A look back at the key numbers and notes from USC's 43-21 win versus UNLV in the season opener...
USC improved to 93-24-8 in season openers and 65-16-7 in season openers at home. It has not lost a season opener at home since 1997 (Florida State).
The Trojans have won 17 home games in a row, extending the second longest streak in the nation behind Alabama's 19.
***
QB JT Daniels became just the second true freshman to start a season opener at his position for USC. He completed 21 of 35 passes for 282 yards with a touchdown. It’s the most ever yards for a USC quarterback of any class in their first start, surpassing Carson Palmer’s 279 yards in Game 9 of the 1998 season.
Daniels was sacked twice but did not throw an interception. He averaged 8.1 yards per attempt.
TB Aca'Cedric Ware rushed for 100 yards and a TD. It was the fourth 100-yard game of his career. He had a team-high 10 carries, marking just the second time he's led USC in attempts. It was his first career start.
RB Vavae Malepeai scored the first two touchdowns of his career.
Ware, Malepeai and Stephen Carr combined for 205 rushing yards while averaging 7.4 yards per carry.
Carr also had a 73-yard kickoff return. USC didn't have a return that long all of last season.
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown had a game-high seven receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown. No true freshman has ever had more receptions in a debut. Willie Brown debuted with eight catches in 1961, before freshmen were allowed to play varsity. Damian Williams also had seven catches in his USC debut, but he was a redshirt sophomore.
WR Trevon Sidney posted career highs with three receptions for 72 yards.
Tyler Vaughns returned two punts for 54 yards. Outside of Michael Pittman's 72-yard touchdown return on a trick play last season, both of Vaughns' returns would have been a season high for last season.
K Chase McGrath tied the USC record with five field goals (Ryan Killeen, 2004). McGrath scored the team's first 12 points.
The Trojans had 501 total yards of offense, reaching the 500-yard mark for 16th time in 24 games. They averaged 6.9 yards per play.
***
LB Porter Gustin had 1.5 sacks and recovered a fumble.
LB Cam Smith had a sack, two tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a team-high seven tackles.
S Isaiah Pola-Mao, who startd at strong safety in his college debut, also had seven tackles and forced a fumble on UNLV's first play from scrimmage.
DT Brandon Pili had 1.5 tackles for loss.
DT Jay Tufele registered his first career sack.
CB Biggie Marshall had two pass breakups.
The Trojans, who tied for the national lead in 2017, had five sacks overall.
UNLV ran for 308 yards, the second most by a USC opponent in the past 52 games. (Notre Dame had 377 last year.)
***
USC scored 24 points in the fourth quarter, the most since scoring 28 in last year's season opener against Western Michigan.
The Trojans scored in all six of their red zone trips, though only three went for touchdowns.
USC won time of possession, 31:06-28:54.
Eleven true freshmen, eight redshirt freshmen and a JC transfer made their debuts.
USC improved to 93-24-8 in season openers and 65-16-7 in season openers at home. It has not lost a season opener at home since 1997 (Florida State).
The Trojans have won 17 home games in a row, extending the second longest streak in the nation behind Alabama's 19.
***
QB JT Daniels became just the second true freshman to start a season opener at his position for USC. He completed 21 of 35 passes for 282 yards with a touchdown. It’s the most ever yards for a USC quarterback of any class in their first start, surpassing Carson Palmer’s 279 yards in Game 9 of the 1998 season.
Daniels was sacked twice but did not throw an interception. He averaged 8.1 yards per attempt.
TB Aca'Cedric Ware rushed for 100 yards and a TD. It was the fourth 100-yard game of his career. He had a team-high 10 carries, marking just the second time he's led USC in attempts. It was his first career start.
RB Vavae Malepeai scored the first two touchdowns of his career.
Ware, Malepeai and Stephen Carr combined for 205 rushing yards while averaging 7.4 yards per carry.
Carr also had a 73-yard kickoff return. USC didn't have a return that long all of last season.
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown had a game-high seven receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown. No true freshman has ever had more receptions in a debut. Willie Brown debuted with eight catches in 1961, before freshmen were allowed to play varsity. Damian Williams also had seven catches in his USC debut, but he was a redshirt sophomore.
WR Trevon Sidney posted career highs with three receptions for 72 yards.
Tyler Vaughns returned two punts for 54 yards. Outside of Michael Pittman's 72-yard touchdown return on a trick play last season, both of Vaughns' returns would have been a season high for last season.
K Chase McGrath tied the USC record with five field goals (Ryan Killeen, 2004). McGrath scored the team's first 12 points.
The Trojans had 501 total yards of offense, reaching the 500-yard mark for 16th time in 24 games. They averaged 6.9 yards per play.
***
LB Porter Gustin had 1.5 sacks and recovered a fumble.
LB Cam Smith had a sack, two tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a team-high seven tackles.
S Isaiah Pola-Mao, who startd at strong safety in his college debut, also had seven tackles and forced a fumble on UNLV's first play from scrimmage.
DT Brandon Pili had 1.5 tackles for loss.
DT Jay Tufele registered his first career sack.
CB Biggie Marshall had two pass breakups.
The Trojans, who tied for the national lead in 2017, had five sacks overall.
UNLV ran for 308 yards, the second most by a USC opponent in the past 52 games. (Notre Dame had 377 last year.)
***
USC scored 24 points in the fourth quarter, the most since scoring 28 in last year's season opener against Western Michigan.
The Trojans scored in all six of their red zone trips, though only three went for touchdowns.
USC won time of possession, 31:06-28:54.
Eleven true freshmen, eight redshirt freshmen and a JC transfer made their debuts.
