USC’s path next season runs straight through three players who have to deliver if Lincoln Riley’s team wants to make real noise in the Big Ten.
The Trojans are staring at a season where the margin for error is thin. If they want to be in the mix for a College Football Playoff berth, they need big performances from quarterback Jayden Maiava, offensive tackle Elijah Paige, and defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart.
Maiava is the headliner, and for good reason. He was one of the country’s most steady quarterbacks last season, leading the nation in QBR with a 91.2 rating while throwing for 3,711 yards, 24 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and completing 65.8 percent of his passes. The numbers were strong, but the bigger question is whether he can turn that production into wins when the stakes rise.
That’s where the story gets more complicated. USC came up short in games against Illinois, Oregon, Notre Dame, and TCU, and those were the kinds of matchups that could have pushed the Trojans into CFP position.
At the same time, Maiava showed he can rise to the moment, helping USC beat ranked Michigan and Iowa. The difference next season will come down to consistency on the road, cleaner decisions, and fewer giveaways.
Seven of his 10 interceptions came in losses, and that turnover issue was part of why USC missed the CFP in 2025.
If Maiava trims the mistakes and helps USC win the biggest games on the schedule, the Trojans could be set up for something special in 2026.
Up front, Paige may not get the same spotlight, but his importance is obvious. He played in seven games in 2025 and was a strong piece for the offensive line when healthy, but injuries kept him out of five contests. One of the biggest absences came against Oregon, when USC had to shuffle players out of position in a brutal road setting.
That kind of disruption is exactly why Paige matters so much next season. USC will be facing some serious defensive fronts, including Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana, and the Trojans need Paige available and playing at his best.
He has to hold up as both a pass protector and run blocker if USC wants balance on offense. If he does, the rest of the line can settle in and the Trojans could build one of the Big Ten’s most explosive attacks.
Then there’s Stewart, who already looked like a problem as a freshman. He was one of USC’s most explosive defenders last season, and his 2025 line - 18 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovery - shows just how often he was around the football. The big-play ability jumped off the page, and that’s what makes him such a fascinating piece for Gary Patterson’s defense.
At 6-5 and 289 pounds, Stewart brings rare versatility. He can line up at nose tackle, defensive tackle, or even defensive end, which gives Patterson options and gives Stewart chances to hunt mismatches. That flexibility matters in pass-rush situations, but it also helps the defense line up in ways that can create problems for opposing offenses.
His work against the run could be just as valuable. If Stewart keeps creating negative plays in the backfield, he can force offenses into long-yardage situations and help set up USC’s ability to attack the quarterback. If that part of his game keeps growing, he has a chance to become one of the Trojans’ most important defenders and one of the best in the Big Ten.
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USCs Smaller 2027 Class May Answer A Lingering Trojans Fear
USCs 2027 recruiting class is smaller than the kind of group that usually grabs headlines in July, but the Trojans have quietly built it around defense. With 14 commitments already in place, the class is loaded with highly regarded players on the back end and up front, giving the staff a chance to address the side of the ball that has too often been a lingering concern in recent years.
The secondary is especially eye-catching, with multiple top-100 defensive backs already aboard, while the defensive line has added another promising piece in Alifeleti Tuihalamaka. Add in legacy recruit Isaia Vandermade and a handful of linebackers from strong programs, and USC has put together a class that may not be overwhelming in volume, but is starting to look like one built to answer a familiar Trojans fear. [Read more 🡒]
USC Is Tracking Another Hawaii Prospect Fans Will Want To Watch
The Under Armour Next Camp tour has taken its summer showcase to Maui, and the stop is giving college staffs another look at a Hawaii group that always seems to produce a few names worth circling. USC is part of that crowd, fresh off a top-ranked 2026 recruiting class and still without a commit in the 2028 cycle, but the Trojans have long treated the islands as fertile ground and have already shown they can win there.
One of the more intriguing prospects in that mix is a Honolulu linebacker who already has offers from USC, Oregon, Penn State and Texas. There is also a family angle worth watching, since his older brother signed with California in the 2026 class, which only adds another layer to a recruitment that should stay active as more programs keep coming through Hawaii. [Read more 🡒]