After a shaky season with Miller Moss last year, Jayden Maiava intends to give the USC Trojans the elite quarterback play we are accustomed to seeing from Lincoln Riley teams. Expectations are high for Maiava this season. Some football analysts are even predicting he will win over NFL teams in his first full season at USC.
In a Clutch Points article Lorenzo Reyna lists his bold 2025 season predictions for the USC Trojans. One of them featured this year’s guy under center, Jayden Maivia. Reyna predicts big things are coming for Maiava this season, potentially making himself one of the top quarterbacks taken in next year’s draft.
“Maiava flashed potential in his late season run behind center. Proving he could adjust from UNLV to USC. Now he gets a full season with Riley. Meaning he’s capable of heading to a territory past Riley QBs have seen. Maiava looks next to follow the footsteps of Baker Mayfield and Caleb Williams — as a first round talent. Will this mean Maiava becomes the third first overall pick under Riley? He was given 33/1 odds to land No. 1 in 2026 — handing him the ninth-best odds back in April 2025.
“Maiava’s powerful arm will win over teams. But he’s shown to extend plays in the fashion of Williams. He’ll need to sharpen his accuracy, as he forced his wide receivers to make difficult catches often. He must cut down on tight window attacks and get the ball out quicker. Plus cut down his turnovers. Riley brings a big vision for Maiava. A breakout ’25 means an early exit for Maiava. Which then paves the way for highly-touted true freshman Husan Longstreet to take over.”
In seven games last season — four as a starter — Maiava definitely gave USC fans and this staff a lot to be excited about with 1,201 yards passing and 11 touchdown-to-5-interception ratio. He showed athletic ability with 4 rushing touchdowns as well, at times displaying Caleb Williams-like levels of creativity.
Lincoln Riley has had countless success in developing top quarterbacks and sending them to the NFL. Maiava could be next in line. Maiava had four touchdowns in his starting debut. This year, with Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon — arguably the best wide receiver duo in college football — at his disposal, he should have a lot of four-touchdown performances this season.