Jayden Maiava Bounces Back After Lincoln Riley’s Tough Criticism

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava seems to have learned from his mistakes. After head coach Lincoln Riley called him out for poor play against Nebraska, Maiava answered with a strong performance, leading the Trojans to a 38–17 win over Northwestern. His comeback showed maturity, focus, and a real drive to improve.

In a video shared by InsideTroy, Jayden Maiava talked about how he and his teammates are trying to grow together. “There’s still a lot for me to learn and get better at,” he said. “Everyone around me is working too. We’re pushing each other to raise our standard and finish strong this season.”

Jayden Maiava’s turnaround came just a week after one of his worst games. Against Nebraska, he completed only 9 of 32 passes, and USC barely pulled off the win after a fourth-quarter rally. Coach Riley didn’t sugarcoat his feelings and said the offense made too many “silly mistakes.”

This time, Jayden Maiava responded the right way. Against Northwestern, he completed nearly 73% of his passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns. He looked calmer and more confident. Still, inconsistency has been a problem for him this season. Costly turnovers and poor decisions in key moments have hurt the Trojans’ momentum—like the fumble by Makai Lemon against Notre Dame that gave the Fighting Irish an easy score.

Jayden Maiava says he’s focused on staying in the moment. “The biggest thing is being where your feet are,” he said. “Avoid worrying about the past or thinking too far ahead. Focus on what’s right in front of you and keep the main thing the main thing.”

USC is now 17th in the AP Poll and third in the Big Ten with a 7–2 record. The next few games will decide their playoff hopes as they face Iowa, Oregon, and UCLA. Oregon, ranked No. 7, will be the toughest matchup of the three.

Jayden Maiava isn’t doing it alone, though. Wide receivers Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon have been standouts all season. Together, they’ve combined for 1,357 yards and 11 touchdowns, helping USC average over 500 yards and nearly 40 points per game—among the best in the country.

“They’re consistent and competitive,” Maiava said. “They encourage one another and everyone else to improve. You’ve got to appreciate guys like that.”

If the Trojans keep playing with this kind of energy and focus, Lincoln Riley’s tough talk might have been exactly what they needed to get back on track.

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