In Saturday's game, it was a battle for which USC Trojans unit could be the most dominant. The Trojans played a better team in Week 1 than the previous week, but you couldn't tell. USC made a couple of mistakes, but this was a complete performance across the board.
It is already evident that the run game can be special. In this game, it was slowed down. Jayden Maiava put on his cape, and he showed he is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. The Trojans offense also showed that their weapons are not that much of a step down from last year's special talent. This was a huge game for the offense, especially in regard to the passing game.
Gary Patterson and the Trojans defense came into this game looking to make a statement. That is exactly
what they did, pitching a shutout. The Trojans joined the ranks of the championship team, the 2023 Michigan Wolverines, as the only other team to have 2 safeties in a game. The Trojans' defensive line would not be denied, and they lived in the backfield all game long.
The aggressiveness was definitely taken up a notch as multiple corners got themselves a sack, along with Jide Abasiri getting a couple of tackles for loss again. It wasn't just the Trojans making it a tough day for the opposing quarterback. They also got 2 turnovers in the game. USC finished the game giving up just 116 total yards and 9 first downs, and they outscored the Bulldogs 4-0. This was as stifling of a performance as it gets for a defense.
The Trojans' offense was clicking, and the defense followed suit, dominating for all 4 quarters. The Trojans team that played Saturday is one that can compete for a national title.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC delivers complete game, shows it can play complementary football
