USC triumphs over Georgia Southern 59-20, marking Clay Helton's triumphant return to the Coliseum as coach

In the highly anticipated season opener for both teams, Southern California emerged victorious over Georgia Southern, winning 59-20. The game, held at Georgia Southern, saw numerous standout performances and a few areas of concern for each team.

Jayden Maiava, making his third career start for Georgia Southern, was forced to leave the game due to an injury early on. Despite this setback, the Eagles' offense showed resilience, consistently driving into USC territory throughout the game. Maiava had an impressive outing prior to his departure, passing for 412 yards and four scores.

One of those scores went to Camden Brown, who caught two touchdown passes in the first half. Brown's second touchdown, a 62-yard catch from backup quarterback Makai Lemon, was a highlight of the game. Lemon stepped up in Maiava's absence, showing promise for the future.

However, it was Southern California who dominated the game, with their offense and defense both performing at a high level. Waymond Jordan, a juco transfer, had a stellar debut, rushing for 167 yards and a touchdown. His performance marked the most yards rushed by any tailback in Lincoln Riley's four-year tenure at USC in his second game.

Jordan's touchdown was preceded by a 36-yard run by Jordan, and the Trojans also benefited from a 41-yard touchdown run by King Miller in the fourth quarter. Eli Sanders added to the Trojans' tally with two scores of his own.

Walker Lyons also contributed to USC's offensive efforts, catching a touchdown pass. The defense, while impressive overall, showed some flaws that could be exploited by better opponents. Turner Helton, Clay Helton's son, made his debut for the Trojans in the fourth quarter, going 4 of 9 for 24 yards.

Georgia Southern will look to bounce back when they play their home opener against Jacksonville State on Sept. 13. Southern California, meanwhile, will travel to Purdue for their Big Ten opener on the same day. Both teams will be eager to build on their opening performances and continue their seasons on a positive note.

USC triumphs over Georgia Southern 59-20, marking Clay Helton's triumphant return to the Coliseum as coach