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LOS ANGELES — Lincoln Riley’s USC teams have always been known for explosive playmakers on the outside and elite quarterback play that makes the Trojans one of the most consistent offenses in the nation year in and year out. However, through two weeks, it might be the other side of the ball stealing the show.

That can be attributed to one person: Gary Patterson.

USC’s first-year defensive coordinator showed just how suffocating his defense can be Friday night, leading a dominant defensive effort in the Trojans’ 39-0 victory over Fresno State in the Bulldogs’ debut game in the Pac-12 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Patterson, who joined Riley’s staff in January, has brought an aggressive, disciplined identity to a defense that held Fresno State to just 116 total yards, the lowest mark for a USC defense since 2008. The winningest coach in TCU history over his 22 seasons in Fort Worth, Patterson had the nation’s top total defense five times and has now coached USC to one of its finest defensive efforts in school history.

“He brings a whole lot of energy to us,” USC safety Kenny Urlacher said. “He just helps us get better each and every day.”

The performance marked USC’s first shutout in nearly two years and just its second since 2011. The only other time in Riley’s tenure came Sept. 7, 2024, in a 48-0 win over the Utah State Aggies.

Patterson, who is known for his signature “4-2-5” defensive scheme, a hybrid system built on speed, disguise and discipline, had Fresno State’s offense out of sync all night. USC recorded five sacks, seven tackles for loss and forced two turnovers. On fourth-and-goal from the USC 8-yard line with under a minute remaining, USC defensive end Jadyn Ramos took down Mandal for his second sack in as many weeks, putting the finishing touches on the defensive clinic and preserving the shutout.

“That red zone stop at the end was tremendous,” Riley said. “That’s something we’ve really been emphasizing heavily.”

Perhaps the most impressive feat came from USC’s ability to put four points on the board without the offense touching the football. The Trojans recorded two safeties in Friday’s 39-point victory, something that had not been done in college football since Nov. 9, 2024, when Duke and UNLV each recorded two.

“I don’t know that for as long as I’ve been a coach if we’ve ever had two [safeties] in a game,” Riley said. “That was pretty darn cool.”

Junior safety Kennedy Urlacher, the son of NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher, played a major role in the blowout victory.

Urlacher finished the game with two sacks, a forced fumble and a safety, the latter coming when he slammed Fresno State quarterback Jayden Mandal out the back of the end zone to give USC a 16-0 lead in the second quarter.

“He’s a high energy, high effort player,” Riley said. “Once he turns it loose, you feel his speed and physicality on the field.”

Urlacher’s safety was set up by the instant pressure generated up front. Junior defensive tackle Jide Abasiri beat a double-team block up the middle on third-and-23, forcing Mandal to roll out to his right, where Urlacher was waiting to knock the Bulldog quarterback out of bounds for two points.

“It’s good to see guys like KU [Kenny Urlacher] make plays,” Abasiri said.

The defensive showing was especially notable after USC allowed 23 points in the fourth quarter against San José State last week. Despite that late-game lapse, the Trojans have been dominant defensively for seven of their first eight quarters this season, allowing just three total points with the starting unit on the field.

That collective execution has allowed the Trojans to play with the speed and physicality that has defined Patterson’s defenses throughout his successful career. Through two games — albeit against inferior, non-conference opponents — USC has shown the ability to pressure the quarterback, force negative plays and create turnovers while remaining disciplined on the back end.

Now, the challenge will be sustaining that standard as the Trojans march toward the heart of their schedule. For Abasiri, continuing to harass opposing offenses starts with every player executing his assignment.

“It ultimately boils down to everyone doing their job,” Abasiri said.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

LOS ANGELES — Lincoln Riley’s USC teams have always been known for explosive playmakers on the outside and elite quarterback play that makes the Trojans one of the most consistent offenses in the nation year in and year out. However, through two weeks, it might be the other side of the ball stealing the show.

That can be attributed to one person: Gary Patterson.

USC’s first-year defensive coordinator showed just how suffocating his defense can be Friday night, leading a dominant defensive effort in the Trojans’ 39-0 victory over Fresno State in the Bulldogs’ debut game in the Pac-12 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Patterson, who joined Riley’s staff in January, has brought an aggressive, disciplined identity to a defense that held Fresno State to just 116 total yards, the lowest mark for a USC defense since 2008. The winningest coach in TCU history over his 22 seasons in Fort Worth, Patterson had the nation’s top total defense five times and has now coached USC to one of its finest defensive efforts in school history.

“He brings a whole lot of energy to us,” USC safety Kenny Urlacher said. “He just helps us get better each and every day.”

The performance marked USC’s first shutout in nearly two years and just its second since 2011. The only other time in Riley’s tenure came Sept. 7, 2024, in a 48-0 win over the Utah State Aggies.

Patterson, who is known for his signature “4-2-5” defensive scheme, a hybrid system built on speed, disguise and discipline, had Fresno State’s offense out of sync all night. USC recorded five sacks, seven tackles for loss and forced two turnovers. On fourth-and-goal from the USC 8-yard line with under a minute remaining, USC defensive end Jadyn Ramos took down Mandal for his second sack in as many weeks, putting the finishing touches on the defensive clinic and preserving the shutout.

“That red zone stop at the end was tremendous,” Riley said. “That’s something we’ve really been emphasizing heavily.”

Perhaps the most impressive feat came from USC’s ability to put four points on the board without the offense touching the football. The Trojans recorded two safeties in Friday’s 39-point victory, something that had not been done in college football since Nov. 9, 2024, when Duke and UNLV each recorded two.

“I don’t know that for as long as I’ve been a coach if we’ve ever had two [safeties] in a game,” Riley said. “That was pretty darn cool.”

Junior safety Kennedy Urlacher, the son of NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher, played a major role in the blowout victory.

Urlacher finished the game with two sacks, a forced fumble and a safety, the latter coming when he slammed Fresno State quarterback Jayden Mandal out the back of the end zone to give USC a 16-0 lead in the second quarter.

“He’s a high energy, high effort player,” Riley said. “Once he turns it loose, you feel his speed and physicality on the field.”

Urlacher’s safety was set up by the instant pressure generated up front. Junior defensive tackle Jide Abasiri beat a double-team block up the middle on third-and-23, forcing Mandal to roll out to his right, where Urlacher was waiting to knock the Bulldog quarterback out of bounds for two points.

“It’s good to see guys like KU [Kenny Urlacher] make plays,” Abasiri said.

The defensive showing was especially notable after USC allowed 23 points in the fourth quarter against San José State last week. Despite that late-game lapse, the Trojans have been dominant defensively for seven of their first eight quarters this season, allowing just three total points with the starting unit on the field.

That collective execution has allowed the Trojans to play with the speed and physicality that has defined Patterson’s defenses throughout his successful career. Through two games — albeit against inferior, non-conference opponents — USC has shown the ability to pressure the quarterback, force negative plays and create turnovers while remaining disciplined on the back end.

Now, the challenge will be sustaining that standard as the Trojans march toward the heart of their schedule. For Abasiri, continuing to harass opposing offenses starts with every player executing his assignment.

“It ultimately boils down to everyone doing their job,” Abasiri said.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos