Sep 52 min read

Trojans Welcome Utah State to the Coliseum in Week 2

USC Trojans Wide Receiver Ja'Kobi Lane — © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Fresh off their triumph over the No. 18 LSU Tigers (0-1) in Las Vegas in Week 1, the No. 13 USC Trojans (1-0) return home to host the Utah State Aggies (1-0) at 11: p.m. EST on Sept. 7 in Los Angeles. This will be the seventh all-time matchup between the Trojans and Aggies. USC prevailed in each of the six preceding contents.

The Game's Significance

Both teams won their season openers and look to continue their winning ways. In Week 1, the Aggies defeated Robert Morris 34-12 at Merlin Olsen Field in Logan, Utah. Representing the Mountain West Conference, Utah State played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl last season.

Per the Action Network, USC is favored by 28.5 points over the Aggies. The over/under is 62.5 points.

After the Trojans' victory over LSU, expectations for head coach Lincoln Riley's team are elevated. The Trojans will seek to avoid a letdown against a Group of 5 foe before heading to Ann Arbor, Mich. to play Team 145—the Michigan Wolverines.

Standout Aggies

USU features an outstanding wide receiver room, highlighted by the quartet of Jalen Royals, Colby Bowman, Kyrese White and Otto Tia. An All-American, Royals hauled in 71 receptions for 1,080 yards last season, and he had 5 receptions for 77 yards and 1 touchdown against Robert Morris in Week 1. White led the Aggies with 131 receiving yards and 2 TDs in the season opener.

Aggies offensive coordinator Kyle Cefalo lavished praise upon Royals: "Jalen can do whatever he wants on a football field," Cefalo said. "He has unlimited potential and his ceiling is gigantic. He is very steady and consistent. He built a lot of confidence last year and understands the things he still wants to work on. He knows there is work to be done and he knows he has to put that work in. I'm excited to find ways to get him the football and let him have an incredible ... year for us."

USC Trojans | Utah State Aggies, WR Jalen Royals — © Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports

Star Trojans

Against LSU, quarterback Miller Moss turned in a top-notch, clutch performance, and wide receiver Kyron Hudson made acrobatic receptions that prompted a reaction on X (formerly Twitter) from former Trojans QB Caleb Williams.

Hudson's fellow receivers—Zachariah Branch, Duce Robinson, Ja'Kobi Lane and Lake McRee—also turned in dynamic performances against LSU.

For USC supporters, however, the most pleasing aspect of the LSU game was the tough, competitive play of the defense. Under new defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn, the Trojans' defense is much improved over the preceding two seasons. Led by standout safety Kamari Ramsey and lanky linebacker Eric Gentry, both of whom had 5 tackles against LSU, Southern Cal's defense kept the potent offense of the Bayou Bengals in check.

USC Trojans safety Kamari Ramsey — © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The key to the matchup between USC and Utah State will likely be whether Ramsey, Gentry and their fellow cardinal and gold defenders can slow down the Aggies' potent wide receivers.