USC Trojans Jayden Maiava Leads Offensive Explosion in Rout of Georgia Southern

USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for over 400 yards and four touchdowns as he led the USC to a 59-20 win over Georgia Southern at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Georgia Southern coach Clay Helton made his first return to Los Angeles since he was fired by the Trojans two games into the 2021 season.

LIVE Score Updates: USC Trojans Take Down Georgia Southern in Clay Helton's Return Lincoln Riley Big Ten Jayden Maiava — Aug 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Big Ten Network reporter Rhett Lewis (right) interviews Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley after the game against the Missouri State Bears at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Fourth Quarter

0:00 - USC wins 59-20

2:00 - Two-minute timeout. Georgia Southern will face a 1st and 10 on their own 25-yard line.

10:24 - TOUCHDOWN USC. King Miller 41-yard touchdown run to cap off a 3-play, 64-yard drive. USC leads 59-20.

10:38 - Harry Dalton runs right and picks up 21 yards. Moves the ball into Georgia Southern territory.

12:55 - TOUCHDOWN. Eli Sanders runs in for a 5-yard touchdown to cap off a 7-play, 79-yard drive. USC leads 52-20.

TD No. 2 for @Elisanders62 puts us over 50 points on the day!

📺 @CFBONFOX
pic.twitter.com/1P2JPr4dqo
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) September 7, 2025

14:00 - Jayden Maiava finds Walker Lyons for 26 yards and moves the ball to the 8-yard line

Third Quarter

0:31 - Waymond Jordan runs for 35 yards to close out the quarter.

1:34 - TOUCHDOWN. JC French to Dalen Cobb for a 13-yard touchdown to cap off a 15-play, 81-yard drive. Georgia Southern trails 45-20.

3:52 - JC French completes to Dalen Cobb for 14 yards and moves into USC territory.

7:58 - TOUCHDOWN USC. Eli Sanders 1-yard rushing touchdown to cap off a 4-play, 72-yard drive. USC leads 45-13.

9:23 - Jayden Maiava airs it out to Zacharyus Williams for a 60-yard completion. Down to the 6-yard line.

9:55 - Georgia State punts after going 3-and-out. USC takes over on their own 28-yard line.

10:49 - TOUCHDOWN. Waymond Jordan 36-yard rushing touchdown to cap off a 6-play, 71-yard drive. USC leads 38-13.

13:12 - Georgia State punts after going 3-and-out. USC takes over on their own 29-yard line.

Second Quarter

1:40 - SACK. Anthony Lucas gets home for the sack. Georgia State faces a 4th and 25 on their own 37. USC calls timeout.

1:55 - 2-minute timeout. Kameryn Fountain gets the sack. Georgia Southern will face a 2nd and 13 on their own 49-yard line.

3:31 - TOUCHDOWN. Jayden Maiava hits Walker Lyons for a 14-yard touchdown to cap off a 4-play, 77-yard drive. 1st career touchdown for Lyons. USC leads 31-13.

.@jayden_maiava finds @walkerly0ns for his fourth passing TD of the half!

📺 @CFBONFOX
pic.twitter.com/ku8ASCVrMr
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) September 7, 2025

3:49 - Ja'Kobi Lane 16-yard completion moves the ball into the red zone. Injury timeout. A Georgia Southern player is down after the play.

4:38 - Eli Sanders runs left for 16 yards and moves the ball into Georgia Southern territory.

5:26 - Turnover on downs. Georgia Southerns fails to convert on 4th and 1. USC takes over on its own 23-yard line.

7:37 - JC French completes to Ahmon Green for 17 yards to the USC 31-yard line

8:52 - FIELD GOAL. Ryon Sayeri's 26-yard field goal is GOOD. USC leads 24-13

10:28 - Jayden Maiava connects with Ja'Kobi Lane for a 53-yard completion. Moves down to the Georgia Southern 15-yard line.

11:32 - TOUCHDOWN. JC French to Camden Brown for a 17-yard touchdown to cap off a 7-play, 75-yard drive. Georgia Southern trails 21-13.

13:00 - Penalty. Braylan Shelby gets flagged for an illegal hand to the face. Ball moves to the USC 25-yard line.

First Quarter

1:15 - INTERCEPTION. DeCarlos Nicholson picks off JC French. USC takes over on their own 15-yard line.

2:14 - TOUCHDOWN USC. Jayden Maiava hits Makai Lemon for a 74-yard touchdown to cap off a 3-play, 85-yard drive. USC leads 21-6.

CAN’T CATCH KAI!

74 YARD HOUSE CALL 📞

📺 @CFBONFOX

pic.twitter.com/Plprlcg26Q
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) September 7, 2025

2:34 - Injury timeout. Georgia Southern player is down in the field. USC will face a 1st and 10 on their own 26-yard line.

3:31 - SACK. Anthony Lucas gets home on 3rd down to force a punt.

4:24 - Pass interference. Chasen Johnson gets flagged for pass interference on 3rd down. Georgia Southern has 1st and 10 on the USC 35.

6:54 - TOUCHDOWN. Jayden Maiava connects with Makai Lemon for a 62-yard catch-and-run for the touchdown to cap off a 2-play, 80-yard drive. USC leads 14-6.

8:50 - TOUCHDOWN. Ja'Kobi Lane with a one-handed catch for a 12-yard touchdown to cap off an 8-play, 75-yard drive. USC leads 7-6.

JA’KOBI LANE ARE YOU SERIOUS #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/eNB7XlDZDG
— Kendell Hollowell (@KHollowell_) September 6, 2025

9:47 - Waymond Jordan runs for 17 yards and moves the ball into the red zone.

11:44 - Waymond Jordan runs for 13 yards, picks up the 1st down and moves the ball into Georgia Southern territory.

13:01 - TOUCHDOWN. Weston Bryan completes a 32-yard touchdown to Camden Brown for the touchdown. Georgia Southern leads 6-0 after a failed 2-pt conversion.

13:06 - Injury timeout. Georgia Southern offensive tackle Caelan Williams is down on the play.

13:42 - FUMBLE. Waymond Jordan fumbles and is recovered by Georgia Southern on their own 41-yard line.

15:00 - USC wins the coin toss. Elects to receive.

Preview

The Trojans routed Missouri State 73-13 in the programs highest-scoring mark since 1930 in week one.

Maiava accounted for over 300 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, all in the first half, which earned him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors.

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Five-star freshman quarterback Husan Longstreet played the entire second half and accounted for three touchdowns of his own.

Nine different Trojans reached the end zone in the opener, including redshirt senior Bishop Fitzgerald, who returned an interception 38 yards in his first game with the Trojans.

Running backs Waymond Jordan, Eli Sanders and King Miller all scored their first touchdowns their first touchdowns in the Cardinal and Gold. Tight end Lake McRee’s 64-yard touchdown was the longest of his career and first since 2023.

Defense

Despite the lopsided loss a week ago, USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn didn't take Georgia Southern lightly. He discussed this week what stands out about the Eagles offense prior to the game to reporters.

“They have a lot of formations. communication with them is going to be huge, making sure we're on the same page,” Lynn said. “They do a great job spreading the ball around. Their skilled position. Players are very, very good. Just the formations, the motions, the things that they give you, they can, they can generate a lot of explosive plays just by the defense not being on the same page. So communication is going to be huge.”