Will Jayden Maiava be USC's quarterback in 2026?

LOS ANGELES, CA -- With USC's season ending last Saturday with a win against arch rival UCLA Bruins and securing a 9-3 season, despite missing the College Football Playoffs, things are pointing in a positive direction for the future of the Trojans, especially ending the year with the No.1 recruiting class for 2026. But before the recruits put pen to paper on their commitment, USC must configure who will man the helm at the quarterback position in 2026.

“I’ve been so worried about this game. Focused on enjoying this win with my loved ones and teammates. So that's where I'm at right now," Trojans starting quarterback Jayden Maiava said in the postgame press conference after Southern California's win over the Bruins, addressing whether he will stay in cardinal and gold or pursue different ventures.

A lot of moving factors come into play at the quarterback position. For instance, Maiava is coming off a great year at the helm for USC, throwing for 3,431 yards, 23 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, and logging the second-best QB rating in the country, 91.2. Maiava showed flashes of how much he had matured on the field and, even in the sloppy losses USC endured, still flashed signs of dependability from the junior.

Now, what potential decisions does Maiava have in front of him?

Well, Maiava could make the habitual decision and stay with USC to help lead a talented recruiting class and develop them with the already established offensive line.

Maiava could take his chances with another college program and leave freshman backup Husan Longstreet to lead the Trojans in 2026.

Or, Maiava can bet on himself and enter the NFL draft, depending on how his season evaluations turn out, and could land as a potential 1-3 rounder draft pick.

Having all the cards laid out on the table, the future of USC's future quarterback slot has yet to be determined, but you can not forget the alternative options as well.

As mentioned prior, Longstreet is the next man up as the Trojans' next starting quarterback. Longstreet is 13/15 on pass completions, throwing for 103 yards and 1 touchdown. There could be potential talk that, if Maiava decides to stay for 2026, Longstreet could transfer out and seek opportunities as an immediate starter for another program.

But that decision may just be as intense as Maiava's decision to stay, as Head Coach Lincoln Riley said after a practice last week that 2025 has been a valuable year as a backup quarterback, learning from Maiava and how to assimilate the many situations he saw firsthand and how he would react to those instances. Riley would then add that any young quarterback who wants to leave shouldn't, as this is not a good time to leave the program, because what's happening at USC is getting pretty good.

So, with whatever happens, USC is setting itself up for a successful 2026 season. They need to set themselves up for 2026, as the Trojans have a tough schedule ahead, with games against Ohio State, Washington, Oregon, and Maryland, to name a few.