TLDR: USC's breakout freshman receiver Trent Mosley is out at Rutgers on Saturday, while the Scarlet Knights get quarterback Dylan Lonergan back.
USC has been rolling through the non-conference slate at 3-0, and a huge reason why is a true freshman nobody outside Troy was talking about in August. Trent Mosley has turned into one of the best young receivers in the country, and now he's walking into Big Ten play on the shelf.
Pete Nakos@PeteNakosUSC true freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley is out this week at Rutgers, per the Big Ten injury report. Has 13 catches for 255 yards and 4 TDs in three games. Rutgers QB Dylan Lonergan is probable after missing the Boston College game. t.co/NjBdOfkz6w
Pete Nakos laid out the numbers: 13 catches, 255 yards and 4 touchdowns through 3 games, all gone from the box score against Rutgers because the Big Ten injury report has him out this week. That's an absurd per-game clip for a freshman, and it's exactly the kind of player USC can't just plug-and-play replace.
Pete Thamel confirmed the same news from the availability report, calling Mosley one of the top freshman receivers in the country before the scratch. USC still opens as a massive favorite on the road at SHI Stadium — the Trojans have hit at least 39 points in every game this season — but losing your most explosive weapon before conference play even starts is never nothing, especially against a Rutgers defense that will be selling out to slow down whatever's left of the passing game.
Pete Thamel @PeteThamel · Rutgers lists quarterback Dylan Lonergan as probable for the USC game. He missed Rutgers' loss at BC with an undisclosed injury.
Rutgers, meanwhile, gets a piece of good news of its own. Dylan Lonergan is probable to return after missing the loss at Boston College with an undisclosed injury, per Thamel. The Scarlet Knights have had instability at quarterback all year, and getting their starter back gives them at least a puncher's chance against a ranked USC team that's been putting up video-game numbers through the air.
It's not all good news on the Rutgers side, though. Thamel also noted star tailback Antwan Raymond is considered questionable, which means the Scarlet Knights could be searching for answers on the ground even with Lonergan back under center. For a team still hunting its first win, that's a tough spot to be shorthanded in against the Trojans' front seven.
Pete Thamel@PeteThamelStar tailback Antwan Raymond i considered questionable for Rutgers.
USC will lean harder on Jayden Maiava and the rest of the receiving corps without Mosley on the field, and it's fair to wonder how long this keeps him out — nobody's put a firm timetable on it yet. For Rutgers, the swing factor is simple: if Lonergan looks like himself and Raymond can go, this at least has a chance to be competitive. If either doesn't, it could get out of hand fast.