USC vs. Illinois: Lincoln Riley shares his goals | College News
Through 4 video games this season, Jayden Maiava has executed just about all he might to dispel any lingering doubts about him as USC’s starting quarterback.
Maiava is averaging 12.7 yards per pass attempt this season, higher than any other quarterback in college football. His completion percentage has risen more than 11 points since last season (to 70.8%). He has thrown nine passing touchdowns, plus added four on the ground, and has yet to turn the ball over after throwing nine picks during the same number of starts in 2024.
Granted, during the Trojans’ 4-0 start, Maiava has yet to face a pass defense that ranks inside the top 100 in passing yards allowed per attempt. Nor has he or anyone on USC’s offense faced much in the way of adversity. The Trojans have scored more than 52 points per game and won their first four by an average margin of 32.
But the level of competition ratchets up this week. Each of USC’s next three opponents are ranked in the top 25, while three of its next four games come on the road, beginning Saturday with No. 23 Illinois, which was ranked in the top 10 before it was trounced by Indiana last weekend.
If USC has any hope of making the College Football Playoff, it’ll need Maiava to prove his fast start in September wasn’t a fluke. USC coach Lincoln Riley doesn’t want Maiava to change much from his first four weeks.
“Just keep doing what you’re doing,” Riley said.
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava evades a sort out attempt by Michigan State defensive back Armorion Smith at the Coliseum on Sept. 20.
(Carlin Stiehl/Los Angeles Times)
“He’s been steady. He’s been in a good head space. There will be different challenges. You’re gonna have mistakes here and there. That’s where your experience is going to show up. We just need him to be the steady, efficient leader he’s been and keep playing really good, efficient ball. I think he’s in a really good head space to do that.”
Illinois hasn’t had a lot success rattling succesful quarterbacks this season. Duke’s Darian Mensah threw for 356 yards and two touchdowns in Week 2, while Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza dropped 5 scores on the Illini secondary last Saturday. Injuries have only made issues worse for the Illini secondary as it misplaced All-Big Ten slot nook Xavier Scott to a potential season-ending injury, have one security in concussion protocol and another cornerback in a strolling boot. Two other defensive backs also exited Illinois’ last recreation with some kind of injury.
The stage is set for Maiava to make a major assertion Saturday, in one of the marquee matchups of the week. Here’s what else you need to watch for when USC performs to Illinois.
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