Jayden Maiava is going to be the USC Trojans starting quarterback from the get-go in 2025, and he’s 100 percent owning that role.
Maiava started last season as the backup to Miller Moss, but when Moss and USC struggled, he was thrust into the starting role midway through November.
That ended up being the right move by head coach Lincoln Riley, because Maiava led the Trojans to a 3-1 record as a starter, and that included a bowl game win.
Now USC is ready to lean on Maiava for the whole season, and Riley recently told the media in a news conference that the redshirt junior has taken ownership of his role.
“I think he would say that he feels like it’s his team,” Riley explained (h/t On3). “I think he’s knows the guys better, he knows what he’s doing as a player better. It’s just a much different situation, so I just think there’s a different confidence and kind of swagger with him right now in the way he plays, the way he interacts with guys. The way he challenges guys, uplifts guys.”
Maiava threw for 906 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions in six regular-season games for the Trojans. He also rushed for four touchdowns. Against Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl, he threw for 295 yards and four touchdowns, though he did throw three interceptions as well.
He’ll have to clean up those interceptions if USC wants to make noise this season, but perhaps just as important is his ability as a leader for the Trojans. According to Riley, Maiava has stepped up in that regard.
“We challenged him as coaches pretty heavily, honestly, to do it. He’s really responded, so great teams have to have that out of their quarterback and he’s intent on giving this team that,” Riley said.
