No. 12 USC faces its first conference battle of the season as the Trojans travel to face Rutgers in Piscataway, New Jersey. USC blazed through the first three games on its schedule, averaging more than 40 points per game against Group of Six competition behind an electric start from quarterback Jayden Maiava.
Rutgers, conversely, is off to a miserable start after handing UMass its first win in two years. The Scarlet Knights came up just short against Boston College last week, and now they are facing the reality of a 1-11 season if they can't pull things together.
USC will be without star freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley, who is expected to miss multiple games with a knee injury, according to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz. More attention will be on fellow freshman Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, who has 13 catches for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
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Rutgers returned quarterback Dylan Lonergan after he missed the Boston College game. On his first pass attempt, Longergan -- a former Alabama quarterback -- threw an interception while searching for KJ Duff. Two plays later, King Miller burst into the end zone and it's already a two-score game.
Technically, USC put together a 12-play, 58-yard drive that finished with a 35-yard field goal. However, that cleans up what was a truly ugly opening stretch. Rutgers had USC held to third-and-8 (allowed a 20-yard run) and third-and-23 (committed pass interference). The usually sure Jayden Maiava completed only 3-of-7 passes on the drive, struggling to get on the same page with his wide receivers.
The Trojans still managed to drill it into the end zone, but the cross-country road trip seems to have come with at least a few consequences. Is Rutgers good enough to take advantage?
After a miscommunication between quarterback and receiver, USC faced third-and-eight with a chance for Rutgers to get a key stop. Instead, King Miller burst through the line for 20 yards to move the chains. Those are the kind of chances that the Scarlet Knights can't waste.
USC boasts one of the most potent offenses in America and faces a prove-it opportunity on the road against a Big Ten opponent. Rutgers won't have many answers for the Trojans, and it's a chance for the USC defense to make another statement after shutting out Fresno State two weeks ago. Pick: USC -23.5
While Rutgers has been lackluster through two games, star wide receiver KJ Duff has been everything and more. In only two games, Duff ranks No. 2 nationally and No. 1 in the Power Four with 333 yards and five touchdowns on 17 catches. He cleared 196 yards in his season opening performance against UMass despite being blanketed by defenders.
The Trojans are young across most of the roster, but redshirt seniors Jontez Williams and Prophet Brown have seen it all in their careers. Defensive coordinator Gary Patterson will have a strong game plan built around stopping the star receiver.
USC will be without star wide receiver Trent Mosley after he suffered a reported knee injury three games into his career. Mosley caught 13 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns to lead a freshman movement in Los Angeles.
With Mosley sidelined, attention shifts to fellow freshmen wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and tight end Mark Bowman. Five pass-catchers overall have more than 100 yards receiving in the early going.
Lonergan missed last week's loss against Boston College with an undisclosed injury suffered in the opener against UMass, but the Scarlet Knights did not include Lonergan on the final injury report prior to Saturday's game against USC and he will reportedly start. AJ Surace replaced Lonergan and threw for 307 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. Lonergan, who transferred in from Boston College this offseason, threw for 242 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in the loss to UMass.
