Jayden Maiava returning to USC on new NIL deal

USC will get its starting signal-caller back in 2026.

On Tuesday, the program announced that quarterback Jayden Maiava has signed a new NIL deal to return to the Trojans next season. Maiava, who previously played at UNLV, would have had a significant transfer portal market and also ranked as a top-10 quarterback prospect in the 2026 NFL draft, per ESPN’s Mel Kiper.

Maiava started 11 games at UNLV in 2023 before transferring to USC, where he ultimately lost the starting job to Miller Moss ahead of the 2024 season. However, amid subpar play from Moss, coach Lincoln Riley made a change as he started the final four games.

Though his numbers during that stretch weren’t stellar, he did guide the Trojans to a 3-1 finish to the season.

Riley opted not to take a transfer quarterback this offseason and stuck with Maiava, who started all 12 games in a 9-3 season. He took a major leap, completing 66.2% of his passes for 3,431 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Maiava also ran for six touchdowns this fall.

He became one of the Big Ten’s top quarterbacks this season, and for the first time since Riley’s second year at USC with Caleb Williams, the Trojans will have a proven, incumbent starting quarterback back in 2026.

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