SAN DIEGO — Caleb Williams could barely contain his excitement as the final seconds ticked off the clock in USC’s 42-28 Holiday Bowl win over a top-15 Louisville team.
“F— yeah, man,” said Williams, who has been the face of the Trojans program the past two seasons. Wednesday night wasn’t about Williams, though. He stood near USC’s end zone as he belted out those words and embraced the true star of the night: Miller Moss.
Miller Moss and Caleb Williams. #USC pic.twitter.com/L0ZdPOZTbO
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) December 28, 2023
There’s been so much discussion over the past year about USC’s quarterback succession plan when Williams, who opted not to play in the bowl game and will surely be off to the NFL, is no longer with the program.
Malachi Nelson, a five-star freshman, was hailed as Williams’ heir apparent but has since entered the transfer portal. Coach Lincoln Riley has openly acknowledged his pursuit of not just one but potentially two transfer quarterbacks.
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When it comes to the conversation about who will start at quarterback for USC in 2024, no statement has been more resounding than the one Moss delivered on Wednesday night. In a season largely defined by disappointment, Moss provided a legitimate bright spot at its conclusion. Moss threw for 372 yards and a Holiday Bowl-record six touchdown passes while leading the Trojans to their best win of the season.
Naturally, Riley was asked if Moss had solidified himself as the starter after the game and if he’d still pursue a transfer at the position.
“I can’t believe it got to the fourth question,” Riley said. “He did a great job. Shoot, he might have scared off anybody that would want to come here anyway. So, he was awesome. It’s a performance game. I’ve said previously, and our local guys know this: It’s really, really important to me the longer I coach and going through this — and I don’t know it all — having people that (feel) this program is incredibly important to them. That’s the key and I think in this day and age with all the movement, when you have guys like that, it’s even more of an advantage than it was five or 10 years ago because it’s becoming a little harder to find.
“Miller’s had a passion for this university and program for a long time. We’ve seen that in his ability to hang in there, to continue to get better. Part of the reason I think he continued to play well tonight is the consistency he brought. He could’ve bolted off at different times. He stayed here. He’s gotten better. That’s why a night like tonight happened. He’s obviously a tremendous leader for our program, was a great leader for us tonight and I’m really excited to see what the future holds for him because he’s going to continue to get better and better.”
Riley said he wasn’t surprised by Moss’ performance, but his actions over the past month might suggest otherwise. He’s flirted with Kansas State transfer Will Howard, who led the Wildcats to a Big-12 title in 2022. Howard visited USC two weeks ago.
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Over the weekend, speculation ramped up that Howard was seriously considering Ohio State as well. It is fair to wonder how willing a transfer quarterback might be to choose USC given what Moss just put on tape.
Though Riley was very complimentary of Moss, he didn’t say he’d be the starter in 2024 and he didn’t say he wouldn’t pursue a transfer. Moss, though, has seemingly made that decision much more difficult — or easier, depending on your view.
This moment has been years in the making. Moss grew up a USC fan. He signed with the program in December 2020 even though the previous coaching staff accepted a quarterback commitment before (Jake Garcia) and after (Jaxson Dart) he announced his decision. He lost the backup job to Dart and still stuck around the program. He trusted Riley’s developmental chops and didn’t leave when Williams transferred in. He remained patient as the backup even though most quarterbacks would’ve departed when Nelson arrived as a five-star freshman.
Moss has bet on himself several times in recent years even when the gamble hasn’t always paid off. Wednesday was his first start since Nov. 22, 2019. Moss’ senior high school season in Southern California was wiped out due to the pandemic so this was his first extended playing time in a live game in more than four years.
The patience paid off. Moss tied the Holiday Bowl record of four touchdown passes in the game’s first 30 minutes. After a three-and-out on the first possession of the game, Moss found his groove. He threw strikes. He trusted his receivers. He bought some time. He played within the offense and responded well after throwing a critical interception in the third quarter.
Even though USC didn’t have much of a run game — the Trojans rushed for just 71 yards, with 35 coming on one Austin Jones run — Louisville’s defense was helpless against Moss and the Trojans receivers.
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“It’s a cliche saying but trust the process,” USC’s sixth-year center Justin Dedich said. “Sticking through it, so when you get your opportunity, you’ve got to shine. Miller’s the definition of that. He’s seen it. He’s been ready to play for quite a while now. He finally got his opportunity and he showed the world he’s ready to take it.”
In the second quarter, Moss threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Kyron Hudson, who would have been one of his targets at Mater Dei High School had there been a season in 2020.
Three years later, Hudson believes Moss has done enough to claim the starting quarterback job at USC.
“What Miller did out there, it’s something that is going to help us in the future,” Hudson said. “Personally, yes he did (win the job moving forward). I’m super excited for Miller. He waited his time. He’s ready for it and he’s the guy that we need.”
Moss will garner a majority of the headlines from USC’s win, but it’s difficult to overstate just how much the Trojans receivers contributed. Tahj Washington caught seven passes for 99 yards and two scores and crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his collegiate career.
Another one for @uscfb! ✌️
Moss finds Tahj Washington once again for the TD 👏 pic.twitter.com/D5XyfZhiRr
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 28, 2023
USC suffered some attrition at receiver over the past six weeks. Brenden Rice declared for the draft and opted out of the bowl (but was with the team on the sidelines). Mario Williams and Michael Jackson III both entered the transfer portal. That allowed USC’s younger wideouts — Ja’Kobi Lane, Makai Lemon and Duce Robinson — the opportunity to play meaningful snaps.
Lane caught three passes for 60 yards and utilized his size (6 feet 4, 180 pounds) to come down with two impressive touchdown catches. Lemon caught two passes for 75 yards and helped Moss settle into the game early. Robinson responded from an early drop with a 44-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter that helped seal the win.
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The offensive line, which started true freshman Elijah Paige at left tackle, protected Moss fairly well against a solid Louisville pass rush.
In general, USC did something it hadn’t done much of all year: play complementary football. The defense made plays — Max Williams sacked Louisville quarterback Jack Plummer and forced a fumble in the first quarter — and the offense capitalized. The special teams made an impact, too. Hudson blocked a punt and caught a touchdown pass moments later.
Despite all of the opt-outs and transfer portal departures, USC played with much better effort and energy than it did when it last took the field, against UCLA on Nov. 18.
“It’s a good positive moment. I still think more so for the team than me personally,” Moss said. “These six weeks since UCLA weren’t about any individual. They were about us, the people who wanted to be here and play this game and wanted to come together.”
Moss deflected most of the questions centered around what this meant for him. But on Wednesday night, he forced himself into the spotlight and potentially to the forefront of USC’s quarterback conversation.
(Photo: Justin Fine / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
