LOS ANGELES, CA — Jayden Maiava led a dominant first half with 295 passing yards and two touchdowns as USC kicked off its 2025 season in explosive fashion, routing Missouri State 73-13 on Saturday night. It was the Trojans’ most prolific scoring performance in nearly a century.
USC racked up 597 total yards and found the end zone 10 times, with nine different players contributing to the scoring onslaught. The 73 points marked the program’s highest total since a 74-0 win over Cal in 1930.
Freshman quarterback Husan Longstreet made a memorable debut after halftime, completing all nine of his passes for 69 yards and rushing for 54 yards and two touchdowns. His performance capped a strong start to Lincoln Riley’s fourth year at the helm.
“This game showed the depth and balance of our roster,” Riley said. “We saw contributions from all over — offense, defense, special teams. That’s what we’ve been seeing in practice. We expected to come out sharp and complementary, and we did just that.”
Maiava was in complete control during the opening half, leading USC to scores on all five of its possessions and piling up 382 yards before the break. Explosive plays fueled the Trojans’ 42-point first half, including a 64-yard touchdown reception by Lake McRee and a 73-yard screen pass turned score by Eli Sanders.
USC’s ground game was equally efficient, with Waymond Jordan, Bryan Jackson, and King Miller each rushing for touchdowns. Miller’s 75-yard sprint to the end zone in the third quarter marked his first collegiate score.
Sanders, who transferred in after a 1,000-yard season at New Mexico, was impressed by the collective showing. “We’ve got talent everywhere — running backs, receivers, all over the offense,” he said. “It was exciting to see everyone get a chance to shine.”
Missouri State, making its FBS debut this season in Conference USA, struck first with a field goal on the opening drive. Quarterback Jacob Clark threw for 147 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown to Tristian Gardner. But that early 3-0 lead quickly disappeared as USC scored on 10 of its first 11 drives and never punted.
“There’s a lot we’ll learn from this,” said Missouri State head coach Ryan Beard. “Sure, we wish the scoreboard looked different, but this is big-time football. Playing a top-tier FBS team like USC shows us exactly where we need to grow.”
USC’s defense also got in on the action. Safety Bishop Fitzgerald, a transfer from NC State, returned an interception 39 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. “We wanted to set the tone early, and I think we did that,” Fitzgerald said.
Longstreet, a highly regarded recruit from nearby Inglewood, entered after halftime and showed flashes of his dual-threat potential. After a 5-yard touchdown run on his first drive, he lost a fumble but bounced back with four more scoring drives, including a highlight-reel 17-yard touchdown scamper and a passing touchdown to Carson Tabaracci.
“He stayed calm, made plays, and showed his athleticism,” Riley said of Longstreet. “That’s a strong first outing for a freshman.”
Stat Blast:
The 73-point performance was USC’s highest in a season opener since a 76-0 win over UCLA in 1929. The Trojans hadn’t cracked 70 points in any game since a 70-17 victory against Arkansas in 2005.
What’s Next:
Missouri State travels to face Marshall on Sept. 6.
USC remains at home to host Georgia Southern on the same date.
