USC Trojans QB Jayden Maiava became QB1 for the final three games after Lincoln Riley made the decision to go in a different direction from Miller Moss.
Over those three games, Maiava finished with 840 yards, 7 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and a 2-1 record. You could see some of the youth and inexperience, but it was also obvious how much arm talent, athleticism, and moxie the young man possessed.
So the immediate question at the end of the season revolved around the future and if Maiava would be the guy moving forward.
Will Jayden Maiava Be Back With USC Trojans Next Year?
The USC Trojans landed coveted 5-star QB Husan Longstreet in their 2025 recruiting class, but all indications are that the plan would be for him to sit at least a year and fully develop in Lincoln Riley’s system. Did Maiava do enough to be named the starter heading into the new season?
It still is no guarantee, but during Riley’s press conference on early signing day, he mentioned that they would look to add a QB in the portal for depth, which reading between the lines, indicates a backup that would push Maiava, but the returning junior would have the opportunity to start.
Now we get to the transfer portal mayhem.
Related: USC Trojans 2025 Transfer Portal Tracker
Based on an LA Times report, and LAFB Network can confirm, once the season ended, Maiava and his team began to ask for a bit of a “NIL Raise,” and rightfully so. If he were to enter the portal, he would be one of the top QBs available and would certainly be offered fairly lucrative packages to get him to transfer.
You also have to factor in that incoming freshman Husan Longstreet is rumored to be getting a million-dollar NIL deal, which would thwart what Maiava is currently set at after transferring last year from UNLV.
This is the state of College Football and you have to make sure to take care of the NIL side as the sharks around the country are swarming and offering (tampering is not really regulated currently).
Maiava spoke with reporters after Thursday’s practice in preparation for their Bowl Game against Texas A&M. He was asked directly if he would be back next season, to which he replied, “For sure, this is the place to be.”
Things can certainly change in a hurry, but that should be a sigh of relief for Trojans fans.
As it stands, Maiava is set to start in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 27th, and Jake Jensen (who is in the transfer portal) will be his backup.