Miller time? USC QB Moss makes historic debut, could have ‘Heisman moment’ when Trojans face Michigan
Lincoln Riley has become synonymous with great quarterback play at both USC and Oklahoma. Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts and most recently Caleb Williams, who followed Riley from Oklahoma to USC, are just a few of the stars who have blossomed in Riley’s offense.
This weekend’s marquee matchup against No. 18 Michigan at the Big House is a unique opportunity to add to Miller-Moss’ (early) legacy. The Trojans’ first foray into the Big Ten is a road game against the defending national champions Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
Moss has not only established himself as USC’s starting quarterback, but is one of the early betting favorites to win the Heisman Trophy (some oddsmakers have him as high as +1800 odds, which puts him seventh). Moss’ 979 yards passing in his first three starts is the most by any USC quarterback this century. He has drawn plenty of praise from anyone familiar with elite quarterback play.
“There’s no doubt that (Miller) is really smart,” Riley said on the All Facts No Breaks podcast last week. “He’s one of the smartest guys, and probably the smartest (quarterback) I’ve ever seen, which says something. … Those other guys understand the game pretty well, but he’s got a great mind for it.”
Miller Moss
USC • QB • #7
6-2, 205
Yard607
TD2
QBR73.9
Comp %7,270.0
Moss has 979 passing yards in the first three games of his career (including the Holiday Bowl vs. Louisville), which is the most passing yards by a USC QB this century.
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Moss doesn’t have to look any further than the performance Texas quarterback Quinn Evers put on against Michigan earlier this month to improve his position in the Heisman rankings. Evers was terrific, throwing for 246 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Michigan, ultimately helping the Longhorns become the No. 1 ranked team in the latest AP Top 25 poll.
Ewers’ standout performance vaulted him to the top of the Heisman odds charts, but he was forced out of last weekend’s game against UTSA with an abdominal muscle strain, and now he likely won’t play for Louisiana-Monroe.
Moss could become USC’s first quarterback to earn three ranked wins since Sam Darnold. At USC, Williams went 2-7 against ranked opponents. The only ranked road win was against crosstown rival UCLA in the 2022 Rose Bowl. Moss was the first quarterback under Riley to win in his regular-season debut against a ranked opponent.
Additionally, Moss could become the first quarterback to win three games against top-ranked opponents in his first four FBS careers since former Ohio State running back Cardale Jones at the end of the 2014 season.
Getting a win against Michigan would mark a new era at USC. The Trojans are 2-15 against ranked opponents on the road in their last 17 games, losing by an average of 10.5 points. Riley is 4-7 against top-25 teams with the Trojans. Michigan has won 22 consecutive conference games and is 13-0 in Ann Arbor against Big Ten opponents since 2021.
Something has to happen on Saturday, and if this streak is broken, it could be the perfect time to get into the “Moss for Heisman” race.
