LOS ANGELES — It was a subtle gesture. A nod of respect from USC to a football coach who spent a dozen years in the building before an unceremonious exit. But as the public address announcer took the rare step of reading Clay Helton's name aloud, the frustration from his final few years at USC came pouring out in a chorus of boos from all corners of the Coliseum. Turns out, even four years ...

Georgia Southern quarterback JC French IV is taken down by USC defensive end Kameryn Fountain during the second quarter at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Los Angeles.

Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times/TNS

LOS ANGELES — It was a subtle gesture. A nod of respect from USC to a football coach who spent a dozen years in the building before an unceremonious exit. But as the public address announcer took the rare step of reading Clay Helton's name aloud, the frustration from his final few years at USC came pouring out in a chorus of boos from all corners of the Coliseum.

Turns out, even four years after his firing, Helton could still conjure complicated feelings among the Trojan faithful. What he couldn't do Saturday is stop the Trojans from taking those feelings out on his football team in a 59-20 beatdown.

A reunion that began with courtesy quickly turned to catharsis, as the USC offense piled up yards and points at will for the second week in a row.

After tallying 597 yards in its Week 1 blowout of Missouri State, USC moved the ball even more efficiently in Week 2, racking up 755 yards, the most at USC in two decades. They averaged 12 yards per play and ripped off a dozen big plays of 20-plus yards.

And just like last week, junior quarterback Jayden Maiava was content to sit back and pick apart an inferior defense. He threw four touchdowns Saturday, while his 412 passing yards shattered his career high before the fourth quarter even began.

By that point, the Trojans were once again trotting out their backups for a full quarter's worth of reps.

Ja'Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon, USC's top two receivers, didn't catch any passes after halftime … because they didn't have to. And Maiava through two games has had to play just five quarters, and still has 707 passing yards and seven touchdowns to show for it.

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USC cornerback Marcelles Williams takes down Georgia Southern wide receiver Josh Dallas during the first quarter at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Los Angeles.

Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times/TNS

USC's rushing attack didn't face much resistance either on Saturday. The Trojans racked up 309 yards on the ground alone, the most of the Lincoln Riley era by a wide margin. Waymond Jordan had five runs of 10 yards or more on just 16 carries as he finished with 167 yards. Eli Sanders added 55 more and even walk-on King Miller broke away for another big touchdown run, his second in as many weeks.

It wasn't, however, a banner day for USC's defense, which allowed Georgia Southern to move the ball. The secondary had several breakdowns that led to big plays for the Eagles.

But on a day like Saturday, when USC's offense could do whatever it wanted, it didn't much matter.

Which is funny, considering how the Trojans opened the game. Riley couldn't have drawn up a sloppier start. Jordan, on his second carry of the day, fumbled. Then a bad offsides penalty kept Georgia Southern's drive alive and the Eagles connected on a 32-yard touchdown pass on the next play.

Still, Riley went right back to Jordan on the next possession and the running back delivered, as USC rolled down the field on a scoring drive behind 41 yards from the junior.

Lane punctuated the drive as Maiava lofted a pass in his direction toward the end zone. Tangled up with a Georgia Southern defender, Lane needed just a single outstretched arm to pull down the Trojans' first score.

USC's offense caught fire from there. The Trojans used two plays on their next possession to find the end zone. Then three plays on the drive after that. Both possessions ended with Lemon sprinting free for touchdowns.

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USC wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane scores as Georgia Southern defensive back Tracy Hill Jr. defends in the first quarter at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Los Angeles.

Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times/TNS

The first saw Lemon slip two tackles before weaving his way through the Georgia Southern secondary for a 62-yard touchdown. The second, Lemon simply turned on the jets and blew past the Eagles' defense with ease for a 74-yard score.

It seemed USC might leave Georgia Southern in the dust after that, similar to how it piled up points a week ago against Missouri State. But Helton's team kept hanging around. They led four straight drives into USC territory, only to come up short on three of them.

The Trojans' firepower was simply too much to handle. USC led another quick scoring drive, this time needing just four plays before tight end Walker Lyons trotted in for a touchdown.

By halftime, USC already had 415 yards, more than it tallied in six games last season, while Maiava had more than 300 passing yards and four touchdowns.

It only got more lopsided after half. Jordan broke away for a 36-yard touchdown scamper. Sanders scored twice in 10 minutes of game time. Miller even got in on the fun.

Soon enough, Helton was left to walk back up the tunnel with a 39-point loss, while Riley had plenty to smile about in the wake of another seamless win, this time over his predecessor.

USC wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane celebrates his touchdown in the first quarter against Georgia Southern at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Los Angeles.

Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times/TNS