Jayden Maiava has never needed much reminding that there’s room to grow. The USC quarterback is already his own toughest judge, and that internal pressure has only sharpened as he heads into what he calls his final season in college football.
Now entering year three in Lincoln Riley’s system with offensive coordinator Luke Huard, Maiava sees the value in consistency as much as anything else. The same voices, the same offense, the same daily expectations - that matters to a quarterback trying to turn promise into polish.
“I'm so excited to have another year under Coach Riley and Coach Huard and those guys,” Maiava said at Big Ten Media Days. “Being able to be a sponge, especially for this year, continue to soak it in and learn as much as possible. Take it all in and give the best that I can in every moment.”
This offseason, Maiava spent plenty of time with the staff again, but with a different kind of evaluation in hand. USC now has a full season of his play to study, and Riley has pushed him toward one area in particular, on and off the field: keeping things in order and staying decisive.
“I probably say to compartmentalize everything," Maiava said. "Give my best in every moment and continue to be decisive in every decision that I make. Whether that be on or off the field, so I think that's the biggest thing for me.”
That message comes after a 2024 stretch in which Maiava took over as USC’s starter for the final four games. The flashes were there, but so was the inconsistency.
By last season, though, he had become the clear leader of the team, and the results followed. His confidence climbed, his passing got cleaner, and his footwork and mechanics sharpened.
He directed an offense that finished first in the Big Ten in total offense and ended the regular season first in QBR.
Maiava also made a major decision of his own by passing on this year’s NFL Draft, a class widely viewed as historically weak at quarterback. That choice leaves him in position to be part of what could be a historic quarterback class next year instead.
He said his offseason has been about more than just refining his game. He has been chasing a different mental state too, one built around discomfort, control, and staying even.
“I've done a lot this offseason,” Maiava said. “I've done a little bit of things that will help me get to a neutral mindset.
I've done a lot of things that get me in I guess in controlled chaos you could say. I put myself uncomfortable situations this off season, and I think that has done a lot for me and has helped me grow to be a better person.”
At USC, the quarterback room carries real weight, and Maiava has felt that firsthand. The program’s lineage at the position is loaded this century, and he has already had the chance to learn from Caleb Williams, Sam Darnold and Matt Leinart.
“The cool thing about USC is a lot of the quarterbacks, they come back and visit quite often,” Maiava said. “I've been blessed to just to cross paths with them and share a conversation with them.
That's really cool for me. Just the whole experience of being the quarterback at USC, it's tough to beat.
They're legends. Love sitting down and talking to those guys.”
In Other News...
Nike Just Gave USC Fans A New Way To Show Up
With Lincoln Riley getting USC ready for its first Big Ten title chase, the Trojans are now getting a little help from Nike off the field, too. The company has rolled out a college football-themed Vomero 18 running shoe in USC colors with the Trojans logo, giving fans another way to wear their allegiance as the new season approaches.
The release comes as tickets for USCs 2026 football slate are already on sale, with pricing and schedule details now available for both home and road games. For a fan base that tends to treat fall Saturdays like an event, it is one more reminder that the Trojans brand is as active in the marketplace as it is on the field. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Season May Come Down To One Troubling Receiver Question
USCs offense has enough talent to sound dangerous on paper, but the real separator this fall may be whether the Trojans can get the wide receiver room to match the rest of the roster. ESPNs Bill Connelly pointed to quarterback Jayden Maiava as a major variable, and the backfield duo of Waymond Jordan and King Miller should help stabilize things, but that only matters if the passing game has enough reliable targets to keep defenses honest.
That is where the pressure shifts to names like Tanook Hines and transfer Terrell Anderson, along with the broader depth Dennis Simmons is trying to build at receiver. For USC, the question is not simply whether the top options can flash, but whether the position can hold up across a season and give Maiava the kind of support that turns promise into production. [Read more 🡒]
USC Fall Camp Opens With Real Buzz Around A Massive Challenge
USC has opened fall camp with a little more polish around the program than it had a year ago, thanks in part to the new Bloom Football Performance Center making its public debut as the team got to work on its first week of drills for the 2026 season. Lincoln Riley has already pointed to the facility as a meaningful addition for the Trojans, and the timing fits a program that is trying to turn a strong offseason of momentum into something more tangible once the games start counting.
The bigger picture, of course, is the road ahead. USCs 2026 schedule picked up a late addition in San Jose State, but the real weight still comes from a Big Ten slate that brings Oregon, Indiana and Ohio State into the mix. For a team trying to build consistency under Riley, camp is where the foundation gets laid, but the seasons toughest questions are already waiting on the other side. [Read more 🡒]