About this episode

Ryan and Clinton discuss the USC Trojans' spring football developments, focusing on quarterback Jayden Maiava and the team's offensive and defensive strategies for the upcoming season.

Ryan and Clinton continue to roll through Big Ten spring spotlights, talking USC. For whatever faults he may have as a head coach, developing QBs and prolific offenses is not one of them for Lincoln Riley. He returns a strong, experience signal caller in 2026 with Jayden Maiava returning after throwing for 3700 yards and 24 TDs a season ago. However, four of USC's top five pass-catchers in terms of yards from last season have either transferred or gone pro. Now-sophomore Tanook Hines is a key returning piece to the WR room. NC State transfer Terrell Anderson also figures to be a key piece. But the rest of the room is bereft of experience, albeit talented. Will a freshman pass catcher step up to help carry the load? What the WR room make lack in experience, the OL and RB rooms more than make up for. USC returns five OL with significant starting experience, and their top two rushers from 2025. Riley's offense ran the ball more often and more effectively in 2025 than the previous two seasons -- with a lack of experience out wide, will USC lead more heavily on this talented and experienced run game in 2026? On defense, former long-time TCU head coach Gary Patterson joins the staff as…

More episodes of Inside The Pylon: A Midwest College Football Podcast

• Big Ten This or That? · May 4, 2026 · 59 min
• The Big Ten's Top Five Defenses · April 20, 2026 · 52 min
• The Big Ten's Top Five Offenses · April 13, 2026 · 1h 5m
• Monday Ruminations: Top 5 Big Ten QBs · April 6, 2026 · 40 min
• Spring Spotlight: Wisconsin Badgers · April 2, 2026 · 25 min
• Spring Spotlight: Washington Huskies · April 2, 2026 · 23 min

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