USC Quarterback Jayden Maiava Named to Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List

LOS ANGELES—USC quarterback Jayden Maiava has been named to the 2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Preseason Watch List, today (Aug. 17). The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is presented annually to college football’s top player and is the nation’s fourth-oldest individual college football accolade.

USC has had six players earn the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award: O.J. Simpson (1967 and 1968), Charles White (1979), Marcus Allen (1981), Matt Leinart (2004), Reggie Bush (2005) and Caleb Williams (2022). 

Maiava continues to add preseason accolades to his name. He was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, and he was one of 12 total players from the Big Ten Conference to be named to the 2026 Big Ten Football Preseason Honors list. Maiava was also recently named a nominee for the Allstate AFCA Goodworks Team and to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list for his commitment to community service and leadership beyond the gridiron.

Maiava, a 2025 All-Big Ten Third Team quarterback led the nation with a 91.2 QBR and has 31 career starts. As USC’s starting quarterback, Maiava started in all 13 games for the Trojans in 2025. He completed 265-of-403 passes (65.8%) for 3,711 yards and 24 TDs with 10 INTs, plus he rushed for 157 yards on 54 carries (2.9 avg.) and 6 TDs. He also recorded 1 tackle and 1 forced fumble (one of two quarterbacks in the FBS to do so in 2025).

He was named to the 2025 All Big Ten Third Team, the 2025 Phil Steele All-Big Ten Third Team and the Pro Football Sports Network All-Big Ten Third Team. Maiava was a Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Finalist and was a Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalist. He was a two-time Davey O’Brien Great 8 recipient and a Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week honoree.

The 2026 Player of Year watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists in early November and three finalists will be announced in early December. The 2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 138 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced in the second week of December.