USC Quarterback Jayden Maiava Joins Unexpected Company To Start Season

Maiava has posted impressive numbers through just three games as the Trojans starting quarterback. 

His 989 passing yards, 48 of 70 passing and six touchdowns are over halfway to his last season’s totals of 1,201 passing yards and 11 touchdowns. 

Cox named a few Big Ten quarterbacks to keep an eye out for in week 4, based on talent, recent performance and upcoming opponent:

• Luke Altmyer - Illinois Fighting Illini
• Fernando Mendoza - Indiana Hoosiers
• Mark Gronowski - Iowa Hawkeyes
• Bryce Underwood - Michigan Wolverines
• Dylan Raiola - Nebraska Cornhuskers
• Jayden Maiava - USC Trojans

Among Maiava is a list of talented quarterbacks, and some he will go head-to-head with down the road. Maiava faces Altmyer at Illinois on Sept. 27, Michigan’s Underwood at home on Oct. 11 and Raiola at Nebraska on Nov. 1. 

One of the most anticipated games in September for college football fans is USC’s contest at Illinois. Altmyer is in his third season in coach Bret Bielema’s system, and has drawn attention as one of the Big Ten’s best.

Trailing Maiava in most passing yards is Raiola, who has recorded 829 passing yards through three weeks of competition. 

What Maiava has done is find his comfortability with the offense, making big plays with the wide receiver and tight end room through the air, or on the ground with the running back room. 

Maiava’s Growth Sets Tone for USC

The most exciting part about Maiava and the Trojans blazing start to the season has been the potential for the rest of the season.

Maiava’s initial draw from Trojan fans came from his debut last November, when coach Lincoln Riley named him starting quarterback after benching former USC quarterback Miller Moss, now the starter for Louisville.

In his four starts in 2024, Maiava went 3-1 and helped USC secure a Las Vegas Bowl win over Texas A&M to close out the season. While the victory was not Maiava’s cleanest performance, it was enough to get excited about his development through Riley and the program. 

The analysis Cox gave for the Trojans quarterback comes from the facts with his consistent leaderboard appearances, but has not counted out their Big Ten competition. 

“USC is getting tons of respect in the computer models for the CFP and Maiava is having a statistically ridiculous season. He's fifth in the nation in passing yardage (989 yards) and leads the entire FBS in QB rating. But Big Ten play has arrived and Michigan State is the first team to get a shot at slowing the Trojan offense.” Cox wrote.

Trojan fans have reason to be excited about Maiava’s growth, as his consistent play anchors USC’s second year in the Big Ten.