College football fans were treated to a masterclass on Saturday as the No. 13

USC Trojans completely dismantled the Utah State Aggies in a dominant performance on their home turf. With this 48-0 victory, their second straight win of the 2024 season following a season opener triumph over LSU, the Trojans sent a clear message to the NCAA and their fan base—they’re not just back, they’re better than ever. After addressing the defensive weaknesses that plagued them last season, USC has come roaring into the new year with newfound focus and ferocity.

Despite the sweltering Los Angeles heat, the Trojans remained composed and locked in. Their balanced attack on both sides of the ball left no room for Utah State to breathe, completely shutting them out. The man leading the charge, Miller Moss—son of renowned architect Eric Owen Moss and a rising star in college football—was quick to give credit where it was due. Moss praised head coach Lincoln Riley for the team’s back-to-back stellar performances, saying, “I don’t know how much that says about me. I think I’ve been put in really good situations. Lincoln Riley’s the best offensive coach in college football, if not the best coach. But we’ll leave that up for debate.”

Although last week Miller Moss stole the spotlight with his skills, the second week was all about the running backs. Redshirt senior Woody Marks, who displayed a phenomenal performance and scored the game-winning touchdown against LSU (1-1), started from where he left off and continued to shine with 103 rushing yards and 39 receiving yards.

USC’s vision in yesterday’s game was clear and visible, which was to dominate the Aggies from the beginning. They controlled the game with 249 yards, averaged seven yards, and scored five rushing touchdowns. Last night they made a record for most rushing yards in a game since November 3, 2018, which was against Oregon State.

Miller Moss’s performance against the Utah State Aggies

Moss has been part of the Trojans since 2021 and is well aware of his teammates’ strategies and game plans. In 2022 and 2023, he was back up to Caleb Willimas. Moss made his debut against Louisville in the 2023 Holiday Bowl. In his first game, he led the Trojans to a 4228 victory, which was a Holiday Bowl record with six touchdown passes. He also earned the offensive MVP title. Moss started making an impact when he joined the team, and since then, with his amazing skills and stats, he is one of the most loved quarterbacks in the country.

Last night Moss tried his best and had a solid game plan but missed out on two potential touchdowns. He still managed to finish the game with 229 yards. He also completed 21 out of 30 passes and threw one touchdown. Moss shared a great bond with all his teammates and coaches, which is quite evident in the game. His good connection with redshirt junior tight end Lake McRee was seen in yesterday’s game; McRee caught four passes and led the Trojans to victory with 81 receiving yards.

AP News reported Lincoln Riley’s statement after the game. He said, “Very hard to shut people out in modern-day college football, so I’m really proud of us maintaining our play defensively the entire night, and the complementary ball was really good.” He added, “The offense did a good job running the ball. That was a big emphasis point, so we were proud of the way the guys responded.” USC’s dominant performance in both games highlights their ability to excel in all the positions. Their defense is getting better, and the offense executes the game plan effectively. Fans won’t be surprised if they deliver the same kind of performance in the next game.