QUARTERBACK
Jayden Maiava’s stats looked better than he did but part of that was the vanilla offense. He also didn’t look like a senior on a couple plays (the key 13-yard sack, the failed 4th down near the goal line).
Grade: B-
RUNNING BACKS
Two tailbacks who each flashed during games last season plodded through the line with zero breakaway threat. And you know what? The running backs coach ripped them for their performance. So there’s your confirmation.
Grade: C
WIDE RECEIVERS
News flash: Trent Mosley is good. Really? Who knew the California state player of the year who led Santa Margarita to the state title would deliver? The other freshmen all look game prepared and we didn’t even see Boobie Feaster yet. I will admit that I thought Mark Bowman had more pop as a receiver than he showed.
Grade: B+
OFFENSIVE LINE
Unlike the fan boys, I think we need more sample size than one game against a bang-average opponent to judge the line. USC averaged 4.1 yards per carry. San Jose State averaged 4.3. Who thought that would happen before the game?
Grade: C+
DEFENSIVE LINE
Jide Abasiri was a standout and Luke Wafle showed why he was a five-star prospect. The rest of the group did not wow me, however, mainly because of the outrageous hype they got in the offseason. Maybe that’s unfair. but they were portrayed as unstoppable.
Grade: B
LINEBACKERS
The unit wasn’t better than expected and wasn’t worse. But I’m not sure you can fail to meet modest expectations when the opponent is San Jose State. Like the offensive line, let’s wait and but it remains a concern.
Grade: C
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Who can they cover at this point? And I’m not just talking about the fourth quarter. USC had the audacity to want to play Notre Dame in Week 0. Can you imagine what that would look like? Notre Dame’s passing game against the gang that couldn’t cover anyone?
Grade: D+
SPECIAL TEAMS
Trent Mosley will be a dangerous returner. The kickers were serviceable. The only setback was too many men on the field penalty on the punt.
Grade: B–
COACHING
The playcalling inside the red zone looked suspiciously familiar. More troubling was the ease with which posr-game excuses arose from a victory over a lame opponent. It’s the true freshmen’s fault! Yeah, they make mistakes. It happens. But who was the coach unnecessarily putting them all on a pedestal before the first game?
Grade: D+
InsideUSC with Scott Wolf 
Wolf customarily gives out grades that are about a half grade lower than what others would grade
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WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO F- FOR RILEY
WOLF IS GETTING SOFT ON US!
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Riley’s problem wasn’t a field coaching problem —it was an evaluation problem: he couldn’t see in advance who was ready to play …and who wasn’t.
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I’ll respect your opinion this time.
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I just got censored for saying Scott lives by the advice my high school principal gave all the new teachers: “Don’t get lenient with grades until December.”
#…ExceptScottIgnoresTheDecemberPart
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Hahaha – that would have gone something like this ND- 59 SC- 24
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KAM: We know Mosley was a 5-star receiver and was voted as a player of the year
DON: But SC has had 5-star busts before
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Riley’s mickey mouse offense can’t function with a short field because he has no concept of a power running game
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Even the band has gotten soft!
Not wearing their uniforms was so weak. It was always a given that there would be one or two games when the temps were 100+.
They have no balls. They cannot hang. They do not belong!
The New Band probably isn’t even familiar with this saying, which anyone who failed miserably was compelled to proclaim. Vogel is not the leader that Bartner was. Not even close!
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i’m gonna take a huge flyer and deduce SoCal was an SC Band member! i bet i can even guess his nickname: Piccolo Pete!!
#BackupGuess:Flounder
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What, no ” This one time, at band camp” remark ?
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KAM: Cowardly Gabby aka Charlie Bucket the UCLA Fan loathes the USC Trojan Marching Band.
DON: She’s so cute when she plays dumb.
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TIREBITER, IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYBODY MADE IT TO ANOTHER SC FOOTBALL SEASON. NOW IF WE CAN JUST FINISH IT
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I am surprised Wolf even gave out a B+ … thats rare. Must mean he actually thinks the wideouts are pretty good!
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Scooter,
The back up qb who is a freshman looked better than Maivia.
Lbers did no wrong or right. Boring and weak offense. there is no attack point. He is just throwing mud up on the wall to see what sticks. 8-4 season and will miss the playoffs.
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Why put out grades when you keep saying you have very little to go on. Sometimes its better to keep stupid to yourself than to show it to the rest of us. This is for Wolf.
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