Report: Jayden Maiava set to be USC starting QB vs. Nebraska

USC will reportedly have a different starting quarterback when they next take the field.

Per sources speaking with Connor Morrissette of USCFootball.com, Jayden Maiava will be the Trojans’ QB1 two weeks from now against Nebraska. With that, Maiava will take the place of Miller Moss, who had been their starter for the first time in his career this season over their first nine games.

“USC football is making a change at quarterback. UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava will start in place of Miller Moss against Nebraska next week, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation,” Morrissette wrote.

Maiava has appeared in just a few games already this season for USC. In that time, he went 8-11 (72.7%) for 66 yards in a win against Utah State. Those are his only passing stats on the season with him also rushing three times for 27 yards and a touchdown with the score also coming against the Aggies.

Maiava is in his third collegiate season as a redshirt sophomore following two years with the Rebels.

While in Las Vegas, Maiava redshirted before having a successful first season as a full-time starter last year. During a finish of 9-5 for UNLV, Maiava led their Top-25 scoring offense as he went 224-353 (63.5%) when passing for 3,085 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 277 more yards on 73 carries for three more scores. That earned him recognition as Mountain West Freshman of the Year as well as All-Mountain West Second Team.

Following the last season, Maiava entered his name into the NCAA Transfer Portal. He did so as the No. 211 overall player per On3’s 2024 Top Transfer Portal Players. However, Georgia was his original decision out of the portal a week after his entry. A day later, though, he flipped that commitment to Southern California.

Moss won the starting job at quarterback coming into this season, especially after his outing in the Holiday Bowl. Over the first three quarters of their year, he is 233-362 (64.4%) for 2,555 yards, 18 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Even so, all of his nine picks, with at least one in six of their last seven, and two lost fumbles for each of his 11 turnovers this year have all come over their 2-5 record in the Big Ten. This decision now comes after a three-pick performance from him in their latest loss this past weekend at Washington.

USC is doing something different with three games to go this fall. That now gives them two weeks to have Maiava prepared for his debut start for them against the Cornhuskers on November 16th.