In a shocking move, USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley benched standout quarterback Miller Moss in favor of Jayden Maiava, a recent transfer, ahead of their next game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the Coliseum.
The decision comes on the heels of USC’s recent 26-21 road loss to the Washington Huskies, where Moss threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns but also threw three interceptions, tipping the balance toward his benching.
Many people feel that Moss has been made out to be a bit of a fall guy in what has been a nightmare season for Riley and the Trojans.
While he has every right to try and provide a spark to the offense, Riley’s decision to bench the talented Moss has raised many eyebrows in the college football world.
After all, no one has forgotten the dominant show that Moss put on against Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers in the Vegas Kickoff Classic to open the season. (Not to mention his brilliant performance in last year’s Holiday Bowl.)
Moss was nothing short of phenomenal in guiding the Trojans to the 27-20 upset victory over a Tigers team that may very well end up in the CFB Playoff.
Following Riley’s decision, rumors surfaced that Moss’s future with the Trojans is very much in question.
As a matter of fact, most insiders expect him to enter the transfer portal.
“USC Quarterback Miller Moss is entering the transfer portal, per source,” reporter JJ Metz posted on X.
Interestingly, Metz added that “Michigan is reportedly his top choice as he enters the portal.”
To date, Moss has thrown for 2,555 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Notably, he has faced significant defensive pressure, being sacked ten times over the course of the season.
USC’s transition into the Big Ten Conference has proven rocky, with the team currently sitting at 2-5 in conference play, placing them 15th out of 18 teams.
Riley’s Trojans are in need of two more wins across their last three games to secure bowl eligibility.
Following the game against Nebraska, USC will face its crosstown rivals, UCLA, before concluding the regular season against 10th-ranked Notre Dame.
As for Moss, do you buy the reports that Michigan is his first choice?
We all know that Sherrone Moore and company are trying to flip Bryce Underwood. But will it actually be Moss who starts under center for the Wolverines in 2025???
