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From UNLV to Big Ten: Purdue's Barry Odom, USC's Jayden Maiava set for reunion

On3 imageby: Tom Dienhart12 hours agoTomDienhart1
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(Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA Today)

When Barry Odom looks across the field on Saturday during Purdue’s game vs. USC (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS), he’ll see a familiar face at quarterback for the Trojans: Jayden Maiava.

Maiava (my-AH-vah) played for Odom at UNLV in 2023–Odom’s first with the Rebels–before transferring to USC in 2024.

“I hate to see him on the other side of the field,” said Odom.

Odom stayed one more season at UNLV before coming to Purdue, but Maiava left for USC in 2024 after initially saying he would return to the Rebels, who he committed to over offers from Auburn, Louisville and Tennessee coming out of Liberty High in Las Vegas.

“Jayden was our quarterback my first year at UNLV,” said Odom. “Led us to nine wins and just a wonderful young man, a great family, and was a lot of fun to coach.”

Maiava is now a 6-4, 230-pound rising star who’s pacing the Big Ten in total offense (360.5 ypg) and passing (353.5 ypg) in helping the Trojans open 2025 with lopsided victories vs. Missouri State (73-13) and Georgia Southern (59-20).

“He’s had great success at USC,” said Odom. “Looks like he’s continued to develop his game, both throwing, reading defenses … and he can make every throw there is on the field. He’s a tough runner, a great competitor, and I know that he will continue to have a really solid season playing.”

Maiava will bring his act east to face Purdue (2-0) in the Big Ten opener for both teams. It will be the Trojans’ first trip to West Lafayette since 1976, an SC win (31-13). The schools also met in Los Angeles in 1975, a Trojan triumph (19-6).

MORE: First Look: USC | First and 10: Purdue-USC

The schools last met in the Pigskin Classic in the LA Coliseum to open the 1998 season, another Trojan victory (27-17). Purdue’s only win vs. USC came in the Rose Bowl following the 1966 season (14-13).

Odom isn’t the only Boiler assistant familiar with Maiava. So is defensive coordinator Mike Scherer, who was DC for Odom with the Rebels.

“I know him pretty well, said Scherer. “He’s a great kid, and he’s a great competitor, great athlete, great leader. I got to see it first-hand when I was out there in Las Vegas.

“I know him as a leader. I know what the guys in the locker room think about him just because I’ve been around it. I think Jayden is a really good football player. I was impressed with him from the first time being around him. We got a challenge ahead of us, and we’re gonna do everything we can.”

As a redshirt freshman in 2023–Odom’s first season at UNLV–Maiava led UNLV to its most wins (9-5 record) since 1984 and a first-ever appearance in the Mountain West title game. That season, Maiava completed 224-of-353 passes (63.5 percent) for 3,085 yards and 17 TDs with 10 INTs, rushing for 277 yards on 73 carries (3.8 avg.). He was named Mountain West Freshman of the Year.

Odom has another resource on staff to help him prep for Maiava: OC Josh Henson, who was offensive coordinator on Lincoln Riley‘s USC staff the previous three seasons. Maiava started the final four games of 2024 for USC, hitting 101-of-169 passes (59.8 percent) for 1,201 yards and 11 TDs with 6 INTs, plus he rushed for 45 yards and 4 TDs. 

“Josh was there for the last three years or so,” said Odom. “So his understanding of personnel would be a little bit more intimate and detailed than just a normal week. I think any information that we can gain, any way possible, we’re always trying to find an edge for our team, schematically, physically, and all the things that go into that.”

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