,\u201d Mosley said. \u201cBut now we go on the road, so that\u2019ll be a new adjustment.\u201d<\/p>\n

USC has, in glimpses this season, looked like a team that belongs among those Big Ten behemoths. And the most encouraging of those moments have largely come from the Trojans\u2019 talented freshman class.<\/p>\n

Mosley, who also had an acrobatic receiving touchdown Saturday, wasn\u2019t the only one who made his presence felt. Tight end Mark Bowman<\/a> had his eagerly anticipated breakout game, as he exploded for six catches, one of which he capped by hurdling two defenders. He finished with 83 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half. Defensive tackle Luke Wafle<\/a>, meanwhile, continued his streak of early dominance by tallying a team-leading seven tackles.<\/p>\n

\"USC <\/p>\n

USC tight end Mark Bowman hurdles over Louisiana safety Kody Jackson during the first half Saturday.<\/p>\n

(Kevin Terrell \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like our peak, our trajectory should be even higher because of how many young guys are playing,\u201d Riley said.<\/p>\n

The win wasn\u2019t nearly as dominant an effort for the rest of USC\u2019s defense, which was coming off of a shutout of Fresno State. Louisiana averaged 7.6 yards per play and scored 20 points in the second half, led by dual threat quarterback Lunch Winfield, who scampered to 91 rushing yards.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just gonna take this as a learning moment,\u201d defensive tackle Jide Abasiri said. \u201cI just feel like sometimes we\u2019ll get comfortable or complacent, then that\u2019s something we need to, going forward, fix when adversity hits.\u201d<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t the sharpest night for the Trojans\u2019 offense, either. Though, you wouldn\u2019t know it from the box score. While USC rushed for 214 yards, nearly 100 came in the fourth quarter, with the game well in hand. Quarterback Jayden Maiava<\/a> put up numbers once again, as well, completing 19 of 29 passes for 261 yards and five touchdowns.<\/p>\n

\"USC <\/p>\n

USC receiver Trent Mosley makes a touchdown catch under pressure from Louisiana safety Maurion Eleam Saturday at the Coliseum.<\/p>\n

(Mark J. Terrill \/ Ap Photo\/mark J. Terrill)<\/p>\n

The five passing scores tied a career high. But Maiava said after the game that it \u201cdefinitely didn\u2019t feel like\u201d that strong of a performance.<\/p>\n

Through two games, Maiava had accounted for as many touchdowns (six) as he had incomplete passes entering Saturday\u2019s game. But on Saturday, he missed his first three passes, the third of which went directly to a Louisiana defensive back.<\/p>\n

The interception was Maiava\u2019s first of the season, and it led to a Louisiana field goal, giving the Ragin\u2019 Cajuns (1-1) an early lead. It was also the first time the Trojans trailed this season.<\/p>\n

USC (3-0) and its quarterback settled down after that. The Trojans mounted a 12-play scoring drive on the ensuing possession, and Maiava found Bowman for a five-yard score. Then, they mounted a 10-play drive, and Maiava found Bowman again.<\/p>\n

By that point, USC\u2019s offense had piled up almost 200 yards, while Louisiana had scraped together just 18.<\/p>\n

But the Ragin\u2019 Cajuns refused to go away \u2014 for the moment, at least. They marched the length of the field and scored, cutting USC\u2019s lead to 14-10.<\/p>\n

That was the closest they\u2019d get. The Trojans mounted a third straight drive of 10 plays or more, and this time, Maiava fired a touchdown pass through the hands of a Louisiana defensive back on its way to freshman Kayden Dixon-Wyatt.<\/p>\n

The knockout blow came soon after that. After its follow-up drive went nowhere, Louisiana made the mistake of punting to Mosley, who took off sprinting to his right and didn\u2019t stop until he reached paydirt.<\/p>\n

The punt return was his fourth score of the season. He added a fifth before the final buzzer sounded.<\/p>\n

The rest of the night wouldn\u2019t go nearly as smoothly. The intensity, Riley said, \u201cdipped a little bit.\u201d Louisiana would linger, well into the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

But by then, the Trojans could safely coast their way to a clean non-conference sheet, knowing the trust test of their season \u2013 and their stellar true freshmen \u2013 is still to come.<\/p>\n

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