UCLA Runs Away From Cal With 21-Point Fourth Quarter

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September 5, 2026

_O5A5194 — Photo by Patrick Carter / fi360 News

BERKELEY, Ca — UCLA’s first game under coach Bob Chesney turned into a fourth-quarter statement.

The Bruins scored 21 unanswered points in the final 15 minutes, pulling away from California for a 45-24 victory Saturday night at California Memorial Stadium and giving Chesney a winning debut.

UCLA appeared in control after taking a 24-17 lead into halftime, but Cal responded with a 14-play, 85-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter to tie the game at 24. The Bruins answered by taking over on the ground, scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Wayne Knight, one of Chesney’s transfers from James Madison, provided the biggest spark. Knight scored twice in the fourth quarter on runs of 31 and 4 yards, finishing with three rushing touchdowns in his UCLA debut.

“The run game was amazing,” Knight said. “Our offensive line, our tight ends, everybody was just doing their job, and it made it easy for us to make plays.”

Anthony Woods also delivered a major performance for the Bruins, rushing for 118 yards on only eight carries and adding two touchdowns. His 53-yard touchdown run with 1:17 remaining capped the scoring and sent UCLA fans into celebration.

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava was efficient in his first game with UCLA, completing his opportunities through the air while the Bruins leaned heavily on their running game. UCLA finished with 277 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.

The Bruins initially built a 21-10 advantage late in the second quarter before Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele sparked the Golden Bears’ comeback. Sagapolutele connected with Mason Mini for a touchdown with 13 seconds remaining in the first half, cutting UCLA’s lead to 21-17.

Cal carried that momentum into the third quarter. Adam Mohammed capped the Golden Bears’ long drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 24 with 3:50 remaining in the quarter.

Knight broke through for a 31-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, giving the Bruins a 31-24 lead. After UCLA’s defense forced another Cal possession to stall, Knight scored again from 4 yards with 2:58 remaining.

“That’s what we talked about all week — staying together when things get hard,” Chesney said. “Our guys showed a lot of toughness, especially after they tied the game.”

UCLA’s defense also delivered when the Bruins needed it most. Ta’Shawn James intercepted Sagapolutele twice in the fourth quarter, helping shut down Cal’s comeback attempt and allowing UCLA to seize control.

Sagapolutele finished with 271 passing yards and two touchdowns, but the Bruins consistently pressured him and forced critical mistakes late.

The victory gave UCLA a 1-0 start to the Chesney era and spoiled Cal’s debut under new coach Tosh Lupoi.

For the Bruins, the message was clear: After a competitive three quarters, UCLA finished the game with authority.

UCLA will return home for its next game against San Diego State on Sept. 12.

San Diego State Opens Pac-12 Era With 53-20 Rout of Portland State

By

Jevone Moore

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September 5, 2026

SAN DIEGO, CA — San Diego State opened its first season as a Pac-12 member with a statement, turning blocked punts, a defensive takeaway and a 100-yard kickoff return into a 53-20 rout of Portland State on Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium.

The Aztecs scored 29 consecutive points across the second and third quarters, turning a competitive start into a runaway victory and improving to 11-1 in their last 12 home openers. SDSU’s 53 points were its most since a 55-0 victory over Hawaii in 2016.

“We played a really complete football game,” San Diego State coach Sean Lewis said. “There were some things we have to clean up, but I really liked the way our guys responded and played with energy.”

Portland State took an early 6-0 lead on two field goals, but the Aztecs quickly seized control. Javion Kinnard broke through for a 55-yard run on SDSU’s third possession, setting up Jayden Denegal’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Acevedo.

The special teams unit then delivered another turning point early in the second quarter. Jelani McLaughlin blocked a Portland State punt, and Parker Threatt recovered at the Vikings’ 1-yard line. Lucky Sutton scored on the next play from a direct snap, giving SDSU a 14-6 advantage.

The Aztecs continued to turn mistakes into points. After a fourth-down stop near midfield, Denegal found Justius Lowe for a 40-yard touchdown, and Bert Emanuel added a two-point conversion to extend the lead to 22-6.

Mike Lindsay’s interception of Portland State quarterback Gabe Downing set up another scoring drive. Sutton capped the possession with a 13-yard touchdown run, his second of the night, as SDSU carried a 29-6 lead into halftime.

Portland State briefly showed signs of life after halftime when Downing connected with Terence Loville for a 10-yard touchdown following a muffed punt recovery at the SDSU 10.

Any comeback hopes disappeared on the ensuing kickoff.

Jaylon Hawkins raced 100 yards for a touchdown, breaking along the right sideline before cutting across the field and into the end zone. It was San Diego State’s first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2022.

“That’s something we’ve been emphasizing — making plays in all three phases,” SDSU linebacker Sione Hala said. “When you get opportunities like that, you have to take advantage of them.”

Oberhiri Eyafe later blocked another Portland State punt, setting up Sutton’s third touchdown, a 5-yard run that pushed the lead to 43-13.

Sutton finished with 58 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Kinnard led the Aztecs with 79 yards on eight carries. Denegal completed 12 of 17 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

SDSU’s defense held Portland State to 95 rushing yards and forced multiple critical stops, while the Aztecs produced 237 yards on the ground.

The Vikings added a late touchdown, but Jordin Thomas answered with a 2-yard scoring run as SDSU closed out the 53-20 victory.

San Diego State improved to 1-0 and will travel to Pasadena next Saturday for a matchup with UCLA at the Rose Bowl. Portland State fell to 0-2.

Air Force Opens Season With 34-0 Shutout of Duquesne

By

Devon Martinez

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September 5, 2026

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Air Force opened its season by overwhelming Duquesne on both sides of the ball, rushing for 431 yards and holding the Dukes to 106 total yards in a 34-0 victory Saturday at Falcon Stadium.

The Falcons controlled the game from the opening possession and never allowed Duquesne to establish an offensive rhythm. Air Force’s rushing total was its most in a season opener since 2022, while the shutout was the program’s first in a season opener since beating Stony Brook 38-0 in 2018.

Senior fullback Kemper Hodges and senior tailback Rocco Conti helped lead the ground attack, while quarterback Liam Szarka scored twice on the ground in his first season opener as the starter.

“We wanted to come out and establish who we are,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said. “Our guys played with great energy, and I thought we were able to execute in all three phases.”

Hodges opened the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run in the first quarter after a 15-play, 80-yard drive put the Falcons in control. Szarka then capped another long possession with a 2-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, giving Air Force a 14-0 advantage.

The Falcons added two field goals from sophomore Carter Cremascoli before halftime. Cremascoli made the first two field goals of his career, including a 52-yarder that extended Air Force’s lead to 20-0.

The defense was just as effective.

Junior defensive back Max Mustell intercepted Duquesne quarterback in the second quarter to set up one of Cremascoli’s field goals. Korey Johnson added another interception on the final play of the first half, ending a promising Duquesne drive.

Air Force continued to dominate after halftime. Junior linebacker Blake Fletcher recorded a sack and 1½ tackles for loss during the Falcons’ first two defensive series of the third quarter.

Hodges then broke loose for a 29-yard run late in the quarter, setting up Szarka’s second rushing touchdown and pushing the lead to 27-0.

Sophomore quarterback Evan Medders capped the scoring with his first career rushing touchdown, giving Air Force its largest season-opening shutout in eight years.

“We knew coming in that they were going to be physical, and we had to match that,” Hodges said. “Once we got rolling, the offensive line was opening things up, and we just kept attacking.”

The victory extended Air Force’s season-opening winning streak to 20 games, the second-longest active streak in the nation. The Falcons also improved to 30-0 all time against FCS opponents, with every victory coming at Falcon Stadium.

Air Force improved to 21-1 in its last 22 home season openers and Calhoun remained unbeaten against FCS opponents as the Falcons’ head coach.

Air Force will remain home next Saturday when it hosts North Dakota State at 8 p.m. MT. Duquesne will look to rebound against its next opponent.

Idaho State Stuns Utah State 29–17 in Logan Season Opener

By

Laura Strother

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September 5, 2026

LOGAN, Utah — Idaho State overcame a yardage deficit by forcing four turnovers and getting a perfect performance from kicker Mason Lindberg, defeating Utah State 29-17 on Saturday night at Maverik Stadium.

The Bengals improved to 2-0 by scoring the final 13 points of the game and capitalizing on Utah State mistakes. The Aggies finished with 407 total yards, but four interceptions repeatedly ended promising drives and kept them from turning their offensive production into points.

Lindberg converted all five of his field-goal attempts, including kicks from 48, 43 and 41 yards, and finished with 17 points. Idaho State also avoided a turnover of its own, giving the Bengals the decisive advantage in a game Utah State controlled statistically.

“We kept fighting and kept believing,” Idaho State coach Cody Hawkins said. “Our guys did a great job of staying together when things weren’t necessarily going our way.”

Utah State opened the scoring with a touchdown pass from McCae Hillstead to Eli Wood, but Idaho State responded with a pair of Lindberg field goals and a 1-yard touchdown run by Jordan Cooke to take a 13-7 lead early in the second quarter.

The Bengals extended their advantage to 16-7 on Lindberg’s third field goal before Utah State answered with a late field goal to make it 16-10 at halftime.

The Aggies took their first lead of the game in the third quarter when Hillstead connected with Demick Starling on a 4-yard touchdown pass, putting Utah State ahead 17-16. Idaho State answered before the quarter ended when Lindberg knocked through a 43-yard field goal to regain a 19-17 lead.

The game’s turning point came late in the third quarter when Idaho State’s TreShawn Shorty intercepted Hillstead and returned the Bengals to the Utah State 3-yard line. Idaho State turned the takeaway into a touchdown early in the fourth quarter when Cooke connected with Chedon James on an 8-yard scoring pass.

That touchdown gave Idaho State a 26-17 advantage and shifted momentum firmly to the visitors.

Utah State had opportunities to respond, but the Bengals’ defense continued to make plays. Troy Wilkey intercepted Hillstead in the end zone with just over 10 minutes remaining, ending another Aggies scoring threat.

“We had opportunities, and we didn’t capitalize on them,” Utah State coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “When you turn the ball over four times against a good football team, it’s going to be difficult to win.”

Hillstead threw three interceptions, while Idaho State quarterback Jordan Cooke threw for 152 yards and a touchdown without committing a turnover. The Bengals’ defense also stopped Utah State on three of four fourth-down attempts.

Lindberg added his fifth field goal with 4:39 remaining to put the game out of reach. Utah State’s final possession ended with another interception, completing a night in which Idaho State consistently turned Aggies mistakes into points.

Idaho State improved to 2-0 and will host San Diego next Saturday. Utah State fell to 0-1 and will travel to face No. 17 Washington on Sept. 12.

No. 2 Oregon Survives Boise State Behind Dante Moore’s Big Day

By

Margo Craig

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September 5, 2026

Bosie St vs Oregon 01 — Oregon courtesy photo

EUGENE, OR — No. 2 Oregon needed a fourth-quarter response to avoid an opening-week upset to Boise St. As Dante Moore delivered throwing three touchdown passes, including a 62-yard strike to Dakorien Moore that broke a 27-27 tie with 7:51 remaining, as Oregon rallied from a 10-point deficit to defeat Boise State 34-27 on Saturday at Autzen Stadium.

The victory gave the Ducks a hard-earned season-opening win but also exposed some early-season weaknesses for a team carrying national championship expectations.

Oregon finished with 497 total yards compared with 274 for Boise State, but the Broncos repeatedly capitalized on Oregon mistakes and kept the game within striking distance into the final minutes. The Ducks also committed 10 penalties for 90 yards.

Dante Moore completed 28 of 37 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns, providing the difference in a game that Boise State controlled for much of the first half. His performance was especially important after the Broncos entered halftime with a 17-14 advantage.

“I think, you know, we’ve learned a lot this offseason. There’s been times our practice where the offense has started super slow, and coach (Dan) Lanning said, ‘Hey, it’s adversity. What you gonna do?’ So it all just comes back to how we respond,” Moore said.

Boise State came out aggressive and immediately challenged Oregon’s defense.

Quarterback Maddux Madsen completed 15 of 29 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns, giving the Broncos enough offensive production to stay in the game despite being heavy underdogs. Boise State opened the scoring on an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Madsen finding Cam Bates for a 13-yard touchdown.

Oregon answered when Jordon Davison scored on a 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.

The Broncos regained the momentum after Oregon’s Evan Stewart muffed a punt, allowing Boise State to recover and immediately take advantage of the short field. Madsen then found Sire Gaines, who turned the reception into a 38-yard touchdown and a 14-7 Boise State lead.

Canaan Moore added a 29-yard field goal to push the Broncos ahead 17-7.

With 19 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Dante Moore connected with Jamari Johnson for a 27-yard touchdown, cutting the Boise State lead to 17-14 and giving the Ducks momentum heading into halftime.

Oregon then took its first lead when Dante Moore found Jeremiah McClellan for an 8-yard touchdown, completing an 87-yard drive that put the Ducks ahead 24-17.

McClellan was one of Oregon’s biggest offensive weapons, finishing with six receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown.

Boise State refused to fold.

Madsen engineered another scoring drive and found Matt Wagner for a 7-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, tying the game at 24.

Canaan Moore connected from 36 yards to tie the game at 27. Then Oregon’s offense produced its biggest play of the afternoon.

Dante Moore dropped back and found Dakorien Moore deep down the field. The receiver hauled in the pass and raced 62 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, giving Oregon a 34-27 lead with 7:51 remaining.

The Ducks’ defense then forced Boise State into a fourth-down incompletion, allowing Oregon to take possession and bleed valuable time from the clock.

Boise State had one final opportunity after Oregon was forced to punt, but the Broncos could not move the ball into scoring position. Oregon’s defense held on the final possession, securing the victory.

“We won the game with total yards and some situations, but we didn’t really win the critical situations,” said Oregon coach Dan Lanning, “They won some of those critical situations. They played better in special teams than us. They did better on fourth down. We kind of gave them an opportunity, a chance to hang around.”

The victory extended Oregon’s home dominance. The Ducks have now won 16 consecutive season openers at Autzen Stadium and 39 straight home games against nonconference opponents, according to the Associated Press.

For Boise State, the loss was disappointing but demonstrated that the Broncos can compete with one of the nation’s top-ranked teams.

“You put your all into something, you put all the chips on the table, and you come up short — it hurts,” said Boise State coach Spencer Danielson, “You put your toe in and you’ve got your eyes other places, you can walk away easier because you can make excuses. We’re not going to make any excuses. We’ve got to find a way to be better.”

Boise State will look to regroup when it hosts Memphis next Saturday. Oregon travels to face Oklahoma State.

No. 23 Houston Pulls Away From Oregon State

By

Jevone Moore

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September 5, 2026

UH COUGARS OR BEAVS-28 — Photo by Jarrell Peak / fi360 News

HOUSTON, TX — Conner Weigman threw for 305 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score, leading No. 23 Houston past Oregon State 33-20 on Saturday in the season opener at TDECU Stadium.

Weigman completed 20 of 30 passes and connected with Amare Thomas for a 31-yard touchdown in the first quarter. His 1-yard touchdown run with five minutes remaining sealed the victory after Oregon State had rallied within six points in the fourth quarter.

Thomas was Weigman’s top target, finishing with eight catches for 133 yards and a touchdown. Houston finished with 533 total yards, including 228 on the ground, while limiting the Beavers to just 26 rushing yards and recording four sacks.

“I thought Conner did a pretty darn good job today,” Houston coach Willie Fritz said. “It’s the first game. We’re going to improve and get better defensively, offensively, punt return.”

Oregon State quarterback Braden Atkinson, making his first start for the Beavers after transferring from Mercer, completed 29 of 48 passes for 376 yards and a touchdown. Freshman receiver Jesse Legree made an immediate impact in his collegiate debut, catching five passes for 136 yards and a touchdown.

Houston took a 9-7 lead after the first quarter and extended the advantage to 19-7 at halftime. Re’Shaun Sanford II provided one of the game’s biggest plays, breaking loose for a 56-yard touchdown run with 6:27 remaining in the second quarter.

Sanford, returning after missing the previous two seasons because of ACL injuries, finished with 75 rushing yards. Mekhi Hughes added 98 yards and a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, giving Houston a 26-7 advantage.

Atkinson found Legree for a 7-yard touchdown with 44 seconds left in the third quarter, cutting Houston’s lead to 26-13. AJ Newberry’s 4-yard touchdown run with 9:02 remaining in the fourth quarter brought the Beavers within 26-20 and briefly put pressure on the Cougars.

Houston responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive that consumed four minutes and one second. Weigman finished the drive with his 1-yard touchdown run, restoring a two-score lead and ending Oregon State’s comeback hopes.

“We want to be able to run the ball and not have to run it with our quarterback,” Fritz said. “When you have 300 yards passing and 200 yards rushing, that is always a good combination.”

The Cougars controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the afternoon and converted their offensive balance into their first victory of the season.

Houston improved to 1-0 and will host Southern next Saturday. Oregon State fell to 0-1 and returns home to face Texas Tech.

No. 14 USC dominates on both sides of the ball in a 39-0 win over Fresno State

By

Eric Ramos

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September 4, 2026

Fi360-9506 — Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) rolls out of the pocket. Photo by Jordon Kelly

Los Angeles, CA – USC’s freshman wide receivers continued to impress as Kayden Dixon-Wyatt had six receptions for 102 yards and Trent Mosley finished with four catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Trojans to a dominating 39-0 shutout win over Fresno State Friday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

This is the first time that two freshmen receivers have recorded 100 plus yards in the same game since records available in 1973.

Southern California Trojans wide receiver Trent Mosley (4) catches the ball for a touchdown. Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News

Jayden Maiava finished the game going 23-of-25 (.920) for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Maiava’s 92.0 percent completion percentage is the highest single-game completion percentage by a USC quarterback since at least 1995 (minimum 25 attempts). He broke the mark he set last week against San José State (86.2 percent going 25-of-29).

“We played at our standard for a higher level tonight, and that was really great to see on all sides,” USC head coach Lincoln Riley said. “There’s still a lot to clean up. Obviously, some of the turnovers, the most disappointing thing is we had a couple penalties that have to get a lot better. So it was a good win over a really well-coached team and obviously a really proud program, so a pretty complete game from the team.”

Southern California Trojans wide receiver Corey Simms (10) catches the ball for a gain

USC opened the first quarter with a 12-play, 82-yard drive that Maiava capped with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Tanook Hines, Maiava kept the drive alive when he hit Dixon-Wyatt for a 31-yard completion on fourth and five.

After forcing the Bulldogs to punt, Maiava hit Mosley for a 68-yard touchdown to give USC a 14-0 lead with 12:27 remaining in the second quarter.

USC’s defense forced a safety after Kennedy Urlacher hit Fresno State quarterback Jayden Mandal in the back of the end zone. On the ensuing drive, Maiava hit Mosley for a 10-yard touchdown to give the Trojans a 23-0 lead in the second quarter.

Southern California Trojans safety Kennedy Urlacher (9) hits Fresno States QB Jayden Mandal. Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News

The Trojans capped a dominant first half with a Waymon Jordan 2-yard touchdown run for a 30–0 lead heading into halftime. USC was in control of the first half with 357 total yards on offense and the defense held the Bulldogs to 51 total yards.

Gary Patterson’s defense recorded its second safety of the in the third quarter and freshman running back Deshonne Redeaux scored on a 6-yard run to cap the night.

USC’s defense allowed only 116 total yards and forced two turnovers along with both safeties. Mandal was held 77 passing yards. This is the first time since records available in 1971 that the Trojans recorded two safeties in a game.

Southern California Trojans cornerback Jontez Williams (0) makes a tackle. Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News

“You know we did some great things,” Riley said on the defense. “He makes things challenging on the other side, and I think what you saw was our belief in it was even higher than it was in week one.”

The Trojans return to the coliseum for their third straight home game when they host Louisiana Saturday, Sept. 12.

Purdue Pulls Away From Indiana State 44-19 in Season Opener

By

Davyn Wright

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September 4, 2026

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN — Purdue turned a close game into a runaway Friday night, scoring 28 second-half points to pull away from Indiana State 44-19 in the season opener at Ross-Ade Stadium.

The Boilermakers led 16-6 at halftime before their offense found another gear. Quarterback Ryan Browne completed 23 of 29 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns, helping Purdue finish with more than 500 yards of total offense.

Asaad Waseem was Browne’s leading target with six catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. Transfer running back Fame Ijeboi also made an immediate impact, contributing more than 100 all-purpose yards and a touchdown as Purdue’s running game steadily wore down the Sycamores.

“We’ve got a lot of things we can clean up, but I really liked the way our guys responded after halftime,” Purdue coach Barry Odom said. “We talked about finishing drives, and I thought we did a much better job of that in the second half.”

Indiana State showed early fight, moving the ball effectively on its opening possession and keeping Purdue from pulling away during the first half. The Sycamores struggled to maintain that momentum, however, as Purdue’s defense began forcing longer third downs and limiting scoring opportunities.

Purdue took advantage of the defensive stops and gradually built its lead. Browne connected with Tra’Mar Harris for a touchdown to extend the advantage to 30-6 before finding Waseem for an 18-yard score later in the second half.

The Boilermakers also received a major contribution from their defense when Don Saunders intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown, pushing Purdue’s lead to 44-6 and effectively putting the game out of reach.

Indiana State continued to compete in the fourth quarter, with quarterback Brady Allen connecting with freshman Jayden Reed for a touchdown. Max McCool added another touchdown for the Sycamores, but the deficit was too large to overcome.

The Boilermakers’ defense held Indiana State to roughly 160 yards through the first three quarters and consistently disrupted drives when the Sycamores threatened to score.

Purdue’s biggest concern was its discipline. The Boilermakers committed six first-half penalties for 45 yards, including a holding penalty that wiped out a touchdown and another score that was negated by a penalty.

“We’ve got to get the penalties cleaned up,” Odom said. “You can’t play winning football when you continue to put yourself behind the chains.”

The victory extended Purdue’s dominance in the series, as the Boilermakers improved to 7-0 all time against Indiana State.

Purdue will remain at home next week when it hosts Wake Forest. Indiana State will travel to face Eastern Illinois.

Newcomers lead No.14 USC to a season opening win over San Jose State at home

By

Eric Ramos

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August 29, 2026

SJSU_Vs_USC_82926-5488 — Tron Baker (85) Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News

Los Angeles, CA – Several true freshmen played key roles for USC as the No.1 recruiting class in the nation was on display in the season opener. Freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley caught seven passes for 118 yards and a touchdown to help USC with a 42-26 win over San Jose State Saturday afternoon at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

“He kind of just did what he does in practice,” USC head coach Lincoln Riley said on Mosley’s debut. “I don’t think anybody here is very surprised. That’s kind of what it looks like most days.”

Trent Mosley (4) Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, who’s in his third year as a Trojan, passed for 286 yards and two touchdowns. True freshman Kaden Dixon-Wyatt caught a touchdown in his debut while running backs Riley Wormley and Shahn Alston also scored for the Trojans.

“A bunch of guys got opportunities, and we had several that did not play the way that we anticipated. There will be a lot to learn and grow from. Fourth quarter, not up to our standards.. The way our starters played, that deserved to be a single-digit- score game.”

USC took an early 7-0 lead on Maiava’s 1-yard keeper. The Trojans went on a 13-play, 77-yard drive to take the lead in the first quarter. On the next possession, USC went for it on fourth and goal but Maiava was tackled a yard short of the goal line to turn the ball over on downs.

In the opening drive of the second quarter, redshirt freshman Wormley scored from 5-yards out to give the Trojans a 14-0 lead. After getting a turnover on downs in the red zone, USC drove down the field and capped a 12-play, 91-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Maiava to turn freshman Kayden Dixon-Wyatt.

The Trojans took a 28-0 lead into halftime after King Miller scores on a 4-yard run. Maiava had 17 completions to eight different receivers in the first half.

San Jose State got on the board in the third quarter with a 22-yard field goal Trajan Sinatra. USC answered on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Maiava to true freshman Trent Mosley and the Trojans took a 35-3 lead with 2:28 left in the third quarter.

Jerry McClure (2) touchdown catch. Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News

The Spartans came right back with a Luc Weaver 28-yard touchdown pass to Jerry McClure. The two-point conversion was successful to cut the lead 35-11 in the fourth quarter.

Freshman quarterback Jonas Williams replaced Maiava and drove the Trojans down the field where another freshman running back Alston scored from a yard out to give USC a 42-11 lead with 9:42 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Jonas Williams (15) Photo by Jordon Kelly / fi360 News

Weaver, a Hawaii transfer, led the Spartans to three scoring drives in the second half but the game was well out of hand. McClure and Jordan Anderson caught fourth quarter touchdown passes.

Up next for the Trojans is a home game against Fresno State on Friday, Sept. 4..

Super Women: The Meteoric Rise of the Women’s Basketball

By

Joshua Noruwa

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August 25, 2026

_RM52170 — Reese(5) Photo by Jevone Moore / fi360 News

Los Angeles, CA – They’ve arrived loud and clear. The rise of women’s sports has gained significant momentum over the years but the sport of basketball and particularly the WNBA have soared to new heights. In 2026, we’ve seen a growing number of key changes that have become harbingers of what are now some of the most exciting times the league has ever seen.

The CBA:

It all begins with the league’s new collective bargaining agreement. The WNBA and the player’s association announced a seven year deal that will include increased player compensation that detail new average salaries that will exceed $580,000. Maximum and super maximum deals that will total over the millions of dollars range, and a new revenue sharing model that will see the players share 20% of the league’s earnings. Not to mention better working conditions and benefits. Previously teams would commonly have to utilize commercial flights for travel to games, now chartered flights have been mandated. The agreement also comes with premium child care, pregnancy protections and more.

The Talent Influx:

We all remember the greats. From Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, and Rebecca Lobo to more recently, Sue Bird, Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi, and Elena Della Donne. The league has seen much of its growth through these hall of famers that have come and gone. However, the last few years in particular have seen the likes of new prospects with the level of talent to carry on the torch. Players from Caitlyn Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese to Olivia Miles, Kiki Rice, and Flau’jae Johnson, look to take the league by storm not only on the court, but off the hardwood as well. And there’s no denying that the rise of social media has increased player popularity due to the world being able to follow their favorite athlete’s personal journey and activities. This has the unintended effect of making players more personable, leading to a larger fanbase of not only that player but the entire franchise at large.

Expansion:

Perhaps the biggest sign of growth is team expansion. Last season we saw the birth of the Golden State Valkyries, a team that quickly sold out every one of its home games at the Chase Center in 2025. The Valkyries became the most valuable team in the WNBA after just one year, already holding a valuation of nearly $1B. This year we also saw the inauguration of the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire and by 2030 we’ll have three more teams added to the cities of Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia. More roster spots means less players and draft picks being waived and cut which can only be frustrating for everyone involved.

UCLA Bruins 2026 Women’s National Championship team ready for the WNBA. Photo by Jevone Moore

My Thoughts:

What’s important to remember is that the WNBA has only existed for about 30 years. That’s in comparison to the NBA which has been around for about 80, so I believe the league is looking at a very healthy rate of development. What’s promising in addition to everything above is that there’s even more talent waiting in the pipeline. Players such as Juju Watkins and Jazzy Davidson who are both smooth shooting, fluid guards out of USC and Hannah Hidalgo who is an elite two-way point guard from Notre Dame look to follow suit. All in all, I believe we’re looking at the beginning of a realizing vision that those who paved the way created and a vision that will only continue to evolve.

fi360 News

UCLA Runs Away From Cal With 21-Point Fourth Quarter

San Diego State Opens Pac-12 Era With 53-20 Rout of Portland State

Air Force Opens Season With 34-0 Shutout of Duquesne

Idaho State Stuns Utah State 29–17 in Logan Season Opener

No. 2 Oregon Survives Boise State Behind Dante Moore’s Big Day

No. 23 Houston Pulls Away From Oregon State

No. 14 USC dominates on both sides of the ball in a 39-0 win over Fresno State

Purdue Pulls Away From Indiana State 44-19 in Season Opener

Newcomers lead No.14 USC to a season opening win over San Jose State at home

Super Women: The Meteoric Rise of the Women’s Basketball

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