The University of Southern California plans to enter the 2024 football season with Miller Moss as its starting quarterback, Coach Lincoln Riley announced Monday, August 19.

Moss steps into the Los Angeles limelight after spending three years as a backup quarterback for the Trojans. He spent the past two seasons backing up 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, whom the Chicago Bears selected with the first overall pick in this year’s NFL draft.

In five games of limited action last year, Moss completed 46 of 65 pass attempts for 681 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception.

His breakout performance came in the Holiday Bowl, which Williams skipped to prepare for the draft. Moss went 23-for-33 for 372 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception in a 42–28 win over Louisville in San Diego.

Moss’ primary competition for the starting job was transfer Jayden Maiava. At Nevada-Las Vegas last year, Maiava played in all 14 games and completed 63.5 percent of his throws for 3,085 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

The Trojans, set to play their first season in the Big Ten Conference, will open their schedule Sept. 1 with a nonconference game against LSU in Las Vegas. The Big Ten preseason media poll pegged USC sixth in what is now an 18-team conference.