Miller Moss, USC's starting quarterback, has made an impressive start to his tenure with the Trojans. In his first three games, he has amassed 979 passing yards, eight passing touchdowns, and only one interception, earning high praise from head coach Lincoln Riley.
Miller Moss's ascent as USC's starting quarterback has been nothing short of remarkable. In his first three starts, he has showcased an impressive blend of intelligence, arm strength, and leadership, leaving a lasting impression on head coach Lincoln Riley.
Moss's exceptional numbers speak for themselves. In his debut against Louisville in the Holiday Bowl, he threw for 372 yards and six touchdowns. He followed up with 378 passing yards and a touchdown in USC's upsetting victory over LSU in the 2024 season opener. Last week, he added another 229 yards and a passing score in the Trojans' 48-0 shutout win over Utah State.
However, it is Moss's intelligence that Riley finds most impressive. "There's no question [Moss] is really smart," Riley said on Keyshawn Johnson's "All Facts No Brakes" podcast. "He's one of the smartest ones, and maybe the smartest [quarterback] that I've had, which is saying something."
Riley's praise is well-founded. He has coached some of the most successful quarterbacks in recent college football history, including Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts, and Caleb Williams. All four won the Heisman Trophy and were selected as the first overall pick in the NFL Draft.
While Moss took a different path to USC, committing to the Trojans before Riley's arrival, his dedication and work ethic have won over his teammates and coaches. He grew up a die-hard USC fan in Santa Monica, California, and stayed committed to the Trojans even when Williams arrived.
Moss's unwavering loyalty has earned him the respect of the program. "He dreamed of being a USC Trojan," Riley told Johnson. "He stayed here when he didn't have to. He really put the program — both the program and his dreams of not just playing quarterback at this level, but doing it at this school — he put that front and center."
But while Moss is flourishing at USC, his former teammate Williams struggled in his NFL debut for the Chicago Bears. Riley believes that Williams will improve as he adapts to the professional game. "It was a little bit of a tough outing in some ways, but that's that league," Riley said. "There's no doubt he's going to make some great plays."
Riley has also made a significant impact on USC's defense, which has been transformed under new coordinator D'Anton Lynn. The Trojans held a talented LSU offense to 20 points in week 1 and recorded their first shutout win since 2011 against Utah State.
Riley credits Lynn for instilling confidence in the defense and providing them with a clear message of how to play. "I think he [has] done a good job of instilling confidence and in with our group," Riley said. "I think he's got a really direct, clear message of how we want to play defensively."
USC will face their next test on Sept. 21 in Ann Arbor against Big Ten powerhouse Michigan. With Moss's impressive play and the defense's newfound strength, the Trojans have the potential to make a statement in their conference opener.
