USC QB Maiava Among Top Power-Four QBs

Through USC's first five games, Jayden Maiava has emerged as one of college football's breakout quarterbacks, throwing roughly 1,587 yards (second nationally), averaging 11.4 yards per attempt and completing about 70.5% of his passes while ranking among the national leaders in passer rating and yards per game. USC started 4-0 but fell 34-32 at No. 22 Illinois in Week 5; Maiava threw for 364 yards on 30-of-43 passing with two touchdowns and the first interception of the season. National analysts and outlets, including ESPN's early rankings and voices like Greg McElroy, have placed Maiava among the top five quarterbacks nationally, and some draft evaluators have elevated him into top‑10 prospect conversations. Maiava has markedly improved from 2024 — raising his completion percentage by about 11 points and cutting turnovers to just one through five games — and is praised for his ability to deliver difficult, high-efficiency throws and leadership. USC's defensive lapses and penalties were cited as key reasons for the loss at Illinois, leaving the offense and Maiava as the team's primary bright spots heading into a challenging stretch of the schedule.