USC football’s 2025 season opener is almost here! The Trojans kick off their 2025 campaign on Saturday at the Coliseum against Missouri State.
What can we expect to see in Saturday’s game? Here are five predictions for USC vs. Missouri State:
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Jordan opens the scoring
The season opener begs the question: Who will score USC’s first touchdown of 2025? After much deliberation, I am going with a rushing score by junior college transfer running back Waymond Jordan.
Bishop Fitzgerald interception
Another important question: Who will record the first takeaway of the season? My pick for this one is an interception by North Carolina State safety transfer Bishop Fitzgerald.
All three quarterbacks play
If the Trojans do not blow out Missouri State—a school playing its first ever game as an FBS program—then they have some serious problems. With the game likely to get out of hand, expect starting QB Jayden Maiava to rest for much of the second half, giving us an opportunity to get a look at true freshman Husan Longstreet and veteran transfer Sam Huard.
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Maiava’s final statline
Maiava sitting for much of the second half would obviously hurt his stats. But he should be able to do enough against Missouri State during the time that he is on the field to largely make up for it. My prediction for his final line: 14-for-19 for 261 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
Mediocre crowd
I fully expect USC fans to pack the Coliseum for big games like Michigan and UCLA. But will they show out on a hot August evening for Missouri State?
I really hope that I am wrong about this, but I am expecting a fairly mediocre crowd on Saturday. My prediction for announced attendance is around 63,000, with a large chunk of that number leaving by early when the game gets out of hand by the third quarter.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Five predictions for USC football in Week 1 vs. Missouri State
