Phil Steele: USC could 'make some noise' with Jayden Maiava

Veteran college football writer Phil Steele claimed USC could make some noise with QB Jayden Maiava this season, if he plays well. Many aren’t picking USC to have a standout campaign, but Steele likes this under the radar squad.

The 2024 season, which was the first for the Trojans in the Big Ten, was marred by a lot of close losses all over the map. Inconsistent play was a factor as well, but Steele mentioned how Lincoln Riley and crew were better than the record indicated.

But if you believe the old Bill Parcell’s adage, you are what your record says you are, you might not be as high on USC. Still, this team could surprise some this Fall.

“The overall talent, I question a little bit,” Steele said on The Herd. “(But) I like this USC team, and you go back to last year, you look at their losses, the Michigan game, where they gave up that big run to Mullins, and then a fourth and goal conversion, the Maryland game, they’re kicking a field goal that go up by nine and gets blocked, return to midfield, give up a late touchdown. They had five close losses …

“D’Anton Lynn, I love his defense coordinator. I think he’s going to get the most out of this defense … one of (Lincoln) Riley’s best. As long as they get the play out of their quarterback this year in Maiava, then I think that USC could make some noise. I thought they were a much better team than their record last year.”

Maiava has now spent a full calendar year with the program, and is in his second year in Riley’s offense. With just weeks to go before the season kicks off, Riley revealed how Maiava’s experience has helped him evolve as the leader of the Trojans football team.

“I think he would say that he feels like it’s his team,” Riley said after practice on Wednesday. “I think he’s knows the guys better, he knows what he’s doing as a player better. It’s just a much different situation, so i just think there’s a different confidence and kind of swagger with him right now in the way plays, the way interacts with guys. The way he challenges guys, uplifts guys.

“We challenged him as coaches pretty heavily, honestly, to do it. He’s really responded, so great teams have to have that out of their quarterbackm and he’s intent on giving this team that.”