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Paolo Ogetti, ESPN
After spending three seasons as a backup, Miller Moss’ patience has officially paid off. In a widely expected move, USC Lincoln coach Riley Moss named the Trojans’ starting quarterback on Monday ahead of the start of the 2024 season.
Moss, a third-year senior, will take over for Caleb Williams, who spent two seasons at USC, winning the Heisman Trophy and throwing for more than 8,000 yards and 72 scores. For his part, Moss threw for just 59 passes for 681 yards and seven scores during his time at USC.
It took Moss all of spring practice and most of fall camp to officially secure the position, but in many ways, Moss probably won the job in December. With Williams deciding not to play in the Holiday Bowl in anticipation of his NFL draft decision, Moss stepped into the starting role and made the most of the opportunity.
With a game plan designed to showcase his talent, Moss threw 33 passes, completing 23 of them for 372 yards, and scored six touchdowns — a Holiday Bowl record — en route to leading USC to a 42-28 win over Louisville.
“He would have probably scared anyone who wanted to come here,” Riley said at the time. “Miller could have run away at different times, but he stayed here. He’s gotten better.”
This was the kind of performance Riley needed to see. Instead of looking for two quarterbacks — one young and one veteran — as Riley said, USC brought in only Jayden Maiava from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, giving Moss a clear shot at becoming the starting quarterback.
After USC’s spring game, Riley said Moss was at his best and was the frontrunner in the defensive back position against Maiava.
“He’s definitely ahead now, no doubt about that,” Riley said. “We’re in a position right now where we can’t name a starter… If we play today, it’s definitely going to be Miller.”
Over the interseason and into fall camp, Moss took on a greater leadership role within the team, signaling his potential place as a starter. He also represented the Trojans at Big Ten media days in Indianapolis.
But Riley and other members of the USC staff have refrained from naming him an official starter despite the high praise Moss has received.
“He’s got a really good grasp of the system and does a great job of sharing it with his teammates,” quarterbacks coach Luke Howard said a few weeks ago. “Miller’s done a great job of developing himself, he’s able to make all the throws.”
Moss will get his first test as a starting quarterback in a regular-season game when USC faces LSU in Las Vegas on Sept. 1 to open the season.
