The once golden boy of USC Trojans, Caleb Williams, now finds himself under the shadow of Jayden Maiava. Holding multiple records, including total touchdowns (42), he led USC to 11+ wins in a single season, after the program had barely 4 wins a year prior to that. However, after the Trojans’ 45-31 victory over the Spartans, he has found himself facing a heated comparison that has found him unexpectedly at the crossroads of the QB comparison taking place in Los Angeles. But the comparison is not about his arm strength or his skill set. But rather, how the quarterback’s abilities plug into Riley’s offensive system.

“I have a theory,” Josh Pate said on his College Football Show. “I was working on this with some guys today. I think Jaden Maiava is better at quarterback for Lincoln Riley than Caleb Williams was.” But why? Riley’s system gave Williams freedom for improvisation; move outside the pocket and extend plays. When the initial play design broke down, the offense would rely entirely on his improvisation. It was a high-risk, high-reward system that led the former USC QB to make explosive plays. Ultimately, leading him to win the Heisman honor and register record-breaking stats. So, why is Caleb not considered the right fit despite being a great QB?

Pate continued. “He (Maiava) may not be the most talented quarterback he’s ever had, but he plays within the system, and I thought Caleb Williams played wildly out of it all the time.” Williams’ criticism stemmed from the interceptions and fumbles that proved costly. He held the ball too long. He would sometimes fail to make a timely throw or simply get rid of the ball to avoid a loss of yards. The 2023 matchup against Notre Dame was the tipping point that led to the USC meltdown. The then-robust Irish defense crushed Williams’ offense. Though part of the blame was also on the O-line, which failed to keep Williams’ pocket clean all game. Three half-interceptions and six sacks! The first interception was an overthrow. On the next one, he held the ball for too long, and the third was an easy interception for Notre Dame.

But Maiava’s different playing style is about efficiency and discipline. He can make plays with his feet, and his strength lies in accuracy from the pocket. Against Missouri State in the season-opener, USC was facing 3rd-and-long, and the Tigers’ defense was playing a deep zone to prevent a big play. Instead of forcing a throw, Maiava identified the open tight end in the flat and delivered a quick, crisp pass to tight end Lake McRee, who caught it and ran a 64-yard TD.

Josh Pate went on. “I guarantee you he feels more comfortable with my Maiava right now, who is rapidly progressing and playing within the system and throwing the ball where it’s supposed to go, and doing what he’s supposed to do and reading what he’s supposed to read, than a guy with all-world talent who just winged it.” Another 73-yard TD by RB Eli Sanders was a culmination of Maiava’s quick execution of a screen pass, designed to counter Missouri’s defensive shell.

Williams’s play style was more improvised on the spot. However, Jayden fits Riley’s system by executing pre-planned reads and throws with precision.“I think we’ve got better guys to run the ball,” he said over the weekend.“Being able to get them the rock is huge for me, and then it’s whatever the defense gives me.” Over the last four weeks, he barely exploited his run game. Chipping in 24 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. Even after being showered with compliments, the star quarterback remains humbled.

But Lincoln Riley’s Jayden Maiava remains grounded

Last season, Jayden Maiava took no time to prove his mettle. Going 3-1, beat Nebraska and UCLA. And the Las Vegas Bowl win capped off his brimming potential, displaying his arm strength and play-making abilities on the turf, which was a contrast to Miller’s pocket-based game. Just zooming in on the 2025 season, Maiava is coming off as a strong Heisman stock. Within just four weeks, he leads the nation with 14.1 yards per pass attempt and boasts a QB rating of 94.3. But Riley’s prized quarterback is as humble and grounded in his learning. I don’t think I’m comfortable at all right now,” he had said before the clash against the Michigan State Spartans, with the Trojans offense seated on No. 25. “I think there’s a lot to learn from.”

“You don’t want to get complacent,” he said. “When you get a little success, you don’t want to fall back. You just want to work harder and sharpen that edge.” Even the rest of the roster is in awe of Maiava’s work ethic. “He’s a great QB and not just a great QB, he’s a great person, says WR Tanook Hines.

As of now, the Trojans have faced off against Missouri State, Georgia Southern, Purdue Boilermakers, and the Spartans. Coming up next, they will face off against Bret Bielema‘s Illinois, with the next two highly challenging matchups against Michigan and Notre Dame. Well, given the Irish’s present defensive woes, that needs to be seen.