LOS ANGELES — Chasing childhood dreams doesn’t stop once you become older. On Monday, Miller Moss turned those childhood dreams into reality after being named the USC starting quarterback.
“It’s a goal I set for myself a long time ago, and I am happy I accomplished that,” Moss said.
It had always been USC for Moss. Growing up in Mission Hills, Los Angeles, California, the cardinal and gold appealed to Moss from a young age. Moss's earliest USC football memories reside in watching John David Booty under center for the Trojans.
However, USC’s all-time passing leader, Matt Barkley, drew Moss in.
“Barkley was the guy that I watched when I had a real understanding of football,” Moss said.
Heading into USC’s fall camp, head coach Lincoln Riley had not decided on the starting quarterback, creating a competition between Moss and UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava. Moss brought familiarity with Riley’s system to the table, while Maiava’s big arm kept him in the competition.
The improvement of both quarterbacks made it a “neck-to-neck” battle through the first two weeks of camp. However, Moss’s consistency eventually put him over the top.
“Consistently, Miller was still the best, and the guy that we feel gives this team the best chance to win,” Riley said. “His consistency every day as a player, as a leader, operating the offense, certainly is part of what makes him the player he is.”
While Moss won the job, he credited his progression through spring to fall from the fierce competition with Maiava.
“Jayden definitely pushed me and made me better,” Moss said. “I give a ton of credit to him and the growth he has had throughout his time here.”
Moss's path to becoming the Trojans' starting quarterback took its time, with the redshirt junior having to practice patience and resiliency with every step. Joining the Trojans in 2021 as a four-star from Bishop Alemany High School, Moss barely saw the field under then-head coaches Clay Helton and Donte Williams, playing two total games his first season.
Riley’s arrival at USC brought another hurdle for Moss, with Riley bringing over his star freshman quarterback Caleb Williams from Oklahoma. WIlliams was given the keys to the Trojan's offense from the jump, leaving Moss in a similar role as the backup. Yet, Moss stayed patient, trusting the process.
Williams took the college football landscape by storm, winning Hiesman his first season with USC and becoming the No.1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. With Williams out the door, Moss would finally get his chance to compete for the job. The opportunity finally arose for Moss to show what he was capable of, and he took full advantage—throwing a Holiday Bowl-record six touchdowns.
After an MVP performance at the Holiday Bowl, Miller was marked as the favorite to win the starting job heading into the Spring. Maiava's entrance stiffened the competition heading to fall camp, yet Moss never wavered amid the battle.
“I try to come to practice and be the best version of myself every day,” Moss said.
While Moss finally accomplished what he had dreamed of since childhood, the work only starts. The expectations weigh heavy every season for the Trojans, but in a season with conference realignment to the Big Ten, the stage is raised for USC. However, as the new starting quarterback, Moss realizes what is expected.
“It means a tremendous amount; it's a great honor, but at the end of the day, its about what you do with it,” Moss said. “Its a positive step, but now its about going to win football games.”