UNLV was preparing for its first bowl game appearance since 2014 a year ago.

There, quarterback Jayden Maiava said at the Guaranteed Rate Bowl media day on Christmas Eve that he planned to “run back” as the Rebels’ quarterback.

A lot has changed since then.

Maiava transferred to USC after being named Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2023 with UNLV. He helped lead the Rebels to the program’s first appearance in the conference title game by completing 63.5 percent of his passes for 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 14 games.

The Liberty High graduate returns Friday as the Trojans’ starter. He will try to help USC end a tumultuous season with a win against Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium.

Maiava and the Trojans practiced all week at UNLV’s Fertitta Football Complex. He called the preparation for Thursday’s game “a turning point” for him.

“(Internating at UNLV) was a little strange at first,” Maiava said. “But I mean, just to understand that this is where I started and where it all kind of started for me, I’m super grateful.”

“No regrets”

Maiava and the Rebels lost 49-36 to Kansas in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on December 26, 2023. He announced his intention to leave the Rebels in a social media post on January 1.

“This decision to enter the transfer portal was not made lightly,” Maiava wrote. “I believe it is the right step for my personal and sporting growth and I hope you understand and respect my decision.”

Maiava initially committed to Georgia but later transferred to USC. He started the season as a backup to quarterback Miller Moss, but got his chance when Miller was benched after a 4-5 start. He helped the Trojans go 2-1 in the final three games of the regular season, finishing 6-6.

Maiava completed 60.8 percent of his passes this year with seven touchdowns and three interceptions.

Meanwhile, UNLV took an 11-3 lead. The Rebels returned to the Mountain West title game, winning the LA Bowl against Cal on December 18.

Maiava continues to stick to his decision to transfer.

“No regrets,” he said Thursday. “I firmly believe that the decisions I have made in the past have led me to this point today.”

Maiava added it was “difficult” to follow UNLV’s performance because he was focused on USC. Trojans coach Lincoln Riley said Maiava’s confidence never wavered, even when he trained behind Moss.

“Jayden was great to coach,” Riley said. “He’s a team-first guy. As you can see up here, he is incredibly humble. He was like that all the time. He never expected anything other than us to train him hard and develop him, and he was ready when his opportunity came.”

Repeat transfer portal

Maiava said Thursday that he had been “keeping an eye on” some UNLV players, adding that he knew some of them wanted to leave.

One of those players may have been kicker Caden Chittenden, who announced hours later that he was transferring to USC.

Everything is included! ✌️ @uscfb pic.twitter.com/s0GdKezSr8

— Caden Chittenden (@CadenChittenden) December 26, 2024

Chittenden, a Faith Lutheran graduate, was a local recruit like Maiava. He was also named Mountain West Freshman of the Year in his only season with the Rebels.

The pickup came after Riley said Monday that the transfer portal needed to change. His team has lost almost 20 players since entry was granted on December 9th.

“There are great examples of the transfer portal, many with teams I have coached. So I’m certainly not here to say it’s a bad thing, because it’s not,” Riley said Thursday. “This season, in the new playoffs, in the positions in which players, coaches, staff and universities are placed – it is not good. Things have to get better.”

Riley added that he believes college football has “never been better.” He is confident that the transfer situation can be resolved.

No pressure

Maiava was asked several times about his return Thursday, including whether he would feel pressure playing in front of a familiar crowd.

“It’s not really a heavy burden on my shoulders,” Maiava said. “Coach Riley, the staff and my teammates are doing a great job preparing us to just go into battle and compete at a really high level.”

Maiava instead said that being an unofficial tour guide for his teammates was “a great experience.”

USC isn’t alone in enjoying the sights. Texas A&M defensive tackle Albert Regis enjoyed the Las Vegas Bowl experience.

“A lot of people dream of coming here, and I understand why,” Regis said. “Vegas is fucking cool.”

Contact Callie Fin at [email protected]. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.