The USC Trojans open up their 2025 season with a home game against the Missouri State Bears. The matchup doesn’t quite have the same gravitas as last year’s opener in Las Vegas against LSU but there’s Trojan football in the Coliseum again and that’s enough reason to celebrate. Here’s how to watch the home-opener for the Trojans on Saturday evening.
USC vs. Missouri State game info
Teams: USC Trojans vs. Missouri State Bears
Date: Saturday, August 30
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Time: 4:30 pm PT
Television: Big Ten Network (Guy Haberman, Yogi Roth and Rhett Lewis)
Streaming options: Fubo, Sling TV, YouTube TV
Radio: ESPN LA 710AM (Pete Arbogast, Shaun Cody, Cody Kessler, Su’a Cravens, Jordan Moore, Jason Schwartz) Affiliate stations on the USC Trojans Media Network: KSHP 1400AM and KSHP-FM 107.1FM in Las Vegas, KSZL 1230AM in Barstow, KJJZ-HD3 102.7FM in Thousand Palms and KGU 95.1FM and 760AM in Honolulu • Also listen at USCTrojans.com/Listen, the ESPN LA App and on SiriusXM Satellite Radio (channels 197, 198, 397 or 959 and 960 on the app) Spanish Radio Broadcast with Harry Ruiz (play-by-play) • ESPN LA App, USCTrojans.com/Listen or the USC Trojans Game Day App, beginning 30 minutes before kickoff
Trojans vs. Bears game notes
* This will be Missouri State’s first-ever game as an FBS program as they move up from FCS to Conference USA. It keeps alive USC’s status of being th eonly FBS school to never play an FCS opponent.
* These teams have never played but USC head coach Lincoln Riley is 1-0 against Missouri State. He and the Oklahoma Sooners beat the Bears 48-0 in the 2020 season-opener.
* Missouri State quarterback Jacob Clark is back after throwing for 3,604 yards and 26 touchdowns against just six interceptions last season. The 6-foot-6, 220-pounder is the focal point of the Bears’ offense.
* The Bears will be without standout wide receiver James BlackStrain, who will miss the game due to a thumb injury. BlackStrain earned an offer from USC, and many other power schools, during the recruiting process as a 2021 prospect before ultimately signing with Georgia Tech.
* Missouri State returns several starters along the offensive line and added Delaware State transfer Ebubedike Nnabugwu at right guard. But Missouri State allowed 39 sacks last season, which would have tied for No. 121 in FBS.
* Missouri State lost last year’s leading tackler, linebacker Tahj Chambers, to Mississippi via the transfer portal. He finished with 88 tackles, while the No. 2 player in the defense had 62.
* USC quarterback Jayden Maiava will be making his fifth start for the Trojans. Last year, Maiava completed 59.8% of his passes for 1,201 yards with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also scored four touchdowns on the ground and had 45 yards rushing.
* USC’s revamped defensive line will be something to watch. The Trojans pushed the average size of their defensive line two-deep from 278 pounds in 2024 up to 300 pounds heading into 2025.