USC takes itself out of the transfer portal QB market with major re-signing

The USC football program has adopted an NFL-like approach to the off-season in terms of talent retention for the 2026 team, and that strategy continued with a significant boost earlier this week as starting quarterback Jayden Maiava announced he will return to USC in 2026.

Jayden Maiava announces return to USC for 2026

The Trojans’ signal-caller will return for his second full season as the starter of what proved to be an elite offense in 2025. Maiava entered the season with many uncertainties, as his only prior starting experience came late in the 2024 campaign after Miller Moss was benched. Nevertheless, Maiava has developed rapidly, and while there were still some frustrating plays and moments that could have been improved, he was instrumental in securing a 9-3 regular season for the Trojans.

He now stands poised to help usher in a new era for USC football as the program moves into its new football-only facility and welcomes the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound quarterback passed for over 3,400 yards and 23 touchdowns, posting an impressive 66 percent completion rate. He ranked among the nation’s leaders in quarterback rating, achieving a career-high 159.5.

Maiava’s progress in 2025 was most evident in his TD-INT ratio, which reached a career-best 6.2 over 12 games, encompassing the full regular season. He completed more than 70% of his passes in six games, with his peak performance coming in week one against Missouri State, where he recorded an outstanding 83.3 percent completion rate.

Maiava’s return will undoubtedly have ripple effects, with considerable attention on true freshman backup quarterback Husan Longstreet, a five-star prospect in the 2025 class. For USC, retaining Maiava is an obvious decision.

While his draft profile remains uncertain, he was almost certainly positioned to be selected. This has led many to believe that USC acted aggressively and creatively in assembling an NIL package to keep their QB1 in Los Angeles for one final season. Regardless of the circumstances, the fact remains that Maiava will suit up for the Trojans next season and is highly likely to open the year with Heisman hype, as has often been the case for Lincoln Riley’s quarterbacks.