Jayden Maiava

The Trojans decided to bench Miller Moss after last season's loss to Washington in Week 10, giving the UNLV transfer his first start of the season. USC went 3-1 to finish out the campaign with Maiava under center, including a dramatic 35-31 win over Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl. Through four games, Maiava completed 58.9 percent of his passes for a total of 1,135 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also hit paydirt three times on the ground but only totaled 18 yards in that category. Maiava finds himself atop the depth chart at quarterback to begin the season, but a difficult schedule filled with Big 10 opponents awaits him. For the Trojans to exceed expectations, Maiava's mobility and passing accuracy must improve. His unconventional passing mechanics also prevent him from getting the ball out of his hands quickly, and it's another facet of his game that needs improvement. Maiava also faces the challenge of a mass exodus of last season's pass catchers, although standouts Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane will be back to helm an inexperienced receiver room. Maiava will be more prepared to assume the starting role due to his top billing at camp, but he'll need a solid supporting cast to boost his viability. Read Past Outlooks