Lincoln Riley’s USC is looking ahead to 2025 with plenty of excitement and pressure. Riley has brought the Trojans to a point where they must elevate their performance, and the fans are deeply engaged. Last season concluded on a high note with a thrilling victory over Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl; however, a 7-6 record is not what Trojan loyalists expect. Spring practice began on March 25, but in a surprise move, USC will not hold a typical spring game this year. Instead, they are organizing a different fan event later in the summer, partly to maintain a low profile during the era of the transfer portal.

Roster-wise, there is plenty of fresh blood, and the quarterback position is where things get interesting. Jayden Maiava, the UNLV transfer, is the name to remember. He took over late last season and dropped some real numbers—over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns— in seven games, including some gutsy displays against Nebraska and Notre Dame. The Trojans are hungry, the depth of the roster is greater, and this offseason is make-or-break time for the Riley era in USC. Buckle up—2025 may get interesting.

Following his takeover midway through last season and his flashes of greatness with some respectable victories, Lincoln Riley now flat-out put it out: Jayden Maiava is, without question, the USC No. 1 QB into 2025. But not entirely, by far, to the liking of The Ruffino & Joe Show hosts, Blake and Joe. “I was saying that when I pulled up his tape against Texas A&M, his most recent game, I was hoping that I was going to be blown away,” says Joe.

The Texas A&M game in the Las Vegas Bowl was thrilling and highlighted the reasons behind the divided opinions on Jayden Maiava. Early on, it was a struggle; Maiava threw three interceptions, and USC was down by 17 points in the third quarter. The offense just could not catch a break, and Maiava was missing passes he normally connects on, and that had everybody in a state of panic. In the fourth quarter, Maiava took the Trojans on a spirited comeback, passing for four touchdowns overall, the game-winner to Kyle Ford with only eight seconds remaining. He completed 22 of 39 for 295 yards, four TDs, and those three INTs.

“He had three games, including the Notre Dame game, where he was under 57% completion percentage. The Nebraska game was his best performance, but he still threw interceptions.” Maiava’s inconsistency as a passer has been criticized. For instance, against Notre Dame, Maiava was 27-of-48 (56.3%). Lots of passes but not a great percentage, despite throwing for 360 yards and 3 touchdowns. Same scenario against UCLA (19-of-35, 54.3%) and Texas A&M in the bowl game (22-of-39, 56.4%). And now, the game against Nebraska was likely Maiava’s strongest performance, in which he completed 25 of 35 (71.4%) for 259 yards and 3 touchdowns, but even in that instance, he threw an interception.

The analysts have made it very clear with their strategy: if Jayden does not pan out this season, then selecting him over Husan Longstreet will be an enormous regret. “I just think that the turnovers and the way that he played, he is going to need a massive jump in order for me to feel like he could be a driving force for their success this upcoming season.” Maiava must make a giant leap in decision-making, ball security, and overall consistency if he’s going to be the one who leads USC’s success, not just some guy along for the ride.

Husan Longstreet’s reliable arm 

If we’re just talking pure upside and what USC needs for a real spark at QB, Husan Longstreet feels like the safer and honestly more exciting bet over Jayden Maiava. First off, Longstreet isn’t just another freshman; he’s a five-star, top-15 national recruit and the No. 3 quarterback in the entire 2025 class. That’s not hype, that’s real pedigree, and he’s been dominating in Southern California for years, passing for more than 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns last year at Centennial. Coaches love his arm ability, his composure, and how fast he learns. He’s got that “it” factor you look for in a QB1.

Now, compare that to Maiava, who, yeah, has experience and showed some guts in big moments, like that crazy comeback game against Texas A&M, but also displayed a lot of inconsistency. He finished last season with a 59.8% completion rate, 11 touchdowns, and 6 picks in only seven games. In three of his largest games, Notre Dame, UCLA, and Texas A&M, he was below 57% completions and had several turnovers, including three picks in the bowl game. That’s just not the type of steady hand you need if you’re attempting to win the Big Ten. Even in his best performance, against Nebraska, he still threw a pick. Longstreet, however, is arriving with a clean slate and a skill set better suited for Lincoln Riley’s offense.

Lincoln Riley has a true quarterback quandary on his hands at USC. Jayden Maiava offers experience, size, and glimpses of brilliance, but his inconsistency and those darn turnovers have everyone stumped. On the other hand, Husan Longstreet is that shiny, high-upside prospect who’s got the pedigree, poise, and accuracy to be a game-changer. It’s like deciding between the seasoned learner and the potential breakout rookie. USC fans are in for a wild ride, and whoever takes the snap, the Trojans are eager to turn things around and make some noise in 2025.