Lincoln Riley explains decision to name Jayden Maiava starter, bench Miller Moss

The USC Trojans are looking for answers after losing four of their last five games. Now, head coach Lincoln Riley hopes he’s found a solution by benching quarterback Miller Moss for Jayden Maiava.

In the wake of that decision, Riley shared what went into his decision to make a change at quarterback and emphasized just how challenging a decision it was to make.

“I said I was gonna make decisions based on what was best for the team to win,” Lincoln Riley said. “And nothing’s changed. We go back and evaluate like we do every single game. We have two good players in the room, and when we went back and looked at it we felt like it was in the best interest of the team to give Jayden a chance here. It’s that simple.”

Miller Moss initially replaced Caleb Williams at quarterback for USC’s Holiday Bowl win last season, playing well. He then earned the starting job in 2024 over the course of the offseason, including over Jayden Maiava who had transferred into the program.

“Listen, I’ve been through enough of these with QBs,” Riley said. “I know the QBs at any program, especially one like this, are a lightning rod. We’ve made a lot of other changes at other positions throughout this trying to find our best lineups and have the best possible lineup to help us go win that aren’t going to get the attention and publicity, and I get it. It’s just, it’s part of football, but there was nothing more to this decision than that.”

In nine games this season, Miller Moss has completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 2,555 yards and 18 touchdowns to nine interceptions. He’s also rushed for two touchdowns. However, the Trojans are now 4-5 with three games remaining, and all five of those losses came in one-score games.

“And I want to say, like, listen, Miller Moss has done a really good job for us. Like, we, you could literally not change one thing that Miller’s done and we could be sitting here with a really, really good record right now. Miller has done a very good job. He’s been a really good leader for this team. He’s been loyal to this program. He has worked hard, and he has done a lot of really good things on the football field. So, this is not a reflection of anything more than we have another good player in the room and we feel like he gives us a good opportunity,” Riley said.

“And we felt like this was, when we went back and evaluated, that this was the best thing for the team. It’s really that simple.”

In all of that, Lincoln Riley did make it clear that this wasn’t a gut feeling or reaction. This was a decision that came down to multiple factors and plenty of thought.

“I would never do it on a gut feeling, but I don’t know that there’s always — that you would just solely rely on one or the other. I think there’s all different things that you take into it, that you take into account with decisions like this,” Riley said. “And, again, there’s been a lot of them made throughout the year at differing positions that aren’t going to get the attention that this was. So, this is a pretty normal thing, it’s a pretty normal exercise, it’s just not happening with a quote-unquote normal position. I mean, and so, uh, we try to look at everything, take everything into account, and just make the very best decisions.”

It’s a tough situation for Miller Moss

For Miller Moss, the benching isn’t an easy situation to deal with. He’s been with the program since 2021 and waited for his time as the starter. So, for Lincoln Riley, the benching is part of a tough situation.

“It was tough. It was tough. I’ve been a part of a few of these. It’s never easy. There’s nothing easy about it. Especially when you’ve got a guy that’s worked hard and has done a lot of really good things. Honestly, I’ve been in times where it’s easier, and the guy’s not playing very good at all and the team is getting blown out, and it’s, like, painfully obvious, right? Like anybody could do it. Ones like these where it’s a tough call, it’s tough. I was part of one a few years ago where we were undefeated at the time,” Riley said.

“And so you never know 100 percent. Nobody has got a crystal ball. But we just come in here, like a play call, like decisions we make, we make the best decision we can that we feel like are in the best interest of this program, and it’s my job to take the emotion out of it. You have a loyalty to all of these guys individually, but you got a bigger loyalty to the team and program, and it has always got to stay that way.”

Lincoln Riley shared why he turned to Jayden Maiava

The USC Trojans brought Jayden Maiava in as a transfer from UNLV over the offseason and while he didn’t win the job in the off-season, he has continued to impress Lincoln Riley throughout the season.

“He’s improved throughout the year. He improved in cam,” Riley said. “And he’s continued to improve. I think he’s handled it — it’s not easy being the backup, and I felt like he’s handled that well. He’s improved every single week. I think he’s learned a lot from having a guy like Miller in the room that’s as smart and understands our offense as good as Miller does. So, he’s put together some really good practices. He’s a talented kid. In these, it’s tough. It’s like you’ve got two children, especially at that position, and only one of them is going to be out there. But we’re obviously excited for Jayden to get this opportunity.”

In 14 games at UNLV, Maiava completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 3,085 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He also ran for 277 yards and three touchdowns.

When asked if Maiava would bring something that’s been missing to the offense, Riley explained he didn’t think about it in terms of what’s missing. Instead, he is looking at Maiava as a much-improved quarterback.

“I don’t want to talk about anything that’s been missing. This is about this point forward and preparing this week and getting ready to play Nebraska,” Riley said. “And so, uh, I’m excited about the progress that he’s made. I think he’s really improved. Their skillsets are not all that different, and so I don’t anticipate us changing a lot offensively. It’s not like we’re going to all of a sudden come out there and break out some new offense. I’m excited for him to get a chance to run our system and get a chance to work it here for a few weeks, and then be ready to go.”

Jayden Maiava is going to get his first start at USC on November 16th, when the Trojans host Nebraska.