⚡ CFB Dashboard

- USC's Luke Wafle and Jide Abasiri led the reported defensive grades against Louisiana at 85.0 and 88.8. Wafle had seven tackles in 30 snaps with an 85.7 run-defense grade, while Abasiri generated four pressures in 15 pass-rush snaps and three defensive stops. Wafle's two pressures and 65.0 pass-rush grade show his run defense remains ahead of his rush production. - USC linebacker Desman Stephens II posted five tackles in 40 snaps with an 82.4 tackling grade and allowed one eight-yard reception on two targets. Freshman Elbert Hill IV played 25 snaps, broke up a pass and allowed an 11-yard catch on third-and-12. The report identifies improved tackling for Stephens and a productive coverage outing for Hill. - USC edge Zuriah Fisher produced the team's only sack, a fourth-quarter strip sack, and a 91.2 pass-rush grade, but his run-defense and tackling grades were 48.1 and 29.8. Kameryn Crawford added three pressures on 12 rush snaps and a 70.0 run-defense grade; his first missed tackle lowered his tackling grade to 47.0. Rush production did not eliminate tackling concerns. - USC's Braylan Shelby returned from injury for 20 reserve snaps against Louisiana, earning a 43.5 overall grade. Safeties Madden Riordan and Isaiah Rubin again ranked in the bottom three at 44.1 and 38.7 in nine and 11 snaps; Rubin allowed a 24-yard catch on his only target. These are limited-snap warning signs, not an announced depth-chart change or proof Shelby is fully recovered.

- Injury: going back through the broadcast, it may have actually come on the end around where he was tackled at the goal line and Bowman was called for holding.

- Pick/market: The 2026 USC football regular season is already a quarter of the way finished, as crazy as that may seem with it barely halfway into the month of September.

- QB/LB: I imagine in 5 years just the top end of the QB market will be $10 million+.

- Defense: USC's starters and key backups gave up plays, too.

- Coaching: Play action remains one of the favored weapons in the arsenal of every offensive coordinator.

- WR: Trent is our most talented WR, but out of all the position rooms the next man up is still WR1 level.

- Rutgers' two quarterbacks have combined for seven interceptions through two games in 2026 despite moving the ball, according to the USC preview. The writer wants USC to create at least two interceptions in this matchup; that is a proposed performance target, not a forecast presented as certain or a quarterback-change report. - Rutgers receiver KJ Duff exceeded 100 receiving yards in each of the first two games. The preview calls limiting him to fewer than 100 yards a priority for USC's defense, but does not report Gary Patterson's coverage plan or any change in Duff's availability. - USC freshman defender Luke Wafle led the team in tackles against Louisiana but had not recorded a collegiate sack entering Rutgers. The writer's call for his first sack is a desired outcome, not evidence of a new pass-rushing role or an announced lineup change.

- Practice: EP says Sunday is a practice day so not a lot of NFL.