Welcome back to the Times of Troy newsletter, where we’re still struggling with how to view USC’s 21-17 win at Nebraska. On one hand, USC gutted out a hard-earned road victory, just its second true road win outside of L.A. since 2023, with a stingy defensive stand in the second half. On the other, USC’s offense was out of sorts, its quarterback had the worst start of his tenure and its defense was run over for the third time in four games.
No matter your perspective, this much is indisputable: USC is 6-2, bowl eligible and in prime position to be 8-2 heading to Eugene in late November. Remember, the Trojans were 4-5 at this time last year.
But after flying back west for the final time this regular season, we’re going to take a brief break from football to alert you that college basketball season, believe it or not, is about to begin. And both of USC’s teams enter the season on fascinating and uncertain terms.
Fight on! Are you a true Trojans fan?
Let’s start first with the men’s team and Eric Musselman, who thought he’d have a five-star freshman to help springboard his program to relevance in Year 2. But the injury to Alijah Arenas has undoubtedly altered that trajectory. What we don’t know now is how much and for how long.
That’s just the beginning of the questions facing USC. Here are three others …
1. Who’s going to play point guard?
You may remember this same query from this time last season, when USC entrusted the role to Desmond Claude, who was a good playmaker, but not a great floor general. He turned the ball over nearly four times per game.
Arenas was expected to be the primary ballhandler. But with him out, it’ll be some combination of Rodney Rice, Chad Baker-Mazara, Jordan Marsh and Jerry Easter sharing ballhandling duties. None have any extensive experience as a floor general. Marsh has been a pleasant surprise in practice, but was more of a pure scorer at North Carolina Asheville.
Rice will have a lot on his shoulders already. And that’s not considering his actual shoulder, which has held him out for much of the preseason. He’ll need someone else to step up to help.
2. How much better is USC’s frontcourt?
When USC played its two exhibition games last month, opposing coaches couldn’t believe how much 7-foot-5 center Gabe Dynes affected the game defensively. Dynes was arguably USC’s best player in the preseason, and he wasn’t even expected to start in the Trojans’ frontcourt.
He had six blocks in his debut and should help give USC improved rim protection this season. Which is to say any rim protection at all.
The staff has been high on Jacob Cofie since he arrived on campus. Don’t be surprised if he ascends to a major role. Ezra Ausar, at 253 pounds, should be a beast on the boards, and Jaden Brownell should give USC’s frontcourt range out to the arc. This group has a lot of varied skillsets, and that should put the defense especially in a much better position.
3. Can USC score enough?
When asked what he learned most from his team during the preseason, Musselman didn’t mince words.
“We’ve got to figure out a way to score better,” he said.
Arenas, again, was supposed to lead the way in that regard. Rice was more of a secondary scorer at Maryland, as was Baker-Mazara at Auburn. USC looks, as of now, like a whole team of complementary offensive players, with no alpha yet. That can change. Maybe Cofie steps into the spot before season’s end. But it’s definitely something to monitor through the non-conference season.
What about the women’s team?
Kennedy Smith controls the ball while pressured by UConn guard Paige Bueckers during last season’s NCAA women’s tournament.
(Young Kwak / Associated Press)
USC enters this season with far lower expectations than this time last year, on account of JuJu Watkins’ knee injury, which will keep her out until next season. So what can we expect from Lindsay Gottlieb’s Trojans?
Here are the three big questions facing the USC women this season …
1. How can USC fill the void without Watkins?
This is the only question that really matters. Problem is there’s no clear answer. Gottlieb has been clear that no one player will replace Watkins, as tempting as it may be to slot top prospect Jazzy Davidson into that spot.
It’s more reasonable to recreate Watkins’ production in the aggregate. But that won’t be easy when you consider how much other production the Trojans lost from last season, in addition to Watkins. USC must replace 88% of its scoring and 80% of their rebounding output, and while that’s not that unique in the era of the transfer portal, it does mean the team is likely to have a very different identity.
Gottlieb has said that USC is going to play with more pace this season. But who will it turn to when it needs a bucket? Davidson is perhaps the likeliest candidate, but I’m particularly curious to see the development of sophomore Kennedy Smith. Smith was inconsistent offensively as a freshman. But Gottlieb plans to put the ball in her hands more, and how that works out will say a lot about the direction of the season.
2. What’s going on in the frontcourt?
Last season, there was no question who USC could count on down low. Rayah Marshall was a three-year starter, while Kiki Iriafen is now one of the best young bigs in the WNBA.
But with both gone, USC doesn’t have any proven options to step into their place. Gottlieb has said that USC will use a by-committee approach with transfer Yakiya Milton, Lithuanian import Gerda Raulusaityte and returners Vivian Iwuchukwu and Laura Williams. Of those four, only Milton was part of a college basketball rotation last season, and she only averaged two points per game in 11 minutes at Auburn.
Raulusaityte is the big unknown. One of the youngest members of the Lithuanian national team, USC kind of needs her to be an immediate contributor. Especially with her ability to stretch the floor as a shooter, something the other three don’t do. If she struggles, USC could be in trouble with its lack of talent down low.
3. How good will Davidson be right away?
Watkins is a tough act to follow as a top-rated freshman. But Davidson has the potential to be a stat-stuffing star right away.
I don’t know if she’ll score quite like Watkins, who shot 42% and scored 24 points per night as a freshman. What she will do, perhaps even more than Watkins, is elevate the games of teammates around her. You can read more about that in an upcoming story on Davidson.
But can she get a bucket when USC needs one? And can she force her way through traffic with her spindly frame? There are still questions to be answered. But while Gottlieb is doing her best to temper expectations, I think USC is going to need its star freshman to be a star right away, if it has any hope of competing in the Big Ten like it did last season.
—Jayden Maiava didn’t have it as a passer. So he used his legs. And that worked wonders. Maiava was a meager nine of 23 through the air for 135 yards, but he reminded the world that he’s a capable runner, too, as he rushed for 62 yards in 11 carries. The highlight of his day came in the third quarter, when Maiava took off on consecutive plays for a pair of 16-yard gains, the second of which saw him stiff-arm his way to a score. Maiava hasn’t looked to run much this season. But maybe he should consider doing it more.
—USC’s three most influential players Saturday were all walk-ons. Running back King Miller was USC’s only consistent source of offense. Kaylon Miller, his brother, stepped in for an injured Alani Noa and was arguably USC’s best lineman in the ground game. And USC kicker Ryon Sayeri continued to shine by knocking through two more field goals. I’m not sure what that says about USC’s team. But it’s not something you see every day.
—The offensive line just can’t stay healthy. Left tackle Elijah Paige returned after missing the previous three games, only for Noa to go down. Noa never returned, and we won’t know more about his status until at least Monday. USC is getting especially thin on the interior, with guard Micah Banuelos having also missed Saturday’s game. Center Kilian O’Connor should be back soon, but it’s a wonder that USC has held it together up front while being ravaged by injuries.
Olympic sports spotlight
After losing three of four to start their Big Ten slate, the women’s volleyball team’s tough start to the Big Ten slate is now firmly in the rearview. The Trojans have won six in a row. Among Big Ten teams, only Nebraska, which is 21-0 and No. 1 in the nation, has an active win streak that’s longer.
USC should win its next two before welcoming the Huskers to Galen Center for an epic match on Nov. 16.
I’ve written in this space before about my love of all things Stephen King. I’m also well aware of the less-than-stellar track record of adapting his books into television and movies.
I’m not sure just yet where “IT: Welcome to Derry” falls on that spectrum. Only the first two episodes of the spinoff prequel to “It” are currently available on HBO Max, and while Derry remains as creepy and tense as ever, I worry a bit about where the story is headed. All that said, my favorite part of the original book was the character building with the town’s kids. So far, that part remains intact.
Until next time …
That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at [email protected], and follow me on X at @Ryan_Kartje. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
Andrew was stripped of his title as a prince on Thursday
Members of a US congressional committee investigating the Jeffrey Epstein case have intensified their calls for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor to answer questions about his links to the late sex offender.
King Charles stripped his brother of his “prince” title on Thursday, following months of pressure over Andrew’s ties to Epstein. Andrew has always denied wrongdoing.
At least four Democrat members of the House Oversight Committee have since renewed their calls for Andrew to testify – although the panel is controlled by Republicans, who have not indicated they would support the move.
Congressman Suhas Subramanyam told the BBC: “If he wants to clear his name, if he wants to do right by the victims, he will come forward”.
Andrew could appear remotely, have a lawyer present and could speak to the panel privately, Subramanyam said.
“Frankly, Andrew’s name has come up many times from the victims,” he told Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday.
“So he clearly has knowledge of what happened and we just want him to come forward and tell us what he knows.”
He added: “No matter who it is – American or not – everyone should be looked at.”
Fellow committee memberRaja Krishnamoorthi told BBC Newsnight he would be willing to formally summon Andrewwith a subpoena – although he conceded this would be difficult to enforce while he was outside of the US.
He said on Friday: “However, if Andrew wishes to come to the United States or he’s here, then he’s subject to the jurisdiction of the US Congress, and I would expect him to testify.”
He added: “At the end of the day, we want to know exactly what happened, not just to give justice to the survivors, but to prevent this from ever happening again.”
“Come clean. Come before the US Congress, voluntarily testify. Don’t wait for a subpoena. Come and testify and tell us what you know.”
Congressman Stephen Lynch also told the BBC hearing from Andrew “might be helpful in getting justice for these survivors” but said the committee would be unable to subpoena him “as the situation stands”.
Meanwhile, Liz Stein – one of Epstein’s accusers – said Andrew should “take some initiative” and help US investigators.
She told BBC Breakfast on Saturday: “A lot of us are curious as to why he’s unwilling to cooperate and be questioned about his involvement with Epstein.”
“If he has nothing to hide, then why is he hiding?”
“We know he had a longstanding friendship with Epstein and that he was in his social circle – so he may have seen things during his involvement with Epstein that he could speak to.”
Another of Epstein’s accusers, Anouska De Georgiou, likewise told Newsnight Andrew should appear before Congress, saying “it would be appropriate for him to be treated the same as anybody else would be treated”.
Getty Images
Liz Stein said Andrew should step in and help investigators
It comes after UK trade minister Chris Bryant told the BBC Andrew should go to the US to answer questions about Epstein’s crimes if invited, “just as with any ordinary member of the public”.
Meanwhile, the police watchdog said it had approached the Metropolitan Police to ask whether there are matters it should be looking into, in light of media reports about Andrew.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct said it had contacted Scotland Yard’s Directorate of Professional Standards last week – which oversees internal investigations into misconduct – and had not yet received any referrals.
Reports emerged in mid-October that Andrew sought to obtain personal information about his accuser Virginia Giuffre through his police protection in 2011. He has not commented on the allegation.
Separately, new court documents published in the US on Friday showed that Andrew wrote in an email in 2010 that it would be “good to catch up in person” with Epstein, after he was released from prison for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
The pair were then pictured together in Central Park in New York in December 2010, in a meeting that Andrew later told the BBC was to break off their friendship.
Andrew’s ties to Epstein were at the centre of Thursday’s decision, with the Palace announcement stating: “These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.”
“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”
In recent weeks, pressure had increased on the monarchy to resolve the issue of Charles’s brother.
In early October, emails which re-emerged from 2011 showed Andrew in contact with Epstein months after he claimed their friendship had ended.
A posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre was also released – repeating allegations that, as a teenager, she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three separate occasions, claims he has always denied.
And earlier this week, the King was heckled about the matter.
Although Andrew denies the accusations, the Royal Family considers there have been “serious lapses of judgement” in his behaviour.
As well as losing his titles and honours, he was ordered to move out of his Windsor mansion – Royal Lodge – and into a property on the King’s Norfolk estate, paid for by the monarch.
The BBC understands that he will not have to move out immediately, and could move to Sandringham as late as the new year.
On Saturday, a black Land Rover with a number plate ending DOY was seen leaving Bishops Gate near Royal Lodge just before 08:00 GMT.
Only a driver was in the vehicle as it left the grounds of Windsor Great Park. Andrew has previously been pictured driving a vehicle with the same private number plate.
The Entry Exit System (EES) was introduced on Sunday, which involves people from third-party countries such as the UK having their fingerprints registered and photograph taken to enter the Schengen area, which consists of 29 European countries, mainly in the EU
A change has been made to EES(Image: ADRIAN DENNIS, AFP via Getty Images)
A last-minute change has been made to the rules set up to track travellers entering the EU.
On Sunday, the long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES) went live. It requires individuals from third-party countries such as the UK to register their fingerprints and have their photograph taken to enter the Schengen area, which is made up of 29 European countries, primarily within the EU. For most UK travellers, the EES process will be carried out at foreign airports.
However, when it comes to Eurostar services from St Pancras, border checks are carried out by French officials in the UK, rather than in Paris.
When the Mirror was shown how the system would work prior to its launch, uncertainty surrounded one part of it – the questions travellers are required to answer.
3. Do you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay?
4. Do you have medical insurance?
It remains unclear what the consequences are if passengers answer ‘no’ to any of those questions, or if they lie in their answers.
Now, it has been announced that passengers will not be asked those questions when travelling on the Eurostar from St Pancras.
A spokesperson for Eurostar told the Mirror: “Following constructive discussions with the French Ministry and our colleagues, we’re pleased to confirm that the questions will be technically removed from the kiosks during the initial six-month introduction phase of the new system.
“We welcome the pragmatic approach being taken by the French border authorities to help ensure a smoother experience for our customers during this transition period.”
This week Simon Lejeune, the chief safety and stations officer for the cross-Channel train operator, said that some passengers are being processed through the EES in as little as 50 seconds.
To facilitate the new demand, Eurostar has set up three areas at St Pancras, housing a total of 49 kiosks where pre-registration for EES can take place.
Mr Lejeune informed the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee that the process at the station is initially being handled solely by French border officers, and there have been “really good transaction times”.
He stated: “I was observing transaction times of 50 seconds. That’s for the full biometrics, as well as the passport check and the stamping for EES-eligible passengers.
“So quite encouraging, and that’s without the kiosks that do that pre-registration, which we’ll be introducing over the next few weeks.”
For those who still have significant debts from school, figuring out financial decisions can be tough. In terms of investing — should you? — the answer isn’t exactly one-sided. There are many things to consider when choosing whether to invest while you still have student debt.
The student debt landscape: A reality check
Before diving into strategy, let’s start with the facts. As of 2025, American student loan debt sits at roughly $1.8 trillion, held by about 42 million to 43 million borrowers. The average federal student loan balance is north of $37,000. Meanwhile, delinquency rates are rising. Around 5.8 million borrowers were 90+ days behind on payments as of April 2025 — nearly one in three of those with payments due. With collections restarted after pandemic-era pauses, many borrowers are now facing renewed pressure and risk of credit score damage.
Given all of that, it’s a compelling question: If you’re carrying student debt, should you pause investing to focus on paying it off? Or is there a smarter path that balances paying off debt with trying to make money in the market?
Image source: Getty Images.
Investing vs. paying down debt
There’s no one-size-fits-all best path. Here are key trade-offs to consider.
1. Interest rates matter
If your student debt has a high interest rate (say, 6% or more), that’s a strong argument for paying it down aggressively. Money you put toward debt repayment gives you a guaranteed “return” if you look at it in terms of interest saved. Meanwhile, the stock market is volatile. While its long-term average might exceed 7% to 8%, that’s not guaranteed in any given period.
However, if your interest rate is low or if you’re eligible for subsidies, income-driven repayment plans, or forgiveness options, you’ve got more room to instead use your money in the market.
2. The power of time
Time in the market is a hard-to-beat advantage. Something as simple as an investment in JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) has returned 206% over the last five years. Even modest investments made early can grow significantly over decades. That’s especially true for investments in tax-advantaged accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs. If you can contribute 5% to 10% of your paycheck now (while still meeting debt obligations), that can create future momentum.
3. Hybrid approach
For many, the optimal route is splitting resources. If you have a job and are making a decent income, pay more than the minimum on your student loans while also investing a portion of your income. This way, you get debt reduction and exposure to market upside. The trick is to calibrate how much weight you give each goal depending on interest rates, cash flow, and risk tolerance. Before investing in the stock market, you’ll want to make sure you have an emergency fund set up and have paid off any high-interest debt. And don’t invest any money you’ll need in the short term, say, for your wedding next year or the round-the-trip adventure you’re planning a few years out.
When investing while in debt makes sense
Here are cases where it may be prudent to keep investing despite having student loans:
Employer match: If your employer offers a 401(k) match, that’s free money. You generally shouldn’t leave that on the table.
Low-interest or forgiveness paths: If your loan is on an income-driven plan, or you qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or other debt relief, more room opens for investing.
Strong cash-flow buffer: If you still have discretionary money after expenses and loan payments, investing some of it helps you build a nest egg, rather than waiting until all debt is paid.
Time horizon is long: If you’re young and decades away from retirement, the upside of investing early can outweigh the drag of debt, especially if your debt rate is modest.
When it makes more sense to focus on debt
On the flip side, it may be wise to pause or dial back investments in certain scenarios:
High interest rates or variable rates: These can erode your financial flexibility if interest rates spike.
Limited cash cushion: Don’t end up with no cash on hand for rainy days. If making both payments leaves little buffer, you’re vulnerable to emergencies.
Credit consequences: Missed student loan payments can damage your credit, making future borrowing (for a house, car, etc.) more expensive.
Just wanting it done: Maybe you just don’t want debt anymore. That’s not a bad thing. Paying off your loans before investing might not be the most balanced approach, but if it’s what you want, it’s not a bad plan.
A sample game plan
Understand your debt terms: Know your interest rates, whether your loans are subsidized, whether you’re eligible for forgiveness, and how flexible your repayment plan is (e.g., income-driven plans).
Target the “extra money” bucket: After covering essentials and making minimum payments, decide how much extra you can allocate.
Allocate smartly: You might do something like this: 60% of your extra goes toward accelerating paying off student debt, while 40% goes to investing. Adjust this plan based on your personal risk appetite.
Max out employer match first: If your employer match exists, treat it as a no-brainer priority before accelerating debt.
Reassess regularly: As your income, interest rates, or life stage change, revisit your mix.
Class dismissed
Carrying student debt doesn’t mean you have to shelve investing entirely — but it does require balance. The ideal strategy often lies in a hybrid approach that respects both the guaranteed benefit of paying debt and the growth potential of investing. If your debt’s cost is manageable and you can access employer-matching or tax-advantaged accounts, continuing to invest while silencing your loans can set you up for a stronger financial future.
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. David Butler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
