Maiava’s 2025 totals showed both promise and growing pains: 3,711 passing yards and 24 touchdowns, but a level of costly turnovers that kept USC from taking the next step. The Trojans still housed an efficient offense, averaging 465.5 yards per game (No. 8 nationally), highlighted by a late-season burst that included a hard-nosed play against Northwestern in which Maiava chased a defender and forced a turnover near the goal line.
During a Monday appearance on Good Morning Football, Riley offered a strong vote of confidence in Maiava’s progress. “I’m really proud of his development,” Riley said, calling the jump in the last 12 months “really striking.” He added that Maiava has “so much room to grow” and described him as “a fun kid to work with” with “a lot of upside.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Maiava sits in the Heisman conversation in a broad range, with FanDuel listing him tied for 11th in Heisman odds while On3’s JD Pickell projections place him near the lower end of the top 10 among quarterbacks. The debate underscores Maiava’s potential as USC’s growth engine, even as he adapts to a reworked passing attack and a roster with room to add skilled help.
USC’s return game pillars—two bruising running backs—provide balance, but the receiving corps will be young, with only one starting wide receiver back. Riley and his staff will need to maximize Maiava’s development year two, potentially leveraging NIL-enabled additions to augment a passing attack that aims to capitalize on Maiava’s upside.
Beyond the field, Riley touched on NIL’s broader impact, praising its role in spreading talent and stories across conferences. “Parody” and opportunity are the hallmarks he highlighted, noting that while the landscape isn’t perfected, it has created a more level playing field and better opportunities for players to compete if schools invest.
