A chance for Maiava, USC to prove themselves

Through four games this season, Jayden Maiava has done just about all he could to dispel any lingering doubts about him as USC's starting quarterback.

- BY RYAN KARTJE

TROJANS quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) will face a challenge against Luke Altmyer and Illinois.

(CARLIN STIEHL Los Angeles Times)

Maiava is averaging 12.7 yards per pass attempt this season, higher than any other quarterback in college football. His completion percentage has risen more than 11 points since last season (to 70.8%). He has thrown nine passing touchdowns, plus added four on the ground, and has yet to turn the ball over after throwing nine picks during the same number of starts in 2024.

Granted, during the Trojans' 4-0 start, Maiava has yet to face a pass defense that ranks inside the top 100 in passing yards allowed per attempt. Nor has he or anyone on USC's offense faced much in the way of adversity. The Trojans have scored more than 52 points per game and won their first four by an average margin of 32.

But the level of competition ratchets up this week. Each of USC's next three opponents are ranked in the top 25, while three of its next four games come on the road, beginning Saturday with No. 23 Illinois, which was ranked in the top 10 before it was trounced by Indiana last weekend.

If USC has any hope of making the College Football Playoff, it'll need Maiava to prove his fast start in September wasn't a fluke. USC coach Lincoln Riley doesn't want Maiava to change much from his first four weeks.

ILLINOIS quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) is deemed one of the conference's best.

"Just keep doing what you're doing," Riley said.