Jun 10, 2026 · 58 min · 10 segments
Inside the Trojans' Huddle is the flagship show for WeAreSC.com. The show, which is also available on YouTube, is hosted by senior writer Chris Trevino. The panel includes WeAreSC.com senior…
Mark CulkinPanelist
Scott SchraderPanelistAs we know, this is a huge year for the Trojans and Lincoln Riley and that whole program and getting back to the college football playoffs.
So we were, we're looking at three central questions that will determine if USC can finally break through in 2026.
And I think all of it's going to start with question number one at the top with Jaden Maiava, as we know, USC will pretty much go as far as Jaden can take them and his arm second year, returning quarterback third year in the system.
But the question is, can Jaden be an elite quarterback? And to branch it out even more, can USC develop an elite-level quarterback that USC has had in the past? Maybe we're comparing the three Heisman winners, Caleb Williams, Matt Lionheart.
Can USC get Jaden to that level? Can Lincoln Riley get Jaden to that level? Because as you know, if you have an elite-level quarterback, you have a top-five quarterback, You can win it all.
I mean, personally, I think, you know, I've been watching Jade Maiava since he was in high school.
And I always thought, just based off watching him, the limited amount that I had in high school, that he was like somebody that was worth watching.
And, you know, you watched his video from UNLV, a completely different offense.
And he came to USC and I think the expectations were kind of, minimal i don't think people really had high or low expectations they really weren't sure what they were getting out of him and i think what we definitely have seen from him is a significant progression each year and i think last year he was a very good quarterback i i don't think that usc's offensive line was tremendous last year the running game was was was pretty good but um I think when you're fielding two or three walk-ons against Oregon at Autzen Stadium, things are not ideal, right? So...
Just based off what we've seen, and we're all going to come to our own conclusions observing him, listening to him talk, gathering the feedback that we're getting from the coaches, players, and so on.
And I do think that USC this season, based off of just what we've seen from Jaden in the past and what we've seen and heard this past offseason, I do think that USC has in Jaden Maiava one of the top five quarterbacks in the country.
As we know, this is a huge year for the Trojans and Lincoln Riley and that whole program and getting back to the college football playoffs.
So we were, we're looking at three central questions that will determine if USC can finally break through in 2026.
And I think all of it's going to start with question number one at the top with Jaden Maiava, as we know, USC will pretty much go as far as Jaden can take them and his arm second year, returning quarterback third year in the system.
But the question is, can Jaden be an elite quarterback? And to branch it out even more, can USC develop an elite-level quarterback that USC has had in the past? Maybe we're comparing the three Heisman winners, Caleb Williams, Matt Lionheart.
Can USC get Jaden to that level? Can Lincoln Riley get Jaden to that level? Because as you know, if you have an elite-level quarterback, you have a top-five quarterback, You can win it all.
I mean, personally, I think, you know, I've been watching Jade Maiava since he was in high school.
And I always thought, just based off watching him, the limited amount that I had in high school, that he was like somebody that was worth watching.
And, you know, you watched his video from UNLV, a completely different offense.
And he came to USC and I think the expectations were kind of, minimal i don't think people really had high or low expectations they really weren't sure what they were getting out of him and i think what we definitely have seen from him is a significant progression each year and i think last year he was a very good quarterback i i don't think that usc's offensive line was tremendous last year the running game was was was pretty good but um I think when you're fielding two or three walk-ons against Oregon at Autzen Stadium, things are not ideal, right? So...
Just based off what we've seen, and we're all going to come to our own conclusions observing him, listening to him talk, gathering the feedback that we're getting from the coaches, players, and so on.
And I do think that USC this season, based off of just what we've seen from Jaden in the past and what we've seen and heard this past offseason, I do think that USC has in Jaden Maiava one of the top five quarterbacks in the country.
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