USC vs. Notre Dame: Jayden Maiava eager to rebound against Irish

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Last November he was on the verge of the biggest moment of his football career when Jayden Maiava tried to throw an over-the-shoulder pass to the sideline and disaster struck.

His third start in USCwas certainly his best at that time. While Notre Dame overcame the USC defense, the young guard kept the Trojans afloat, scoring three points and rushing for two more, reminiscent of the play that secured the 2022 Caleb Williams with the Heisman Trophy.

But then in the last minutes there was a throw from the sideline. The Irish recovered the pass and returned it for a touchdown. A few minutes later, with USC back in the red zone again, Maiava threw a second, grueling pick-six.

Those two interceptions, along with four others he made in four starts last season, stuck with Maiava throughout the spring and summer as the junior immersed himself in film study and made cutting down turnovers and recovering from bad decisions a priority.

And with Notre Dame at it again this weekend, this time with College Football Playoff implications for both teams, the progress since their last meeting is palpable. Through six games, Maiava has thrown just two interceptions, while Pro Football Focus has him throwing only five turnover-worthy throws in 172 attempts.

This improvement has made a significant difference in USC's passing attack, which has been the most explosive in college football this season. Maiava is averaging 10.8 yards per attempt, which not only leads the nation this year, but ranks among the best in the last five years.

However, he has yet to be tested by an aggressive defense like Notre Dame. While the Irish have allowed opponents to rack up a ton of passing plays in the first half of the season, they have also been one of the most opportunistic when it comes to making takeaways. Their 11 interceptions in six games rank second in the country.

Maiava knows he can't allow this trend to continue if USC hopes to beat its rival on the road.

“I think of it as just getting back in the film room, focusing on the calls, trusting where my eyes should be and continuing to make the right decision,” Maiava said.

In a rivalry where the margins are often incredibly thin, one wrong decision by Maiava could make all the difference – both on Saturday and in USC's season as a whole. The fact that rain is forecast can only complicate matters.

But this season's results show that Maiava is up to the task.

“I think it’s mostly just experience,” Riley said. “He's playing the game more than just playing now, and I think he's very aware of when he can be aggressive.”

Here's what else to watch as No. 20 USC heads to South Bend, Indiana to take on No. 13 Notre Dame on Saturday night.