USC defeated San José State 42-26 in a Week 1 matchup that saw the Trojans pull away decisively in the first half. The home team built a commanding 28-0 lead through two quarters before the Spartans mounted a fourth-quarter comeback that fell short of the spread.

Jonas Williams led USC's passing attack with 55 completions, while King Miller rushed for 63 yards. San José State's Jabari Bates led all receivers with 9 catches despite the lopsided scoreline.

USC dominated early, forcing turnovers on downs in both the first and second quarters. The Trojans' defense generated multiple high-impact plays, including a critical stop in the second quarter. San José State showed signs of life in the second half with a 42-yard passing touchdown and a 24-yard rushing gain, scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter alone.

The game stayed under the 60.5-point total, and surprisingly, San José State covered the 37-point spread, losing by 16 points instead of the projected margin.