Lincoln Riley isn’t shy about what he’s seeing from Jayden Maiava, and after two weeks the USC coach has a pretty clear read on his quarterback.
Maiava has helped No. 14 USC open the season with 40.5 points per game through its first two outings, steering a new group of pass catchers through an offense that has looked sharp from the jump. The Trojans haven’t been tested much yet - they faced San José State in week 0 and Fresno State in week 1 - but Maiava has still looked the part of a high-end quarterback.
On Monday’s appearance on Trojans Live, Riley pointed to a mix of comfort, command, and arm talent when breaking down why Maiava has been so effective.
"It's a combination of a lot of things. He's comfortable with how we want to attack people and understands our schemes/concepts. A majority of the time, he knows where the ball should go," said Riley.
That showed up most clearly in USC’s win over Fresno State, when Maiava was nearly flawless: 23 completions on 25 attempts for 349 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Riley also emphasized how much help Maiava is getting around him, while making it clear the quarterback’s physical tools are a big reason the offense can function the way it does.
"Guys are making plays for him and we've protected him very well. In terms of his arm talents, he's always been an accurate guy but the thing about him, he actually doesn't need that much space to throw."
"His arm is talented enough to where he doesn't need to step and put his entire body into the throws. He can throw from a confined space and make a variety of throws. He's always had arm talent, but he's strong," Riley continued.
That connection with younger receivers is part of the story, too. True freshmen Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt each topped 100 receiving yards against Fresno State, a strong sign that Maiava is building chemistry quickly with a new wave of targets. That matters at USC after the departure of star pass catchers Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane to the NFL.
The early buzz has pushed Maiava into the Heisman conversation, and Riley’s track record only adds fuel to that idea. Under his guidance, quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Caleb Williams all won the award.
For now, the betting market has Maiava sitting with the 10th-best Heisman odds at FanDuel Sportsbook at +1900. He trails LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt (+1600), Oregon quarterback Dante Moore (+1400), and Miami quarterback Darian Mensah (+650), while sitting ahead of Indiana's Josh Hoover (+2200) and Oklahoma's John Mateer (+3000).
There’s a long way to go in the race, but USC’s schedule gives Maiava plenty of chances to make his case. The Trojans still have No.
1 Ohio State, No. 5 Indiana, and No.
6 Oregon ahead.
One of the issues that hurt Maiava during the 2025 season was turnovers against USC’s best opponents, but if he can guide the Trojans to multiple top-10 wins and keep them in the College Football Playoff hunt, he’ll have a real shot at ending up in New York City as a Heisman finalist.
In Other News...
Maiava Just Gave USC Fans A Real Heisman Conversation
Week 1 gave USC exactly the kind of early jolt it needed, and Jayden Maiava was right in the middle of it. Among a slate of eye-catching opening performances around college football, his showing for the Trojans stood out enough to push his name into a much bigger conversation than just a strong start for one quarterback.
For USC fans, that matters because the Heisman race can feel like it starts before most seasons really settle in, and Maiava has at least put himself on the board. There is a long way to go, of course, and plenty of other early stars to compare him against, but after opening weekend he is no longer just part of the backdrop of the national conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Enters A Season That Could Change Everything At USC
Lincoln Riley is heading into a season at USC with the kind of pressure that comes with expectations, especially after the move into the Big Ten raised the stakes around every game. Analyst Paul Finebaum recently pointed to Riley as one of the coaches who could do a lot for his standing this fall, and much of that hinges on the same formula that has long defined his best teams: a quarterback who can tilt games and an offense that keeps USC in the conversation.
Jayden Maiava has become part of that discussion after arriving from UNLV and showing well enough to give the Trojans real hope at the most important position. Even so, USCs path is about more than offense. The Big Ten has no shortage of physical tests, and Rileys team will need its defense to hold up if this season is going to look less like another reset and more like the one that changes the tenor of his tenure. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Is Building Something USC May Need On The Road
USC has found a little sideline theater to go with its early-season momentum, as Lincoln Riley and his players have rolled out oversized red juice box props to help symbolize the kind of energy they want to carry into games. It fits the mood around a team that has started 2-0 and has looked comfortable at home, where the Trojans have usually fed off the crowd and the moment.
Jayden Maiavas recognition only added to that feeling, after the quarterback was named Big Ten Player of the Week and picked up additional honors for his role in USCs shutout of Fresno State. The bigger question for Riley is whether that same juice box energy can travel, because the Trojans know the real test is turning these good vibes into something sturdier away from Los Angeles. [Read more 🡒]