Tag: Jayden Maiava

USC QB Jayden Maiava returning to Trojans in 2026

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After leading the Big Ten Conference with 3,431 passing yards through the regular-season schedule, Southern California quarterback Jayden Maiava committed Tuesday to returning to the Trojans program in 2026.

Maiava completed 66.2% of his passes with 23 touchdowns against eight interceptions while leading USC to a 9-3 record. The Trojans are set to face TCU in the Dec. 30 Alamo Bowl at San Antonio, Texas.

In two seasons at USC, Maiava has completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 4,632 yards and 34 touchdowns with 14 interceptions. The Hawaii native, who started his college career at UNLV in 2023, took over as USC’s starting quarterback late last season.

While the Trojans are set to lose a pair of the nation’s top wide receivers in Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane to the NFL draft, the program will return wideouts Tanook Hines and Zacharyus Williams, along with running back Waymond Jordan.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Miller Moss (7) looks to pass against the Washington Huskies during the second quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Reports: USC benches QB Miller Moss, turns to Jayden Maiava

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Southern California is benching starting quarterback Miller Moss and will replace him with transfer Jayden Maiava, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

The Trojans (4-5) are on a bye week after losing four of their past five games. They are preparing Maiava to start in their next game, Nov. 16 against Nebraska.

It’s been a free fall for USC, which was ranked No. 13 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll after their season-opening win against LSU.

Moss threw three interceptions in a 26-21 loss to Washington on Saturday. In nine starts, he has completed 233 of 362 passes (64.4 percent) for 2,555 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

He was all but anointed as the 2024 starter last winter after he threw for a Holiday Bowl-record six touchdowns as a replacement for Caleb Williams, who skipped the game to prepare for the NFL draft.

Maiava, a redshirt sophomore, started 14 games for UNLV in 2023 as the Rebels made their first appearance ever in the Mountain West championship game. He completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 3,085 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also ran for 277 yards and three touchdowns as he was named 2023 Mountain West Freshman of the Year.

The Trojans are 2-5 in the Big Ten in their first season and need two wins to become eligible for a bowl game. They close the season with games against traditional rivals UCLA (Nov. 23) and Notre Dame (Nov. 30).

–Field Level Media