USC quarterback Jayden Maiava is in the mix for one of college football’s top individual honors, landing a spot as a semifinalist for the 90th Maxwell Award for the Collegiate Player of the Year.
Maiava’s production has put him squarely on the award radar. Through nine games, he leads the Big Ten in completions per game at 22.0, passing touchdowns with 20 and passing yards with 2,524. Overall, he has accounted for 22 touchdowns, throwing for 20 and running for two, while also limiting himself to just five interceptions.
His first nine games in cardinal and gold stack up well against some of the biggest names in USC quarterback history. Maiava’s 66.9 completion percentage through that stretch is the best among the group, and his 20 passing touchdowns trail Caleb Williams by eight, Carson Palmer by two and match the total Matt Leinart posted over his own first nine games.
Efficiency has been a calling card, too. Maiava is tied for second on USC’s career list in yards per attempt at 8.6, minimum 500 attempts at USC. Caleb Williams tops that chart at 9.2, while Leinart shares second with Maiava at 8.6 and Sam Darnold sits third at 8.5.
He’s also climbed the school’s record books in total offense, where he currently ranks eighth in USC history with 7,568 yards as a Trojan. On the single-season side, he is 13th on USC’s passing list with 265 completions in 2025.
The Maxwell recognition adds to a growing list of national attention for Maiava. He has also been named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 10, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Watch List, the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List and the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List. He was one of 12 Big Ten players named to the 2026 Big Ten Football Preseason Honors list.
Off the field, Maiava has also been recognized for his work in the community. He was named a nominee for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and the Wuerffel Trophy watch list for his commitment to community service and leadership beyond the gridiron.
USC has had four Maxwell Award winners in program history: O.J. Simpson, Charles White, Marcus Allen and Caleb Williams.
Three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced November 24, 2026. The winner will be revealed during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 11, 2026, and the formal presentation will take place at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday March 13, 2027, at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.
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