USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava was eligible to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft but decided to return for one more season under coach Lincoln Riley. As a result, the Trojans enter the year with one of the top quarterbacks in the all of college football, let alone the Big Ten. Recently ranked as the No. 4 quarterback in the nation by ESPN's Greg McElroy , Maiava's return to USC comes with high expectations, thanks in part to Riley's previous success developing quarterbacks. Jayden Maiava's Biggest Key Nov 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) and head coach Lincoln Riley react after the game against the UCLA Bruins at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Maiava finished 2025 as the conference's leader in passing yards with 3,711, but he has still been somewhat overshadowed by the hype of Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin and Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore.…