USC Trojans defeat Rutgers 42-35 in Big Ten opener

No. 12 USC defeated Rutgers 42-35 in their Big Ten season opener in Piscataway, New Jersey. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns, while King Miller contributed 102 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Despite the victory, USC's defense showed vulnerabilities, allowing five plays of more than 20 yards and struggling in the red zone. Head coach Lincoln Riley noted that the team had to play with many different players in the secondary due to injuries.

Rutgers, led by quarterback Dylan Lonergan who threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns, remained competitive throughout the game. The Scarlet Knights were hampered by turnovers, including a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown by Prophet Brown. The loss drops Rutgers to a 0-3 record for the season.