Lincoln Riley reaffirms confidence in Miller Moss as USC starting QB

Miller Moss will remain USC‘s starting quarterback moving forward despite the Trojans ongoing struggles.

“Of course,” head coach Lincoln Riley said of Moss’ status as QB1. “100%.”

A non-update for the quarterback position in LA, but sophomore Jayden Maiava remains an option for Riley under center.

Maiava threw for over 3,000 yards and threw 17 touchdowns at UNLV in 2023, but hasn’t been able to provide much of an impact to USC this season due to his second-string status. He’s a dual-threat option for USC, even rushing for a touchdown earlier this seaosn during his limited action. He may be able to provide an extra wrinkle that Moss perhaps couldn’t.

It’s not as if Moss is playing terribly, either. Riley’s confidence in Moss can be seen in the fact that the veteran quarterback threw 50 passes in Week 8’s one-point loss to Maryland. He threw for 336 yards, three touchdowns and an interception during the contest.

In fact, Moss ranked third in the Big Ten in passing yards with 1,954 to go with 14 touchdown passes and six interceptions. To bench Moss at this point in the season would be a head-scratcher, but Riley has shown that he isn’t afraid to sit his starting quarterback down. Just ask Spencer Rattler.

However, something has to change for the Trojans, who have lost four of its last five games after beginning the season 3-0. All four of those losses have come by seven points or less — including losing their last two matchups against Penn State and Maryland by a combined four points.

After the Rutgers game in LA this weekend, matchups against Washington, Nebraska, UCLA, and Notre Dame remain. At 3-4, there’s still a chance for USC to get themselves bowl eligible before the regular season’s over.

With Moss at the helm of the Trojan offense, USC is a 14.5-point betting favorite over the cross-country-travelling Scarlet Knights. Kickoff is set for 11 p.m. ET live on FOX.