Jayden Maiava looks to make strong opening statement for USC football

The wait is over.A sneak peek is here.USC is among the handful of college football teams opening the season before the calendar flips to September, giving Trojans fans an early look at what might be in store for 2026.“I’m glad we’re playing Week 0,” coach Lincoln Riley said.

“I’m glad we don’t have to wait another week.”Of course, openers don’t always tell the story of what’s to come.USC’s season-opening triumph over then-No.13 LSU in 2024 was a prelude to Riley’s worst season with the Trojans, who finished 7-6.Riley likely won’t be able to withstand another season like that — the conventional wisdom is that his team needs to make the College Football Playoff in 2026 or else — but he has expressed supreme confidence that everything has aligned for something special in the months to come.Here are five things to watch when the No.

14 Trojans face San Jose State on Saturday at the Coliseum:Nobody wins the most coveted award in college football by putting up big numbers against a team from the Mountain West Conference.But USC quarterback Jayden Maiava could certainly make a convincing opening statement by having a great game against what’s expected to be an overmatched defense.Riley has said he’s looking for another leap from Maiava like the one he made from Year 1 to Year 2 in his offense.If all goes well, Maiava will rest by the start of the fourth quarter, allowing backups Jonas Williams and Sam Huard to sling the ball for a few series.One of the most intriguing storylines in all of college football will be the return of Patterson, the former longtime TCU coach who wants to show he can still construct a destructive defense.Will Patterson’s new version still resemble the 4-2-5 scheme that was so effective for so long? Some answers should be apparent starting this weekend.Riley acknowledged that his players required some adjusting to Patterson’s demanding approach, saying the old ball coach “pushes and pushes and pushes.”“...