USC football defeats San Jose State 42-26 in season opener

USC opened its 2026 season with a 42-26 victory over San Jose State at the Coliseum on Saturday. Head coach Lincoln Riley characterized the performance as a tale of two games, noting that his team dominated for the first three quarters before a substandard fourth-quarter effort. The Trojans saw production from several freshmen who contributed across all phases of the game. Riley praised the defense for its red-zone discipline, specifically citing a key fourth-down stop that prevented a San Jose State touchdown. While the run game proved steady, the head coach indicated a need for greater explosiveness and overall physical consistency moving forward. The Trojans will use the game tape to address defensive lapses and evaluate individual contributions as they prepare for the remainder of the schedule.

• 9:33 PMYahoo Sports — Lincoln Riley discusses USC’s 42-26 victory over San Jose State