USC: 59 Georgia Southern: 20
Clay Helton’s return to the Coliseum was anything but warm. The former USC head coach was met with boos from the home crowd, and his Georgia Southern squad quickly found itself overwhelmed by a high-powered Trojan offense, as USC rolled to a 59–20 victory.
Georgia Southern struck first, but USC responded quickly. The opening drive featured key contributions from Makai Lemon and a pair of strong runs from Waymond Jordan, setting up a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch by Jakobi Lane—his first touchdown of the season.
USC’s second score came on a highlight-reel play from Makai Lemon, who turned a short pass into a 62-yard touchdown, with 53 of those yards coming after the catch. Lemon, known for his elite speed and shiftiness, was electric all game, finishing with 158 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns on just 4 catches, including 113 yards after the catch (YAC).
On the ground, Waymond Jordan was equally dominant, rushing for 158 yards, consistently gashing the Georgia Southern defense. The Trojans’ deep and dynamic running back room was on full display, with Eli Sanders adding 65 yards and 2 touchdowns, while King Miller contributed 55 yards and a touchdown of his own.
This running back group might just be one of the top three in the country, showcasing depth, explosiveness, and balance.
For USC fans, this was a statement win—not just because of the score, but because it came against a familiar face. The Trojans move to the next challenge with confidence, heading on the road to face Purdue next week.