USC Football Has No More Excuses: Season Expectations, San Jose State Preview & Can Jayden Maiava Win the Heisman?

Hosts Alana Morgan, Juwan Perkins, and Crash “CrashLit” Collier are joined by Los Angeles Times freelance journalist Jordan Puente for an in-depth USC football season preview. The group discusses the opening of USC’s new Bloom Performance Center and what the major investment means for Lincoln Riley and the Trojans, including the increased expectations surrounding the program. The conversation also covers the impact of Jahkeem Stewart's injury, USC’s new-look defense under defensive coordinator Gary Patterson, the importance of communication and consistency, and which freshmen could make an immediate impact. The group also discusses quarterback Jayden Maiava’s development as a leader, his potential to become a Heisman contender, and what he needs to do to make a serious case. The episode then turns to the San Jose State matchup, including USC’s offensive and defensive outlook, players to watch, the return of Waymond Jordan, USC’s young wide receiver room, and what the Trojans need to prove in their first game. The panel shares their score predictions and discusses what they most want to see from USC beyond simply winning. The group also looks ahead at some of USC’s biggest tests of the season, including Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana, before wrapping up with a rapid-fire discussion of other major sports storylines. Follow the Hosts Alana Morgan: @alanamorgan Crash “CrashLit” Collier: @crashlit Juwan Perkins: @theeraser7 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.