In each of my last two Decembers at USC, I faced the following issues. Do you follow the new passer in the portal or trust the next passer?
In each case, Riley chose to keep the quantities known. But with Saturday’s fourth regular-season game coming to a close, coaches could face a more complex challenge at the position this offseason.
Who is statistically one of the best passers in college football this season? Or turn the page to the hottest five-star freshman? Who wouldn’t want to wait any longer for their chance to be USC’s starting quarterback?
It’s a question that has perplexed many college football coaches in the era of the transfer portal, where the concept of top quarterback prospects patiently waiting their turn to be named starters is becoming increasingly rare. Of the top 12 quarterbacks in the Class of 2024, six have already transferred. From 2023, there will be seven of the top 12 companies, and from 2022, there will be eight. And of those who remained, only a handful were still waiting to start as sophomores.
It’s not yet clear whether Longstreet will. But this week, Riley made a clear appeal for the young passer’s patience when asked about the challenge of convincing potential candidates to remain in backup roles.
“I don’t know if this is the right time for any player to leave, especially the quarterback,” Riley said. “This is getting pretty good. And I think a lot of people realize where this thing is going, both in what we have now and what we’re bringing in.”
He talked about quarterbacks waiting their turn and Longstreet’s situation.
“Other than Jalen Hurts, there’s no other quarterback that can come in and hit the ground running,” Riley said. “All of them, all the guys who have done everything, had that time. And if you listen to it now, maybe they wanted to play as their competitors back then, but when you listen to it now, they’re all really glad they had the time, and that made a big difference, because when their turn came, they were ready.”
Of course, Maiava was more than just a caretaker. After all, he leads the Big Ten in passing yards per game (3,174) this season and also leads USC in rushing touchdowns (six). Maiava and his cannonball arm have put USC’s offense back in place as one of the most explosive teams in college football, with 51 plays of 20 yards or more this season, fourth-most in the nation.
On paper, there’s no reason to think Riley would aspire to replace Maiava. Maiava has activated both his read option game and the downfield side of the offense since last season. However, discussions about USC’s future at the position became complicated in the second half of the season, during which Maiava stumbled into increasing competition.
In the Trojans’ first six games, Maiava appeared to take a big step forward. He completed 72% of his passes, an increase of 12% from last year. He averaged an impressive 11 yards per attempt, two yards better than . Additionally, after vowing to cut down on turnovers, Maiava threw just two interceptions in those six games, showing he has a better grasp of the game and Riley’s offense.
“A very high percentage of our plays, he knows what to do and where to take the ball,” Riley said. “He’s very happy with what we’re doing. He’s very focused and confident in his reads. That’s why he’s been so efficient all year long.”
His strong start attracted strong interest from the NFL. Pro Football Focus recently ranked Maiava as the No. 5 draft-eligible quarterback in the upcoming draft. But the second half of the season raises some questions. It’s not just about whether they’re ready to declare Maiava for the draft, but also whether Riley is the right quarterback to prioritize for next season.
Even playing against three of the nation’s top 11 defenses in passing yards allowed (Oregon, Iowa, Nebraska), Maiava has maintained the same consistency from the first half of the season. His complete game percentage over the last five games has been just above 59%, lower than he was during his 2024 tenure as USC’s starter. Maiava’s turnovers have also tripled over this period (6) and his average yards per attempt has dropped by more than 3 yards (7.64).
Riley said Tuesday that Maiava’s recent inconsistency is due to the defensive caliber he has faced and the situations that have forced USC’s offense to be aggressive downfield.
“We keep scoring, we keep winning games, we have the best offense in the country, and he’s been a big part of that,” Riley said. “He’s still learning. He can play better, but he continues to give us a chance to win every week.”
He will also have the opportunity to consider whether he wants to enter the NFL Draft in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, Longstreet will continue to dutifully watch as the No. 2 quarterback. He appeared in four games heading into his redshirt season, completing 13 of 15 passes. Riley said the wait was essential.
“This was a huge year for him, being the backup quarterback, learning and just being there for all these things to happen,” Riley said. “These are things that you just can’t simulate. It gives you an opportunity to look at different situations, see how they happen, and then go back and say, ‘What would you do? How would you handle it?’
“The hope is that you might learn, ‘Okay, I’m not playing, but when I’m playing, I know exactly what I have to do and what I don’t have to do.’ It could be on the field. It could be about leadership. It could be about a variety of things.”
It remains to be seen when Mr. Longstreet will have the opportunity to put that knowledge to use. But his teammates at USC have been impressed with what they’ve seen from the freshman so far.
“Husan is truly a machine,” freshman Tanuk Hines said. “He threw it about 80 (yards) and then turned and ran a 4.3, 4.2.”
Others further encouraged that they hope the quarterback remains a part of USC’s plans.
“He’s destined for greatness,” guard Keiron Miller said of Longstreet. “Every time I see him out there, I tell him, keep doing what you’re supposed to do. Keep going on the path you’re on, you’re going to be great.”
