USC’s New College Football Playoff Odds Revealed
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“Lincoln Riley has a history” – CFB analyst reveals if USC QB Jayden Maiava’s can win Heisman Trophy in 2025
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava is entering his second season with the Trojans after spending the first two years of his collegiate career with the UNLV Rebels. He was the 2023 recipient of the MW Freshman of the Year Award. Tom Fornelli on the “Cover 3 Podcast,” a different sportsbook gave JaydenMaiava 70-1 odds of winning the Heisman next season. MaiaVA is aiming to be the first USC signal-caller to win it since Caleb Williams in 2022. He will be tasked to lead the USC TrojANS to the expanded College Football Playoff despite being part of the stacked Big Ten Conference. If somehow it does click and USC is back, then odds are Jayden maiava will be a big part of why they’re doing it. The only exceptions in the last decade are Colorado wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter (2024) and Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (2020)
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Riley’s reputation as a quarterback whisperer is set in stone, and it was likely a factor that convinced Jayden Maiava to take his talents to USC in 2024. Ahead of the 2025 campaign, college football analyst Tom Fornelli talked about Maiava’s chances of winning the Heisman Trophy in 2025.
“At a different Sports Book (not FanDuel), you can find USC quarterback Jayden Maiava at 70-1, and the thought process here is pretty simple,” Fornelli said on Monday, via the “Cover 3 Podcast.” “I don’t think that it’s going to happen.”
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However, he added that the 70-1 odds could be a value pick if Maiva performs well next season.
“But, Lincoln Riley tends to do well with quarterbacks,” Fornelli said. “Lincoln Riley has a history of winning the Heisman with quarterbacks. USC has a history of its quarterbacks winning the Heisman. If somehow it does click and USC is back, and USC is competing at the top of the Big Ten, then odds are Jayden Maiava will be a big part of why they’re doing it.
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“And he’ll be putting very impressive numbers. So I do believe getting him at 70-1 right now provides interesting value. I do not expect it to cash but if it does you’ll feel pretty happy about it.”
Maiava is entering his second season with the Trojans after spending the first two years of his collegiate career with the UNLV Rebels. He’s looking to repay Riley’s faith in him as he aims to make the most of a starting role.
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What are Lincoln Riley’s QB, Jayden Maiava’s Heisman Trophy odds?
According to Tom Fornelli on the “Cover 3 Podcast,” a different sportsbook gave Jayden Maiava 70-1 odds of winning the Heisman next season. These are decent odds for a Lincoln Riley quarterback to take home the trophy.
Maiava is no stranger to awards, as he was the 2023 recipient of the MW Freshman of the Year Award. He will be tasked to lead the USC Trojans to the expanded College Football Playoff despite being part of the stacked Big Ten Conference.
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Quarterbacks have won seven of the last 10 Heisman Trophies. The only exceptions in the last decade are Colorado wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter (2024), Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (2020) and Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2015).
Maiava is aiming to be the first USC signal-caller to win it since Caleb Williams in 2022.
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About the author Nick Igbokwe Nick Uzochukwu Igbokwe is an NFL journalist at Sportskeeda. He loves the thrill and excitement that comes with the complex plays on the Gridiron. American football is an acquired taste, and he has been hooked on the game since discovering it in 2017 during his University days.
Furthermore, Nick has interviewed agents, medical personnel, and close family members of NFL stars, who have reached out to him after reading his stories. Know More
USC Trojans Fan? Check out the latest Trojans depth chart, schedule, and roster updates all in one place.
Four-Star USC Target Reveals Major Advantage Lincoln Riley Has in Coaching WRs
Four-Star USC target Reveals Major Advantage Lincoln Riley Has in Coaching WRs. Ethan “Boobie” Feaster revealed to Jarrett Perez of 247Sports the tactic Riley uses to make great use of his wideouts. Feaster is planning to announce his college choice on the Fourth of July. Alabama, LSU and Texas A&M are the competition for USC in pursuing Feaster, a four-star wide receiver who has a big decision to make in the coming weeks.”I had a couple of meetings with coach Riley. We talked about the offense a little bit,” Feaster said.
Lincoln Riley established a reputation of developing high-caliber quarterback talent. Baker Mayfield and USC standout Caleb Williams became his proteges.
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But Riley has developed stout wide receiver play. And one four-star USC target discovered what separates Riley from other coaches in that department.
Ethan “Boobie” Feaster revealed to Jarrett Perez of 247Sports the tactic Riley uses to make great use of his WRs. Long story short, Riley hands his wideouts more power than many think.
“I had a couple of meetings with coach Riley. We talked about the offense a little bit. He really just showed me his best receivers and how he lets them run sets of routes that he wouldn’t let any other receivers run,” Feaster shared to Perez. “That’s why they’re used to getting so open.”
Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley.© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Riley is a receiver’s coach along with becoming a “QB whisperer.” Feaster included one other approach Riley uses to benefit his wideouts.
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“Then he showed me all his counters he makes off the defense, off their weaknesses,” Feaster said. “That’s what he was really showing me and then we just talked about how I’ve been doing, my parents, living there, and stuff like that.”
Feaster clearly held a cordial, yet knowledgeable, conversation with the Trojans head coach. He even teased USC as a potential “home” destination following his visit.
Feaster will head to the man who coached CeeDee Lamb if he chooses USC. Lamb thrived and dominated under Riley during his college years at Oklahoma. Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is another OU star from the Riley era who became a 1,000-yard WR in the NFL.
Feaster has a big decision to make in the coming weeks. He’s planning to announce his college choice on the Fourth of July. Alabama, LSU and Texas A&M are the competition for USC in pursuing Feaster.
Related: No. 1 Player in Colorado Makes Admission About USC’s Status in Recruitment
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
USC’s New College Football Playoff Odds Revealed
USC’s New College Football Playoff Odds Revealed originally appeared on Athlon Sports. USC has a +570 chance of rising as one of the 12 teams making it into the 2025 postseason field. SMU and Indiana landed on his list — representing two 2024 postseason teams to be mentioned as contenders. But did USC make the seven-team cut? Not only did the Trojans earn their mention, Bahns revealed what USC’s odds are. The odds are based on the team winning six games in its first regular season in the Big Ten.
USC is fueling renewed hype and optimism for 2025. Thanks to its stacked 2026 recruiting class. But did that spark higher College Football Playoff odds for the Trojans?
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Carter Bahns of CBS Sports revealed the list of wild card CFP teams ahead of the upcoming season. Bahns rolled out seven different teams capable of making a run.
SMU and Indiana landed on his list — representing two 2024 postseason teams to be mentioned as contenders. Both rose as major surprises during the collegiate season.
But did USC make the seven-team cut? Not only did the Trojans earn their mention, Bahns revealed what USC’s odds are.
USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) scores a touchdown against the Utah State Aggies at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sept. 7, 2024.Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
Bahns has USC earning a +570 chance of rising as one of the 12 teams making it into the 2025 postseason field. Here’s why he took a liking into USC’s chances.
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“USC won six games in its first regular season in the Big Ten. Believe it or not, that .500 team was only a few plays away from playoff contention,” Bahns began.
Then came this burning question from the CBS Sports analyst.
“What if the Trojans reverse their one-score game fortunes and go 5-1 in those spots this year instead of the 1-5 they went in 2024?” he asked. “It is obviously not that simple, but the slim margins show just how much variance exists in this team’s potential for Year 2 in the Big Ten.
Bahns includes that USC won’t deal with annual Big Ten heavyweights Ohio State or Penn State this season on the regular season schedule. Which benefits the Trojans. However, he knows a third straight letdown campaign will put an end to the Lincoln Riley era.
Related: USC Commit Teases Teaming With 4-Star in Major High School Transfer
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
NIL Contract Details for New USC Commit Revealed
NIL Contract Details for New USC Commit Revealed originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Luke Wafle is the latest Trojans commit — who chose USC over Ohio State and Penn State. USC flashed an NIL deal to help coax him into landing in the Los Angeles region for his college career. The contract is said to be between $2.2 and $ 2.6 million dollars over two years, according to On3.
USC is getting with the times of the new era of college football recruiting. That means opening up the account and handing recruits NIL money — all to help seal their commitment.
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Luke Wafle is the latest Trojans commit — who chose USC over Ohio State and Penn State Friday. Turns out USC flashed an NIL deal to help coax him into landing in the Los Angeles region for his college career.
Here’s the contract details involving Wafle via On3.
“The Trojans were tracking for Wafle’s commitment coming out of last weekend’s official visit to Los Angeles,” the outlet wrote. “Ohio State upped its NIL package and began to trend Wednesday morning. USC then made a counter-offer to that and ultimately got the pledge locked in. We’re hearing Wafle’s package is between $2.2 and $2.6 million dollars over two years.”
USC coach Lincoln Riley© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
USC insider for On3 Scott Schrader later revealed that Wafle’s contract stretched to three years, not a cap of two seasons. Schrader adds how USC is taking more of an NIL initiative following landing a prized five-star commit for the 2025 class.
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“The trend of USC getting dunked on with NIL sort of ended with [USC freshman defensive lineman] Jahkeem Stewart in December, but USC getting Wafle as predicted, it’s kind of an exclamation point on where things currently stand with the USC football program,” Schrader said.
The recruiting outlet adds general manager Chad Bowen helped make the deal happen for Wafle and his family. All while head coach Lincoln Riley plus defensive line coach Eric Henderson recruited him heavily.
Related: USC Assistant Earns Prominent Honor After Securing Newest Commit
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
No. 1 College Football Recruiting Class Revealed
The USC Trojans boast the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class with a massive 28 commitments. The group features one five-star, 17 four-stars, and 10 three-stars.LSU holds down the No. 2 spot behind USC, with nine commitments on the books — including two five-stars and six four-star. The Trojos have already locked down the likes of Mark Bowman, Simote Katoanga, and Brandon Lockhart.
On3.com, the leading college football recruitment database, has updated its list of the top college football recruitment programs, and USC Trojans have been named the best in the country.
After years stuck outside the top 15 in On3 Industry’s recruiting rankings, USC is now reaping the rewards of a smart recruitment policy. GM Chad Bowden has masterminded a front office rebuild that brought some of the nation’s top scouts and recruiters into the program.
Bowden rolled in from Notre Dame, where he helped piece together a roster that made a serious run at the national title last season. Dre Brown arrives fresh from Illinois, where he engineered the Illini’s first 10-win season in more than two decades. Max Stienecker, widely regarded as a top young strategist, makes the jump from Wisconsin.
Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley.© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
As of early June, the Trojans boast the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class with a massive 28 commitments — nearly twice as many as any other Power 4 program. The group features one five-star, 17 four-stars, and 10 three-stars, with several prospects edging toward blue-chip status.
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Brandon Arrington is the biggest name USC is chasing right now. Arrington is a 6-2, 180-pound corner from Spring Valley who On3 names the best 2026 recruit in California and a five-star talent. The Trojans have already locked down the likes of Mark Bowman, Simote Katoanga, and Brandon Lockhart.
LSU holds down the No. 2 spot behind USC, with nine commitments on the books — including two five-stars and six four-stars.
Related: Breaking: College Football Powerhouse Claims Nation’s Top Recruiting Class
Related: April’s Top Recruiting Wins Exclude Two Major College Football Conferences
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Source: https://athlonsports.com/college/usc-trojans/usc-new-college-football-playoff-odds-revealed