USC QB Jayden Maiava must defy long odds to win Heisman Trophy

Lining the lobby windows of USC’s sprawling new practice facility are eight versions of the most recognizable award in college football.Upstairs, along a hallway, are massive snapshots of each of the Trojan winners on their big night in New York.Caleb Williams is shown in his plaid Gucci suit with one arm extended, breaking out the game’s most identifiable pose.Even this most cherished legion of Trojans would always be happy to make room for one more.Is it Jayden Maiava’s turn to strike his own pose and hoist the Heisman Trophy?While the preseason narrative – This is his year! Look at all the talent around him! He’s grown so much going into his third year in the program and second as the full-time starter! – sounds enticing enough to hop on the hype train, it’s going to be a heck of a slog over treacherous terrain.To put it bluntly, the odds aren’t in Maiava’s favor.

Not even closeThere are some lingering concerns about his accuracy on medium and long throws – particularly while on the move – and he’s not even on UCLA counterpart Nico Iamaleava’s level as a runner.He’ll have a retooled but promising receiving corps to work with, along with a veteran offensive line and a dynamic running back duo in Waymond Jordan and King Miller.There’s also the arrival of Gary Patterson, the latest defensive coordinator intent on reviving the team’s weaker half.Coach Lincoln Riley said he expects another massive jump in Maiava’s play after he threw for 3,711 yards and 24 touchdowns last season, but that alone won’t be enough.This is a Heisman bid that will hinge on so much more than Maiava’s numbers.

Let’s start with something non-negotiable: Making the College Football Playoff is going to be a must.That’s something USC hasn’t accomplished under three coaches since its inception in 2014.Riley, who went to the CFP twice with Oklahoma, hasn’t returned in four seasons with the Trojans.Yes, Williams won the Heisman in 2022 when the Trojan...