USC may be sitting on a quarterback-receiver pairing that belongs in the national conversation, even if it didn’t crack J.D. PicKell’s top 10.
PicKell of On3 released his list of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in the country for the 2026 college football season, and Jayden Maiava and Tanook Hines landed just outside the cut as an honorable mention for the USC Trojans. The full top 10 included Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State at No. 1, followed by Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney of Miami, Arch Manning and Cam Coleman of Texas, Dante Moore and Dakorien Moore of Oregon, CJ Carr and Mylan Graham of Notre Dame, Marcel Reed and Mario Graver of Texas A&M, Josh Hoover and Nick Marsh of Indiana, Darian Mensah and Cooper Barkate of Miami, Sam Leavitt and Trey’Dez Green of LSU, and John Mather and Isaiah Sategna of Oklahoma.
Maiava and Hines may not have made the top 10, but there’s a case to be made that USC’s offense is set up for another big year under Lincoln Riley. Maiava started all 13 games for USC in 2025 and finished with 3,711 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as the Trojans went 9-4.
A big part of that production came with help from Makai Lemon, who was one of the best receivers in the country. The 5-11 Lemon caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns, earned Unanimous All-American honors, won the 2025 Fred Biletnikoff Award, and was taken No. 20 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
That opens the door for someone else to become Maiava’s top option, and Hines looks like the strongest candidate. The 6-0 freshman put together a promising debut season in 2025, finishing with 34 receptions for 561 yards and two touchdowns. His connection with Maiava sharpened as the year went on, and it showed in USC’s final stretch.
In the Alamo Bowl, with USC’s top weapons out preparing for the NFL Draft, Hines was the clear focal point and Maiava’s favorite target. He caught six passes for 163 yards. Two games earlier, he turned in another strong outing on the road against Oregon, grabbing six catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.
With that chemistry already in place, Maiava and Hines have a real chance to climb into the national elite next season. USC has never had much trouble putting up points under Riley, and the next question is whether this duo can grow into one of the most dangerous offensive pairings in college football in 2026.
In Other News...
Lincoln Riley Faces Another Defining USC Quarterback Recruiting Battle
Lincoln Rileys fifth season at USC has only sharpened the importance of quarterback recruiting, and the staffs approach has clearly evolved. Rather than chasing every headline, the Trojans have leaned harder into keeping top California talent home, spending NIL money more carefully and still making sure the blue-chip names at the sports most important position stay on the board. That backdrop is why the 2026 class matters so much already, with Jonas Williams in place as a four-star prospect from Illinois.
The next wave is even more intriguing, and it starts with Christopher Vargas, a highly rated 2028 quarterback from Massachusetts who has drawn offers from USC, UCLA, Washington and Ohio State. Riley remains USCs biggest selling point in these battles, and Vargas has already had a chance to see the campus and atmosphere for himself. For the Trojans, the challenge is familiar: land an elite quarterback early, keep the room stocked for the future, and avoid letting another national power set the pace in a recruiting race that could shape the program for years. [Read more 🡒]
USC Women Are Suddenly In The Hunt For A Program-Changer
A major recruiting battle is already taking shape around Kaleena Smith, the consensus No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2027, and USC has put itself squarely in the mix. Smith has lined up 11 official visits to top programs, giving the Trojans a chance to make their case against the usual bluebloods while leaning on what Southern California can offer a player with her profile.
For USC, the pitch is obvious: Smith is from Ontario, California, so the Trojans can sell the comfort of staying close to home, and they can also point to the Los Angeles market and the NIL opportunities that come with it. Add in a recruiting board that includes UConn, Baylor, Tennessee and UCLA, and this is the kind of chase that can shape the programs future long before a letter of intent is ever signed. [Read more 🡒]
USC May Be Closing In On A Key Piece For Its Future Backfield
USCs push for Malaki Davis has been building for a while, and the 2028 running back has become one of the more interesting names in the programs early recruiting picture. The Trojans have already extended an offer, hosted him multiple times and kept the relationship warm with running backs coach Anthony Jones, who has made several visits of his own. Davis has drawn attention from multiple schools, but USC has stayed in the mix as one of the most persistent programs in his recruitment.
The connection with Jones appears to matter, and Davis has said those visits mean a lot to him as the Trojans try to separate themselves from the rest of the field. He is planning to be back around the program this season by attending USC home games, which gives the staff another chance to keep selling the vision in person. With other offers still out there and more recruiting trips possible, USC looks well positioned, but this one is still in the stage where relationships could end up mattering as much as the offer sheet. [Read more 🡒]