USC’s Trent Mosley Headlines Week 9 True Freshman Standouts

Two USC freshmen helped knock off the No. 2 team in the country on Saturday, and they lead the Week 9 true freshmen standouts in a weekend full of first-year players changing games. USC receiver Trent Mosley and tight end Mark Bowman made the biggest plays in the Trojans’ 30-18 win over Ohio State, while Michigan quarterback Tommy Carr won his second Big Ten start.

The 2026 freshman class has been loaded all season, and Week 9 added a few more names to the list. Arizona State running back Cardae Mack and Boise State receiver Rasean Jones rounded out the true freshman standouts by carrying their offenses in two very different games out west.

USC’s freshmen took down Ohio State

Mosley needed two plays to make his mark. He took a screen pass from USC quarterback Jayden Maiava for 69 yards for a touchdown on the Trojans’ second snap, then ripped off a 44-yard punt return in the first quarter that set up another touchdown drive. He finished with five catches for 101 yards, and USC led 20-9 at halftime.

The Santa Margarita Catholic product has topped 100 receiving yards in four of the six games he has played, and he has been among the most productive true freshman receivers in the country this season. USC had two of the five true freshman standouts on the weekend, and both of them hurt Ohio State with big plays after the catch.

Bowman delivered the play everyone was talking about Sunday morning. In the third quarter, the former five-star caught a pass over the middle, hurdled one Ohio State defender, ran through another, and shook off a shoestring tackle on a 70-yard gain that set up USC’s last touchdown. He finished with three catches for 79 yards, and his blocking gives USC coach Lincoln Riley a freshman tight end he can keep on the field in any situation.

USC also has true freshman edge rusher Luke Wafle making plays every week. The Trojans signed one of the highest-ranked recruiting classes in the country this year, and Saturday showed how quickly that class can change the Trojans’ ceiling.

Tommy Carr gives Michigan a steady hand

Carr carries one of the best-known last names in Ann Arbor. He is the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, his father, Jason, played quarterback for the Wolverines, and his brother, CJ, plays quarterback at Notre Dame.

Carr replaced starter Bryce Underwood at halftime of a 21-18 win over Penn State, which forced the quarterback decision Michigan made before the Indiana game. His first start was rough, as Carr completed 20 of 32 passes for 167 yards with an interception and a fumble in a 13-6 overtime loss to Indiana, and Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham stood up for him afterward.

“It would be absurd to judge him just off this one performance,” Whittingham said after the Indiana game, adding that Carr was mature beyond his years.

Carr made his coach look smart a week later. He completed 22 of 27 passes for 266 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions in a 28-21 win at Rutgers, and he ran for 54 yards and two more scores, including a 15-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Even better, Carr looked decisive in the pocket and threw several passes into tight windows in the first half.

More true freshman standouts carried their offenses

Mack followed his own True Freshman of the Week honor with another big game, even in a 27-20 loss to No. 8 BYU. Arizona State started true freshman quarterback Jake Fette, so Sun Devils coach Kenny Dillingham put the ball in Mack’s hands early and often.

Mack ran for 123 yards on 23 carries and added 47 receiving yards, sometimes lining up wide. He played quarterback at Humble (Texas) in high school and ranked No. 242 overall in the 2026 Rivals300.

Not to be outdone, Jones helped save Boise State in the wildest game of the weekend. The Broncos led Texas State 28-3 at halftime after Jones went up for a jump-ball touchdown in the final seconds of the first half, then watched the lead disappear after starting quarterback Maddux Madsen got hurt.

Jones finished with nine catches for 117 yards and three touchdowns in a 46-45 win that kept Boise State in the College Football Playoff race. His third came on fourth down with 4:14 left, an 11-yard catch in the end zone from backup quarterback Max Cutforth that briefly put Boise State ahead. Texas State answered, but Cutforth later found Akeem Wright for the game-winning touchdown.