The No. 12 USC Trojans secured a narrow 42-35 victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. While the offense flourished through freshman contributions, the Trojans' defense struggled to contain a resilient Rutgers squad.

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The Riley Wormley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt spark

Redshirt freshman Riley Wormley emerged as a critical offensive weapon during the Week 3 matchup against Rutgers. As reported by the source, Wormley produced 54 yards and two touchdowns on just four total touches. His ability to create momentum was highlighted by a 27-yard run in the third quarter that helped USC pull ahead 27-21, followed by a 2-yard touchdown reception from Jayden Maiava late in the fourth quarter to seal the game.

While King Miller handled the bulk of the rushing duties with 102 yards on 16 attempts, Wormley's efficiency provided the necessary spark. True freshman wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt also expanded his role within the USC passing attack, recording four receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown. His performance brings his season totals to 10 receptions for 138 yards, proving he is a reliable target for Maiava during criitcal fourth-down situations.

A 30.5 points-per-game defensive liability

The USC defense is currently struggling to maintain consistency under new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson. According to the report, the Trojans are allowing an average of 30.5 points per game through their first three contests . While cornerback Prophet Brown delivered a key defensive play to help secure the win, the unit's overall performance was marked by enough lapses to raise concerns about its reliability.

The 42-35 shootout at SHI Stadium

The high-scoring nature of the 42-35 win at SHI Stadium reflects a chaotic road environment that head coach Lincoln Riley described as "lively." Despite entering the game as a heavy favorite, USC found it difficult to pull away from the Scarlet Knights,who repeatedly closed the scoring gap.. This pattern sgugests the Trojans are currently in a "shootout" mode, relying on offensive bursts to outpace their own defensive vulnerabilities.

Can Gary Patterson stabilize the unit before Oregon?

Several critical questions remain for the USC Trojans as they prepare for their upcoming battle against the No. 20 Oregon Ducks. it is still unverified whether Gary Patterson can implement the defensive adjustments necessary to lower the 30.5 points-per-game average before facing such elite competition. additionally, the team must determine how to maintain offensive depth and stability with another wide receiver currently sidelined by injury.