Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman on Preparing For USC Trojans Quarterback Jayden Maiava

USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava will be making his third straight start at quarterback for the Trojans against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday afternoon. What differences does Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman see in the USC offense with Maiava instead of Miller Moss at quarterback?

Marcus Freeman: “A Really Good Arm”

Nov 23, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws a pass during the fourth quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images | Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

The USC Trojans went with quarterback Miller Moss through their first nine games. Moss had his ups and downs and the Trojans had a record of 4-5 with him as starter. Prior to their game against Nebraska, coach Lincoln Riley made the call to go to Jayden Maiava.

Unlike Moss, Maiava provides more of a duel threat attack with his legs. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman spoke about the changes he has seen in the USC with Maiava as the starter.

“The schematics of the offense hasn’t changed that much,” Freeman said. “He (Maiava) tends to make different decisions maybe than Moss did. . . . He makes really quick decisions and they’re doing some different things with extending past with his legs. . . . He’s got a really good arm and he isn’t putting them in many negative situations.”

In Maiava’s two starts, USC is 2-0 with wins over Nebraska and UCLA.

“He’s come in these last two games and won them for him,” Freeman said. “They’re playing well on offense but their whole offense hasn’t changed.”

Can Trojans Cause A Playoff Shakeup?

Nov 23, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley during the fourth quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images | Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

The USC Trojans will be playing spoiler on Saturday when they take the field vs. Notre Dame. The Irish are currently No. 5 in the College Football Playoff Rankings. A win over USC would all but lock up a spot in the postseason.

A loss would put their playoff chances up in the air, but luckily for Notre Dame, there has been chaos all around them in the rankings.10-2 might get them in, but the Fighting Irish would be sweating out the final rankings.

USC has been out of the playoff race for quite some time but already has a bowl game berth secured, so they should be playing loose and free. Can the Trojans pull the upset as a 7.5-point home underdog?

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