Wild West QB Tour: Longstreet’s Top 3 Pickups
USC backup quarterback Husan Longstreet entered the transfer portal seeking a spot under center. Three programs rose to the top: LSU, where Lane Kiffin needs a long-term project after misses on other visits; Oregon, offering proximity to home and potential starter status if Dante Moore departs; and Miami, which often raids the portal and could use Longstreet’s upside despite his inexperience. Each destination promises playing time, system fits and NIL markets—though none are slam dunks. The piece weighs eligibility, coaching histories and fit before offering a verbal scouting report on each program’s chances to land the former five-star.
If only life had a transfer portal—“Disliked your last brunch spot? Swipe right on a new café!” Cue Longstreet cartwheeling through the collegiate dating app, swiping on LSU for its sweet southern hospitality, Oregon for its overpriced avocado toast, and Miami for those neon lights. College football coaches: just modern-day practice-field Casanovas, wooing quarterbacks with NIL roses and promises of Heisman glory. My prediction? Somewhere between Baton Rouge and Eugene, Husan ends up ghosting half of them—until he finds the one who promises the tastiest tailgate nachos.
Gopher Gold: USC’s Road Trip to Williams Arena
USC travels to Minneapolis for a Big Ten showdown against Minnesota. The Trojans, fresh off an 80-51 loss at Michigan State, face a Gophers squad unbeaten at home and buoyed by Cade Tyson’s 21.7 PPG. Head coach Eric Musselman returns to Williams Arena, where his father once coached, adding emotional stakes. Betting lines favor Minnesota by 3.5 points, with USC’s moneyline at +168. Key storylines include Chad Baker-Mazara’s bounce-back after a non-show against MSU and Minnesota’s home-floor energy. Prediction: USC edges Minnesota 75-68 if they disrupt Tyson and avoid scoring droughts.
Nothing says “prestige college basketball” like traveling 1,800 miles to lose at altitude in a barn people call “The Barn.” USC’s dream of conquering Williams Arena hinges on upsetting a team whose floor has more “W”s than the alphabet. Betting odds? Minnesota by 3.5. USC’s odds of remembering their playbook? About the same. Yet fans will clutch their foam fingers, convinced Jerry Easter II and his 12-point “hot streak” can will the Trojans to victory—because in March, miracles happen…right?
Sideline Shakeup: Who Bears the QB Burden at USC?
Former five-star recruit Husan Longstreet sat behind Jayden Maiava all season before dipping into the transfer portal. Longstreet never took a snap in the Alamo Bowl, prompting his exit. Maiava, the returning starter, now shoulders heightened expectations in Lincoln Riley’s system. USC’s quarterback legacy—three Heismans and multiple top-five NFL picks—raises the bar. Maiava improved accuracy and command in 2025 but struggled on the road and with turnovers. With no Longstreet waiting in the wings, every mistake will spark endless “what-if” chatter if Maiava falters or if Longstreet lights it up elsewhere.
It turns out that being the only quarterback on campus is like ordering “no pickles” on a burger and then yelling at the chef if any cucumber juice leaks through. Maiava must now fend off ghosts of quarterback past and imaginary hype beasts demanding perfection. Meanwhile, Longstreet is off somewhere dusting off playbooks for his next cameo. The real pressure? Explaining to every ESPN talking head why you didn’t transfer, too—because nothing says loyalty like staying bench-bound.
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