Sports editor predictions for USC vs. San Jose State

Before each game this USC football season, Annenberg Media’s sports staff will make prop predictions and pick a winner. Read on to see our editors’ picks for Week 1 against San Jose State.

Fans will be back in the Coliseum Saturday as USC takes on San Jose State in the home opener. While San Jose State dominated in its first game through the air as graduate quarterback Nick Starkel threw four touchdown passes, the Trojans are more capable than Southern Utah at being able to stop the passing attack. The Trojans lost star safety Talanoa Hufanga to the NFL, but they still possess defensive monsters like junior defensive end Drake Jackson and redshirt junior safety/cornerback Chase Williams. With both having learned from Hufanga, USC should be able to apply the pressure.

Not only that, but the Trojans carry their own offensive firepower this year with the star combination of juniors quarterback Kedon Slovis and wide receiver Drake London set to show off their chemistry. Another player to be on the lookout for is freshman tight end Michael Trigg. Trigg was an offensive menace in training camp, able to take on entire teams by himself similar to NFL superstars Rob Gronkowski and Marshawn Lynch.

Prediction: USC 31, San Jose State 21

— Skyler Trepel

Remember last year’s season opener against Arizona State? The dramatic, 13-point comeback that flipped the outcome in less than three minutes covered for an otherwise lethargic showing. With a run game struggling to gain yardage and a defense that couldn’t contain quarterback Jayden Daniels, it was up to the receiver corps to out-talent the Sun Devils secondary. But this season, there’s no Amon-Ra St. Brown or Tyler Vaughns, and Bru McCoy is suspended. No more getting bailed out by explosive plays.

And don’t overlook the San Jose State program, which finished first in the Mountain West Conference after years of being in the doldrums. For his work turning around the Spartans program, head coach Brett Brennan has become a name to watch, and may become the next mid-major coach to get hired away by a Power Five school. Brennan and his team will be out with something to prove against USC.

Though more talented on paper, the Trojans will need to play a complete game on both sides of the ball to win. And then probably add some fireworks to beat the generous spread. Will they be up to the task from the jump? It seems more likely the game is decided by one score or less.

— Eddie Sun

I don’t anticipate the offense will be particularly jaw-dropping in the season opener, and there’ll definitely be some rust early on. USC has a new-look offensive line (at least at the tackles), the passing game will rely on a lot of inexperienced players at both receiver and tight end and the ground game is always a question mark, particularly with an O-line that opens the season as the team’s most obvious weakness. (Notice how I didn’t mention junior quarterback Kedon Slovis in there — he’ll be fine.)

Everyone wants to point to the return of fans as an obvious source of energy. Sure, USC won’t want to come out flat in a house that hasn’t been packed since 2019, but let’s not discount the possibility that it could translate to uncontrolled adrenaline. USC also doesn’t quite have a reputation for hitting the ground running; each of head coach Clay Helton’s five seasons as head coach have featured a season opener that was either too close too late (2017-2020) or utterly embarrassing (2016). The Trojans will win, but they’ll start slow.

— Nathan Ackerman

My guess that the Trojans will have two sacks on Saturday might be a little conservative given USC’s talent on the defensive line. Redshirt senior Nick Figueroa is returning after a breakout 2020 season that included 3.5 sacks through six games. And then there’s the touted No. 1 prospect Korey Foreman, who was praised by head coach Clay Helton this week and should feature on third down against San Jose State. I wouldn’t be surprised if Foreman records his first sack this weekend.

With unproven players — redshirt sophomore Stanley Ta’ufo’ou and redshirt freshmen Jamar Sekona and Kobe Pepe — sharing reps at nose tackle, stopping the run could be a problem for the Trojans early on this season. But with their talent at defensive end, USC’s pass rush should get to Starkel at least twice on Saturday.

— Amanda Sturges

USC only averaged 97.3 rushing yards per game last season, with just over three yards per carry. Expect — at the very least — slightly over 100 against San Jose State. Despite losing veterans Markese Stepp and Stephen Carr to the transfer portal, USC’s run game got a new face this offseason: Texas transfer Keaontay Ingram. Ingram posted two 700-yard seasons in his three years with the Longhorns. Most of the rushing load is likely to fall on Ingram and sixth-year man Vavae Malepeai. Both backs come in with veteran experience, which should help offensive coordinator Graham Harrell put more trust in the run game. If the USC offensive line — with two redshirt freshmen — can create space for the backs, Ingram and Malepeai should be able to handle the rest.

— Ava Brand