USC Football News: Trojans Deliver Dominant Performance Over Utah State in 48-0 Shutout

The No. 13 USC Trojans showcased their dominance with a commanding 48-0 victory over Utah State in their home opener at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. This win marks the Trojans' first shutout since 2011, when they defeated UCLA 50-0.

"Great team win, very complimentary football on all sides," said Riley. "Really proud of our defense, very hard to shut people out in modern day college football."

USC started strong, initially settling for a field goal on their first drive before quickly finding their rhythm.

A standout 33-yard run by sophomore running back Quinten Joyner, aided by a block from quarterback Miller Moss, set the stage for a 9-yard touchdown run by Joyner, capping an impressive 88-yard drive that put USC ahead 10-0 in the first quarter.

The Trojans relied heavily on their running game, with Joyner and Woody Marks combining for 142 rushing yards in the first quarter alone. By the end of the game, USC had accumulated 249 rushing yards.

In the second quarter, USC continued to build their lead with a 2-yard touchdown run from Marks and a 6-yard touchdown reception by sophomore Makai Lemon, marking his first career score.

Despite a couple of missed opportunities inside the 10-yard line, USC went into halftime with a comfortable 27-0 lead.

UNLV transfer quarterback Jayden Maiava made his debut in the third quarter, following another touchdown by Joyner. Maiava quickly made an impact, scoring on a 7-yard run that drew comparisons to former Trojan star Caleb Williams.

The USC defense was relentless, making it difficult for Utah State quarterback Bryson Barnes to find any rhythm. Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold intercepted a pass, while safety Kamari Ramsey forced a fumble that halted another drive.

Utah State attempted a field goal in the final minute to avoid the shutout, but the kick went wide left.

"I think we're still not even close to as good as we can be," said Mascarenas-Arnold. "I think that's truly how a good defense should operate."

USC will take a break next week before heading to Ann Arbor to face the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines on September 21 in their first Big Ten matchup.