It’s easy to forget that USC was actually in the College Football Playoff conversation last November. Then Oregon happened. The late-season loss knocked them out, but something else was happening under the radar — Jayden Maiava was turning into a legitimate star.
Maiava took over for Miller Moss at midseason and never gave the job back. The former UNLV quarterback threw for 30 total touchdowns and dragged the Trojans through a hot streak that made people rethink what this program could be under Lincoln Riley. Now, heading into the 2026 season, the hype is real enough that On3 Sports analyst J.D. Pickell slotted USC’s offense at No. 5 in the country.
That’s a big number for a team that’s been called a disappointment more often than a contender since Riley arrived. But the thing is, they’ve quietly been stacking pieces.
The Receiving Corps Lost Two NFL Draft Picks, and That Matters
Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane both got drafted this spring after putting together one of the best receiver duos in college football. That’s a real loss. Maiava won’t have that same safety net on the outside, and defenses are going to test whether he can elevate the guys around him without elite options.
But here’s the thing about Riley’s offenses — the quarterbacks always get the headlines, and they should. Baker Mayfield. Kyler Murray. Jalen Hurts. Caleb Williams. Maiava belongs in that conversation now. But the running game is what actually makes these things hum. Waymond Jordan and King Miller give USC a legitimate one-two punch on the ground, and that changes everything for a quarterback who needs time to let plays develop.
The run game should be lethal this fall. That’s not hype. That’s based on what those two backs did in spring ball and what the line looks like coming back.
The Ceiling Is Still Maiava’s Arm
Look, you can scheme around receiver losses. You can lean on the run game. But at some point, Maiava has to be the guy who makes throws that aren’t there. If he has a big year, he’s a Heisman candidate and a potential first-round pick in 2027. If he struggles, Pickell’s No. 5 ranking might look generous by November.
USC has the pieces to make a real College Football Playoff run. But the margin for error gets thinner when you lose your top two receivers to the NFL. Maiava handled the pressure last season. Now we find out if he can do it when teams know exactly where to attack him.
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