USC Trojans at Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Injuries noted

USC Trojans: Jahkeem Stewart (out) — Defensive lineman; foot injury.; Trent Mosley (out) — Starting wide receiver and returner; knee injury expected to cause a multi-game absence.; Kendarius Reddick (out) — Safety; condition undisclosed.; Shaun Scott (out) — Linebacker; condition undisclosed.; Elijah Newby (out) — Linebacker; condition undisclosed.; Madden Riordan (out) — Safety; condition undisclosed.; Dylan Black (out) — Long snapper; condition undisclosed.; Taylor Johnson (out) — Linebacker; condition undisclosed.; Kilian O'Connor (out for season) — Offensive lineman; season-ending leg injury.; Roderick Tezeno (out) — Wide receiver; foot injury.; Taniela Tupou (out) — Tight end; condition undisclosed.; Brendan Cho (out) — Defensive tackle; condition undisclosed.; Deshonne Redeaux (questionable) — Running back; condition undisclosed.; Jadyn Walker (questionable) — Linebacker; condition undisclosed.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights: Kevin Levy (out) — Defensive back; condition undisclosed.; Dino Kaliakmanis (doubtful) — Wide receiver; condition undisclosed.; Antwan Raymond (questionable) — Starting running back; condition undisclosed.; Abram Wright (questionable) — Linebacker; condition undisclosed.; Malachi Davis (questionable) — Defensive lineman; condition undisclosed.; Mikey Munn (questionable) — Defensive back; condition undisclosed.; Dylan Lonergan (probable) — Quarterback; recovering from an undisclosed injury. Probable availability does not establish that he will start.; Dantae Chin (probable) — Offensive lineman; condition undisclosed.

QUARTERBACK

• Jayden Maiava is USC's projected starter

  10.80 Y/A

  Jayden Maiava is USC's projected starting quarterback. USC's official depth chart, updated September 17, lists Maiava first at quarterback; Sam Huard and Jonas Williams are listed behind him. 2026 line: 896 passing yards, 80.7% completions, 10.80 yards per attempt, 10-1 TD-INT over 3 games.

• Dylan Lonergan is RUTG's confirmed starter

  8.34 Y/A

  Dylan Lonergan is RUTG's confirmed starting quarterback. Reported as the starter against USC and absent from the game-day availability report after missing the Boston College game with an undisclosed injury. 2026 line: 242 passing yards, 55.2% completions, 8.34 yards per attempt, 2-3 TD-INT over 1 games.

TRENCHES

• USC is +80.7 rush yards per game

  80.7 YPG

  USC is at 172.7 rushing yards per game over 3 games; RUTG is at 92 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

• USC's front holds runners to 79.3 fewer yards per game

  79.3 YPG

  USC is at 95.7 rushing yards allowed per game over 3 games; RUTG is at 175 over 2 games. Those come from the opposing team boxes in the games each side has already played this 2026 season, through 2026-09-18.

PACE & SCRIPT

• USC is scoring +22.3 points per game

  22.3 PPG

  USC is at 43.3 points per game over 3 games; RUTG is at 21 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

• USC's defense gives up 13.8 fewer points per game

  13.8 PPG

  USC is at 18.7 points allowed per game over 3 games; RUTG is at 32.5 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

• USC holds the ball 7:22 longer per game

  7:22 TOP

  USC is at 36:27 time of possession per game over 3 games; RUTG is at 29:06 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

TURNOVERS

• USC commits 2.67 fewer turnovers per game

  2.67 TO

  USC is at 1.33 turnovers committed per game over 3 games; RUTG is at 4 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

MISMATCH

• USC's ball security against RUTG's giveaways — 4 turnovers a game to USC's 1.33

  1.33 VS 4

  The widest gap on this matchup's tape: turnovers / g — USC 1.33, RUTG 4, over 3 and 2 game samples.

REPLACEMENT

• Jyon Simon (DL) is out for RUTG

  OUT

  Defensive lineman; ruled out with an undisclosed condition. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Depth Chart 2026 (2026-09-17)

• Kevin Levy (DB) is out for RUTG

  OUT

  Defensive back; ruled out with an undisclosed condition. Rutgers Scarlet Knights Depth Chart 2026 (2026-09-17)

• Brendan Cho (DT) is out for USC

  OUT

  Defensive tackle; listed out with an undisclosed condition. USC Trojans' Official Injury Report Looms Large Ahead of First Road Test (2026-09-18)

• Taniela Tupou (TE) is out for USC

  OUT

  Tight end; listed out with an undisclosed condition. USC Trojans' Official Injury Report Looms Large Ahead of First Road Test (2026-09-18)

• Roderick Tezeno (WR) is out for USC

  OUT

  Wide receiver; listed out with an undisclosed condition. USC Trojans' Official Injury Report Looms Large Ahead of First Road Test (2026-09-18)

• Kilian O'Connor (OL) is out for USC

  OUT

  Offensive lineman; listed out with a knee/undisclosed condition. USC Trojans' Official Injury Report Looms Large Ahead of First Road Test (2026-09-18)

• Dylan Black (LS) is out for USC

  OUT

  Long snapper; listed out with an undisclosed condition. USC Trojans' Official Injury Report Looms Large Ahead of First Road Test (2026-09-18)

• Madden Riordan (S) is out for USC

  OUT

  Safety; listed out with an undisclosed condition. USC Trojans' Official Injury Report Looms Large Ahead of First Road Test (2026-09-18)

• Elijah Newby (LB) is out for USC

  OUT

  Linebacker; listed out with an undisclosed condition. USC Trojans' Official Injury Report Looms Large Ahead of First Road Test (2026-09-18)

• Shaun Scott (LB) is out for USC

  OUT

  Linebacker; listed out with an undisclosed condition. USC Trojans' Official Injury Report Looms Large Ahead of First Road Test (2026-09-18)

• Kendarius Reddick (S) is out for USC

  OUT

  Safety; listed out with an undisclosed condition. USC Trojans' Official Injury Report Looms Large Ahead of First Road Test (2026-09-18)

• Jahkeem Stewart (DT) is out for USC

  OUT

  Defensive tackle; listed out with a foot injury. USC Trojans' Official Injury Report Looms Large Ahead of First Road Test (2026-09-18)

• Trent Mosley (WR) is out for USC

  OUT

  Starting wide receiver and returner; out against Rutgers with a lower-body/knee injury. Lincoln Riley said the return timetable remained inconclusive. USC Trojans' Official Injury Report Looms Large Ahead of First Road Test (2026-09-18) USC freshman star receiver Trent Mosley to miss Rutgers game (2026-09-16)

SITUATIONAL

• RUTG's staff goes for it 3.33 more times per game on fourth down

  3.33 ATT/G

  USC is at 1.67 fourth-down attempts per game over 3 games; RUTG is at 5 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

• USC's third-down conversion rate is 39 percentage points higher

  39 PP

  USC is at 69.4% third-down conversion rate over 3 games; RUTG is at 30.4% over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.

• USC moves the chains 8.5 more times per game

  8.5 FD

  USC is at 27 first downs per game over 3 games; RUTG is at 18.5 over 2 games. Those are current-2026 team-game results through 2026-09-18.