The USC Trojans' offense made sure to let the whole college football landscape know the Men of Troy are back. There will not be a falloff from 2025. Given all the hype and excitement surrounding this offense, Jayden Maiava and Company gave great reassurance that they will live up to the billing this season.
My MVP from the Trojans' first game of 2026 against San Jose State goes to Jayden Maiava. A lot of pressure and high expectations greeted Maiava heading into this season. He answered the bell in Game 1 and showed he is up to the challenge.
Maiava's numbers in this game bode well for a Heisman campaign. Jayden Maiava scored the first touchdown of the season on a quarterback sneak at the goal line. He finished the day with 286 yards passing and
2 touchdowns, on elite 25-29 efficiency.
It took the Trojans' offense several drives to show off Jayden Maiava's best ability, which is pushing the ball down the field. Still, throughout the game, Maiava manned the ship with confidence and calmness. He got the young Trojans' playmakers involved and instilled confidence in them. The offense this season will fall on the senior quarterback, and in Game 1, he delivered an elite showing.
Jayden Maiava picked up right where he left off and showed improvement in key aspects of his game throughout Game 1. The confidence Lincoln Riley expressed in his starting quarterback in the offseason showed up in the first game. This will be a very exciting season for Jayden Maiava, and he looks primed to take the Trojans to new heights this year.
Contact/Follow @TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Micah Huff's MVP from USC's first game of 2026 season
