Jayden Maiava expected to lead top passing attack in the Big Ten for USC

For a lot of the talk from some that would have USC as a middle-of-the-road program, there are increasingly signs that the program is slated to have a good 2025.

A lot of this will, of course, hinge on Jayden Maiava. Through the nature of the quarterback position, Maiava has arguably the single biggest impact on the team. It is the QB, after all, who touches the ball on every offensive possession, unless coach Lincoln Riley were to somehow come out and start implementing the wildcat look.

Kidding aside, the quarterback in any coach Riley system is going to see his fair share of success. It can be difficult to find many more situations better for a QB than that of being the starter for coach Riley.

With this in mind, as shared on X by Trojan Football ✌️ ᶠᵃⁿ, it is Maiava who is actually favored to lead the Big Ten in passing this year. In a conference that has veterans such as Drew Allar and Luke Altmyer, being selected as the favorite to lead the BIG in this category is somewhat telling.

Fuller look at the USC QB situation

Odds are not the end-all. After all, the books attempt to make money, and there can be any number of reasons as to why the lines are where they are for any potential bet in question. Still, to see Maiava listed as the most likely choice to achieve this feat shows what one of the more objective parties that deal with college sports thinks of the prospects of the USC offense for this upcoming season.

By virtue of having coach Riley as the de facto offensive coordinator, Maiava will have a great deal of opportunities to carve up the opposing secondaries.

Add Maiava's talent and willingness to test the deep ball, and it is incredibly likely for Maiava to end up leading the Big Ten in passing this year.