The 2025 college football season has concluded, and the USC Trojans” offense is being evaluated. With the Indiana Hoosiers claiming the national championship and the Seattle Seahawks winning the Super Bowl, football fans will now have to wait several months for the sport to return. In the meantime, it”s an excellent opportunity to reflect on USC”s offensive performance throughout the season.
Starting with the quarterback position, Jayden Maiava earns an A- for his first full season as the Trojans” starting quarterback. Maiava played all 13 games, amassing 3,711 passing yards and throwing for 24 touchdowns, in addition to six rushing touchdowns. However, his ten interceptions prevented him from receiving an A grade. If he can improve his ball security while maintaining his production, he has the potential to become one of the nation”s elite quarterbacks in 2026.
The wide receivers received an A grade, bolstered by the presence of the Biletnikoff Award winner, Makai Lemon, who was recognized as the top pass catcher in college football. Teammates Ja”Kobi Lane and Tanook Hines also had impressive seasons, contributing significantly to the offense. Despite a lack of depth compared to previous years, the wide receiver corps had a fantastic performance overall.
USC”s running backs were assessed with a B+. The season was unusual for this unit, as Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders began the year strong, forming a promising duo. However, injuries sustained during the Michigan game sidelined both players for the remainder of the season. In their absence, redshirt freshman walk-on King Miller emerged as a standout player in the latter half of the season. Despite running well in most games, the Trojans struggled against formidable defensive lines like those of Notre Dame and Oregon, which influenced their overall grade.
The offensive line also received a B+, showing notable improvement under the guidance of new position coach Zach Hanson. Although they encountered difficulties against top-tier defenses, the overall performance was encouraging. With all five starters expected to return for the next season, high expectations will surround this group moving into 2026.
At the tight end position, the Trojans received an A-. After years of speculation about utilizing tight ends more effectively, the 2025 season finally saw that come to fruition with Lake McRee recording 30 receptions for 450 yards and four touchdowns, marking the most productive season for a USC tight end in nearly two decades. Backup Walker Lyons also contributed positively, reflecting well on the coaching efforts of new tight ends coach Chad Savage.
Overall, USC”s offense garnered an A- for the 2025 season. While it may not have been the finest unit during Lincoln Riley“s tenure, it still performed admirably. The Trojans consistently scored at least 24 points in every game, providing a solid foundation for competitive play throughout the season. Fans can look forward to the defensive report card coming tomorrow, which might not reflect as positively.
