USC Trojans: Starting Quarterback Reveals His Plans for 2026

USC Trojans redshirt junior Jayden Maiava enjoyed a strong first season as the team’s full-time starting quarterback, boasting career highs in passing yards, touchdowns, yards per attempt, yards per completion, yards per game, and passer rating. He completed 66.2% of his passes for 3,431 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, while averaging 9.2 yards per attempt, 13.9 yards per completion, and 285.9 yards per game. Maiava posted a 159.5 quarterback rating, led the Trojans to a 9-3 record, and earned a Third-Team All-Big Ten selection. 

The team will now turn its attention to the Alamo Bowl. USC plays against TCU at the Alamodome, located in San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday, December 30, at 8 p.m. CT. One question mark surrounding the game is whether their starting quarterback will play, as he faces a major decision regarding his future.

USC Trojans starting quarterback reveals his plans for 2026

On X, the Trojans announced that Jayden Maiava will not declare for the 2026 NFL Draft and has signed a contract to remain with USC for the 2026 season, his final year of college eligibility. The redshirt junior signal caller is aiming to improve his draft stock after likely not receiving a strong draft grade, while also earning more at USC than he would in the NFL. Maiava is not guaranteed the starting job next season and will likely compete for it this spring and summer.

Jayden Maiava has re-signed with the USC Trojans. pic.twitter.com/jLI0S6hPKh

— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) December 16, 2025

Will their five-star recruit stay?

As of right now, it’s unclear whether 2025 five-star recruit Husan Longstreet will remain with the Trojans or leave. Given the current landscape of college football, many former highly rated recruits rarely sit for their first two years and often hit the transfer portal in pursuit of opportunities elsewhere. Longstreet must decide by January 16, when the portal closes, but if he stays, he could compete to dethrone Jayden Maiava as the starter.

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