Luke Wafle, USC’s massive freshman defensive end, is already rewriting the script — six-foot-six, 265 pounds, and dominating from day one. The No. 1 recruit in his class, he started Week 1 and brought relentless energy, instantly becoming a defensive “alpha.” With USC rebuilding its trenches for Big Ten battles, Wafle might be the game-changing anchor they’ve been waiting for.

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USC’s season opener looked like a spring game, not a powerhouse kickoff, with social media buzzing over suspiciously sparse crowds—some even suspecting staff were counted to inflate numbers. Critics like Nick Watts and Stewart Mandel slammed the optics, warning that empty seats hurt more than losses, damaging recruiting and sponsor perception in college sports’ cutthroat world. Now, attention turns to Notre Dame’s big showdown against Wisconsin, where the Irish, ranked fourth and led by a Heisman hopeful, face a crucial test—and USC’s image crisis looms as a major red flag for the future.

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USC’s season opener against San Jose State drew shockingly low attendance, sparking national backlash — including a fiery critique from ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, who called it embarrassing for a team poised to be Big Ten contenders. The Trojans’ athletic department responded with an unusual apology, acknowledging the sparse crowd and thanking those who showed up — hinting at a desperate need for home-field energy as they gear up for Friday’s night game against Fresno State.

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