# Maiava and Moore clash in high-stakes QB showdown

> Two top NFL Draft prospects face off Saturday as USC hosts Oregon, with both quarterbacks trying to boost their professional stock.
- Title: Maiava and Moore clash in high-stakes QB showdown · CBS Sports
- Summary: Two top NFL Draft prospects face off Saturday as USC hosts Oregon, with both quarterbacks trying to boost their professional stock. Jayden Maiava has emerged…
- Keywords: jayden maiava, dante moore, usc trojans, oregon ducks, nfl draft, college football, quarterback prospects, lincoln riley, transfer portal, big ten, sports, Maiava
- Source: CBS Sports — https://cbssports.com/college-football/news/jayden-maiava-dante-moore-nfl-draft-usc-oregon-tale-of-the-tape
- Published: 2026-09-23T18:46:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: jayden maiava, dante moore, usc trojans, oregon ducks, nfl draft, college football, quarterback prospects, lincoln riley, transfer portal, big ten, sports
## Two star QBs meet in LA
No. 12 USC hosts No. 20 Oregon Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in a matchup between two first-round NFL Draft prospects trying to build their professional cases.
## Maiava's explosive early season
USC's Jayden Maiava leads the nation with 12 touchdown passes and has thrown for at least 260 yards and two touchdowns in every game this season under coach Lincoln Riley.
## Maiava's unlikely path to stardom
The Hawaii native was an unheralded recruit at UNLV before transferring to USC, where he gradually earned the starting job and has now emerged as one of the nation's top QB prospects.
## Moore's surprising return to school
Oregon's Dante Moore turned down the NFL Draft over the offseason, when he likely would have been the No. 2 pick, to return for his senior season and continue developing.
## Moore's early season struggles
Through three games, Moore has completed only 48.3% of his passes for 191 yards in a loss to Oklahoma State and showed poor decision-making under pressure, raising questions about his draft prospects.
## Tale of the tape comparison
Maiava leads in yards per game, completion percentage, touchdown passes, and passer rating, while Moore leads only in interception percentage with zero picks through three games.
## Saturday's game is crucial for both
Moore needs to cut down turnovers and exploit an inconsistent USC secondary to rebuild his draft stock, while Maiava must keep interceptions down in his first ranked matchup of the season.
## Key takeaway

Jayden Maiava has emerged as the more explosive prospect with 12 touchdown passes and elite efficiency, while Dante Moore is struggling to justify his decision to return to school instead of entering the draft.