As USC gears up for the 2025 season, Big Ten coaches are weighing in—and their verdict is clear: the Trojans’ success hinges not on quarterback talent alone, but on whether their defense can finally rise to the occasion.
In a candid interview with Athlon Sports, anonymous coaches offered insight into USC’s playoff hopes, the rise of Jayden Maiava, and why Lincoln Riley’s latest elite QB project, Husan Longstreet, may not be the only key to the Trojans’ resurgence.
‘That’s What Gets Lost About The USC Teams’—USC’s 2025 Ceiling? Coaches Say It Hangs on One Thing
In a recent interview on Athlon Sports, College Football Coaches from the Big Ten anonymously revealed their thoughts on rivals ahead of the 2025 season, which is set to kick off in a few months.
In the interview, the Big Ten coaches revealed their thoughts on the USC Trojans going into 2025, after the Trojans failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2024, with a 6-6 record meaning drastic improvement is needed if they want to contend next year.
‘Lincoln Riley Making Another Elite Quarterback?’ Who Is USC’s Starting QB For 2025?
“The talk is all about Lincoln Riley making another elite quarterback,” The Anonymous Coach began in their report of USC going into 2025.
The clear starter going into 2025 for the Trojans is Sophomore Maiava, who is going into his third season in College Football, his second for USC. In an interview during USC’s Spring Practice, Riley revealed that Maiava is the clear QB1.
“Uh, I mean, Jayden’s taking the reps with the ones. There’s not, with more ones than twos. There’s not as much, like, this guy with the ones, this guy with the twos in spring. It’s more just about quality team reps.” Riley explained.
“And so, you know, for us, it’s not – I mean, Jayden is the number one quarterback right now,” said Riley. “I mean, that’s, that’s – which is not surprising at all.”
However, the clear elite Quarterback Riley is looking to develop in the upcoming season that the anonymous coach is referring to is Husan Longstreet, a Freshman, who is ranked as the fourth-best Quarterback prospect in the 2025 class.
“He’s getting better. I mean, he, he does some, some great things. He still makes some freshman mistakes from time to time. He’s just growing and learning.” Riley explained, when questioned on the Freshman
Husan has done a nice job. He makes a lot of explosive plays. I would expect, you know, there in the summer, he would have an opportunity to get a lot better. Just like I kind of told you guys, the same thing about Jayden last year.”
USC’s 2025 Ceiling? Coaches Say It Hangs on One Thing
However, outside of that, despite USC having a plan in mind when it comes to developing another elite Quarterback, the anonymous coach revealed that he believes there’s another factor to consider about the Trojans in 2025.
“I think the metric here should be how much that defense can improve both on the field and in recruiting.” The Anonymous Coach explained.
“If you assume Maiava continues to build a comfort level, they’ll be better for it on offense. But watch the defense. If they take that next step, we’re talking about a team that can go in and play with the best programs in the nation again.”
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“I think they take a jump up this year because they’re bringing in more talented players to a proven system, both the transfers and the freshmen will make the defensive line better.”
The Trojans have already made big leaps to improve their Defense, with Freshman Jakheem Stewart committing to USC. A five-star Defensive End, Stewart was originally ESPN’s number one prospect for 2026 before reclassifying into 2025, where he was named one of the top ten freshmen to watch in 2025.
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