No. 13 USC ready to showcase its defense against explosive Utah State

LOS ANGELES — Southern California’s defensive improvement in a 27-20 win over LSU became the talk of the college football world.

A year after wasting quarterback Caleb Williams’ senior season on a scrappy group that couldn’t fight, cover or stay disciplined, the Trojans didn’t look the same at all, even though many of the same players remained on their roster.

Heading into Saturday’s season opener at home against Utah State, 13th-ranked USC believes it still has some growth potential it can tap into.

“We played a solid game, defensively, offensively, whatever,” defensive end Jamil Muhammad said. “But looking back on the tape, we didn’t do as well as we thought we should have, just technically and stuff like that. While we have confidence, we also have that, ‘Hell, if we had done that, maybe it would have been 34-20.’”

USC (1-0) still allowed 6.6 yards per play, failed to generate a sack and didn’t force a turnover until the game’s penultimate play. But the defense made up for those problems by clinching the red zone, allowing two touchdowns on four drives and holding LSU to a late field goal to tie the score at 20-20.

Defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn praised his unit’s resilience in stepping up in key moments, something the team was wary of last season under predecessor Alex Grinch.

“You have to make them earn it, so it doesn’t matter to me if it’s a 10-play drive or if they get there on one big play because they’re not in the end zone yet,” Lynn said.

Facing a Utah State (1-0) offense that gained 646 yards in a 36-14 win over Robert Morris, USC could show whether it can handle a mobile quarterback it knows all too well.

Playing for Utah last season, Bryson Barnes’ running skills helped set up the game-winning field goal late in a 34-32 loss at the Coliseum that sent USC into a tailspin of trouble.

“They kind of distract you, they make you very honest with the quarterback,” Muhammad said. “They’re very dynamic. I feel like you can’t take them for granted.”

Flying start

Two games may be too small a sample size to make sweeping declarations, but USC quarterback Miller Moss has shined so far. Moss, in his fourth year, threw for 750 yards and seven touchdown passes with one interception on a 72.5 percent completion rate against Louisville in the Holiday Bowl and LSU.

“I’m so proud of Miller, I’ve been able to see him grow. I’ve been here the whole time he’s been here, I’ve seen him grow and be comfortable in situations that a lot of people are usually nervous about,” wide receiver Kyle Ford said.

QB Uncertainty

It is unclear who will be Utah State’s starting quarterback, as Spencer Petras injured his ankle in the second quarter of the season opener and was replaced by Barnes.

Petras, an Iowa graduate in his seventh year of college football, is day-to-day, interim coach Nate Dreiling said. Petras was 10 of 15 passing for 145 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions before the injury.

Aggie adds

Barnes and Petras aren’t the only Utah State players with Power Conference experience. Wide receiver Kyrese White, who had three receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns against Robert Morris, played three seasons at Utah. Cornerback Avante Dickerson (two tackles, one tackle for loss) started his career at Oregon, and linebacker Clyde Washington (six tackles) came west after four years at Purdue.

Home, (not) sweet home

The Trojans will try to end a three-game home losing streak when they open their 101st season at the venerable Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC lost to Utah, Washington and crosstown rival UCLA to end a disappointing 2023 campaign.

Good night

USC fans grumbled when the Big Ten Network announced in May that the game would start at 8 p.m. local time and 11 p.m. ET, the exact same thing that would eliminate the Pac-12 move. Little did they know that a dangerous heat wave was sweeping the region this week, making playing after dark a welcome break, and highs of 97 degrees are forecast at Exposition Park on Saturday.