University Southern California Trojans
November 10, 2026 | Football
LOS ANGELES—USC quarterback Jayden Maiava has been named a semifinalist for the 90th Maxwell Award for the Collegiate Player of the Year.
Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors and selected national media.
Four Trojans—O.J. Simpson, Charles White, Marcus Allen and Caleb Williams—have been recipients of the Maxwell Award.
Maiava leads the Big Ten in completions per game (22.0), passing touchdowns (20) and passing yards (2,524). He has accounted for 22 touchdowns through 9 games, throwing 20 and rushing for 2 with just 5 interceptions.
Maiava's opening nine-game stretch compares favorably with the greatest quarterbacks in USC history. Through nine games, Maiava's 66.9 completion percentage is the best among the group, while his 20 passing TDs are 8 fewer than Williams, 2 fewer than Palmer and the same number Leinart recorded during their respective nine-game starts.
Maiava makes his throws count. He is tied for second among USC career leaders in yards per attempt with 8.6 (min. 500 attempts at USC). He's in good company in the stat – Caleb Williams sits at No. 1 with 9.2 yards per attempt, tied with Matt Leinart at second with 8.6 and Sam Darnold holds the No. 3 spot with 8.5 yards per attempt.
He is currently eighth on USC's career total offense leader board with 7,568 total yards of offense as a Trojan. Maiava also ranks 13th on USC's single season passing leader board with 265 completions in the 2025 season.
Additionally, he has been named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 10, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Watch List, the Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List and he was one of 12 total players from the Big Ten Conference to be named to the 2026 Big Ten Football Preseason Honors list.
Maiava was also named a nominee for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, the Allstate AFCA Goodworks Team and to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list for his commitment to community service and leadership beyond the gridiron.
Three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 24, 2026. The winner of the 90th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 11, 2026. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday March 13, 2027, at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.
Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors and selected national media.
Four Trojans—O.J. Simpson, Charles White, Marcus Allen and Caleb Williams—have been recipients of the Maxwell Award.
Maiava leads the Big Ten in completions per game (22.0), passing touchdowns (20) and passing yards (2,524). He has accounted for 22 touchdowns through 9 games, throwing 20 and rushing for 2 with just 5 interceptions.
Maiava's opening nine-game stretch compares favorably with the greatest quarterbacks in USC history. Through nine games, Maiava's 66.9 completion percentage is the best among the group, while his 20 passing TDs are 8 fewer than Williams, 2 fewer than Palmer and the same number Leinart recorded during their respective nine-game starts.
Maiava makes his throws count. He is tied for second among USC career leaders in yards per attempt with 8.6 (min. 500 attempts at USC). He's in good company in the stat – Caleb Williams sits at No. 1 with 9.2 yards per attempt, tied with Matt Leinart at second with 8.6 and Sam Darnold holds the No. 3 spot with 8.5 yards per attempt.
He is currently eighth on USC's career total offense leader board with 7,568 total yards of offense as a Trojan. Maiava also ranks 13th on USC's single season passing leader board with 265 completions in the 2025 season.
Additionally, he has been named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 10, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Watch List, the Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List and he was one of 12 total players from the Big Ten Conference to be named to the 2026 Big Ten Football Preseason Honors list.
Maiava was also named a nominee for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, the Allstate AFCA Goodworks Team and to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list for his commitment to community service and leadership beyond the gridiron.
Three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 24, 2026. The winner of the 90th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 11, 2026. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday March 13, 2027, at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ FootballMonday, November 09
Thursday, November 05
Wednesday, November 04
Wednesday, November 04
