Jayden Maiava is walking into the kind of season that defines quarterbacks at USC.
The Trojans have already shown what this program can look like when everything clicks under Lincoln Riley. In 2022, USC won 11 games, the best season of Riley’s tenure, and Caleb Williams put together a Heisman-winning year that set the standard for what elite quarterback play looks like in this system. That’s the bar Maiava is chasing in 2026.
This is his third year in the program, and the progression has been steady. He spent most of 2024 behind Miller Moss, then got a few games at the end of that season.
In 2025, he handled his first full run as USC’s QB1. Now he’s back for another shot, and this is the year where everything has to sharpen into place.
The setup around him should help. The offensive line looks like the biggest reason to believe in a big season, and Zach Hanson appears to be the real deal as the line coach. If that group lives up to expectations, Maiava should have the time to operate in the pocket and do real damage.
Health in the backfield matters too. USC took a beating at running back in 2025, and simply avoiding that kind of injury mess would go a long way toward giving Maiava the balance he needs. A functional ground game would make life easier for the passing attack and set him up to succeed.
There’s also the matter of Riley and Maiava being on the same wavelength. Riley had a rougher time calling plays in 2024, though Miller Moss’s inefficiency was part of the problem. With Maiava now more seasoned and familiar with Riley’s tendencies, the expectation is that the quarterback and coach should be much more in sync, which could lead to explosive production and cleaner execution.
Still, one major question hangs over the offense: who steps up at receiver with Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane gone? That’s a real concern.
Even so, if the line gives Maiava enough time, USC can still make that part of the offense work. It’s going to be one of the central issues for the Trojans all season long.
And then there’s the biggest issue of all: the turnovers. Maiava has to cut out the kind of mistake that swings a game.
He threw critical interceptions too often last season, and those weren’t harmless giveaways. They mattered.
If he cleans that up, USC’s chances of making the College Football Playoff go up.
That’s the challenge in front of him. USC has a long history of stars, from the days when it was known as a running back school in the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s to the quarterback era of the 21st century, when Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Caleb Williams won Heisman Trophies. Maiava now has the chance to put his name in that company.
The next step is simple to say and hard to do: become something special, and make himself an immortal Trojan.
In Other News...
USC Gets An Early Shot In A Recruiting Fight Fans Will Watch
USC is getting an early look at one of the most coveted defensive backs in the 2028 class, as four-star safety Jalen Flowers is set to be on campus for the season opener against San Jos State. Flowers, one of the top California talents in his class, already has a profile that has made him a priority for major programs across the country, and the Trojans will have one of their first chances to make a strong impression in person.
The visit schedule could only sharpen the competition. Flowers is also expected back for USCs game against Ohio State, giving the Trojans another shot at showing what their program has to offer while he continues to sort through nearly 40 scholarship offers. For USC, landing a player with that kind of national attention will take more than a game-day atmosphere, but getting him on campus this early is a meaningful first step. [Read more 🡒]
USC May Have Found A New Defensive Strength Under Gary Patterson
Lincoln Riley sounded noticeably more confident about USCs linebacker room during a recent media appearance, and it is not hard to see why the group has become one of the more intriguing parts of the defense. The Trojans have spent plenty of time trying to stabilize that side of the ball, and linebacker play has long been a key indicator of whether the unit can hold up against better Pac-12 offenses. Riley pointed to the groups physicality and athleticism, while Desman Stephens II, who led the team in tackles last season, has been working through a new defensive system under coordinator Gary Patterson.
For Stephens, the adjustment has come with some clear buy-in, and that matters for a position group that is expected to carry a heavier load this fall. Transfers and younger linebackers are also in line to factor in, giving USC a mix of experience and upside as Patterson continues shaping the scheme. The bigger question now is whether the Trojans can turn that confidence into a real edge on Saturdays, because if this group settles in quickly, it could quietly become one of the most useful pieces on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
USC Freshmen Are Making An Early Offensive Statement In Camp
Fall camp has quickly turned into a showcase for USCs newest offensive pieces, with several freshmen already forcing their way into the conversation for real roles this season. Deshonne Redeaux has drawn attention at running back, while Ethan Boobie Feaster and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt have both flashed as receivers in a room that always benefits from fresh speed and separation.
Trent Mosley has also emerged as more than just another young wideout, with the staff viewing him as a potential playmaker who can help on special teams right away. On the line and at tight end, Mark Bowman is trending toward the starting job and Keenyi Pepe looks like a useful backup tackle, giving the Trojans a first-year group that could end up shaping the offense sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]