USC QB Jayden Maiava putting together Heisman-level efficiency

Lincoln Riley knows what this looks like.Having witnessed the brilliance of Caleb Williams, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, the USC coach is something of an expert in quarterbacks producing special seasons.He’s the only head coach to mentor three Heisman Trophy winners at the position.His latest protege is making a strong early push to join that list.Testing the theory that no one is perfect, Jayden Maiava has set accuracy records and piled up passing yardage during two victories so comfortable that he didn’t need to play a snap in the fourth quarter.The redshirt senior has completed 48 of 54 passes — an absurd completion rate of 88.9% — for 635 yards and five touchdowns.That means Maiava has nearly as many touchdown passes as his six incompletions.Here’s the fascinating part: He thinks he can get better.“Definitely some mechanics that I want to get better at,” Maiava said Tuesday.

“I want to say ball security, being able to take care of the ball on the perimeter — anything that I can get better at for my teammates, really.”The list of improvements isn’t a long one given what Maiava has done so far in 2026.While it’s important to throw in the caveat that USC hasn’t played a Power Four opponent, Maiava doesn’t need a billboard to proclaim his Heisman candidacy heading into the Trojans’ game against Louisiana (1-0) on Saturday night at the Coliseum.“Obviously, a lot of challenges coming up this week — and in the coming weeks as we go throughout the season — but I’m glad he’s our guy,” Riley said.“I mean, I’m glad it’s not anybody else, I’m glad it’s him.

He’s the right quarterback for us now and has come a long ways in so many areas, and there’s not one I would trade for him.”Maiava’s latest Trojan tour de force involved completing 23 of 25 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns during his team’s 39-0 pummeling of Fresno State last week.It earned him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors.Maiava...