As we start to prep for the 2024 season, USC is starting to look at who their QB1 will be for the upcoming season. It’ll be between Miller Moss and Jayden Maiava, both who have proven themselves to be fully capable of holding the QB1 position.
Miller Moss and Jayden Maiava Expected to Compete For Trojans QB1 Position
As U.S.C. prepars for its inaugural Big Ten season, Coach Lincoln Riley says he’ll let Moss and Maiva “duke it out” for the Trojans QB1 job.
Writing for Trojans Wire, journalist Matt Zemek reports:
“There will be a quarterback battle at USC football this spring. Lincoln Riley isn’t automatically or immediately giving Miller Moss the starting job. Moss will have to earn the job in a competition with Jayden Maiava, the underclassman from UNLV who transferred to the Trojans this offseason.”
Most USC fans, if you ask them, would say that Miller Moss has already earned the starting job for the 2024 season and that crucial season-opening game against LSU in Las Vegas on Labor Day weekend. What will be interesting to see is if Riley will be willing to elevate Maiava to the starting job or if this “competition” is really just a way of making sure Miller Moss earns QB1 status without having it given to him before spring ball even begins….
Maiava could be used if needed, but he will have the chance to start in 2025 if he doesn’t get the starting job in 2024.
Here’s a look at the two contestants:
Miller Moss
Moss will be a redshirt junior in the 2024 season. In his USC career, he has completed 66 of 92 passes (71.7%) and has thrown for nine touchdowns. He was the MVP of the 2023 Holiday Bowl, in which he threw six touchdown passes. His breakout performance in the Holiday Bowl came against a very good Louisville Cardinals defense. (Caleb Williams elected to sit out the Holiday Bowl but cheered on Moss and his other teammates from the sideline.)
Moss, who is 6’2″ and 200 lbs., has already earned his Bachelor’s Degree at U.S.C., and is currently working toward a Master’s Degree in Social Entrepreneurship. He made the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll in 2021 and 2022.
Moss was a four-star recruit out of Bishop Alemany High School in Mission Hills, CA. He was well inside the Top247, and chose to join the Trojans despite receiving offers from Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, LSU, and other college football powerhouses.
Significantly, Moss has strong support from his teammates. WR Kyron Hudson, who blocked a punt and caught a touchdown pass from Moss in the Holiday Bowl, stated:
“What Miller did out there, it’s something that’s going to help us in the future, so personally, yes he did. I’m super excited for Miller. He waited his time and he’s ready for it. He’s the guy we need.”
Safety Bryshon Shaw‘s father recently informed journalists that Trojan players have named Moss one of the captains of the team for spring and summer football.
Additionally, incoming portal transfer, RB Jo’Quavious Marks, who previously played for Mississippi State, is excited about the prospect of playing with Moss as the Trojans QB1.
Thus, it appears Moss may have a leg up in the contest for the roll of Trojans QB1 in the 2024 season:
“Miller Moss has the total support and trust of the locker room at USC. It does lend weight to the belief that unless Maiava absolutely thrashes him in the spring, Moss has the inside track to being the starter for the LSU game. Most USC fans would tell you Moss deserves that chance.”
Finally, Moss has been named one of the 10 most interesting quarterbacks to watch in the 2024 season.
Jayden Maiava
Maiava is 6’4″ and 220 lbs. He is from Honolulu, HI. Maiava eschewed offers from Auburn and Tennessee, and chose to play for the UNLV Rebels. After redshirting the 2022 season, he earned the roll of starting QB for UNLV in the 2023 season, and was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year.
In the 2023 season, Maiava threw for 2,626 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also rushed for 277 yards and three touchdowns. He led the Rebels to their first Mountain West Conference title game appearance.
In January 2024, Maiava, announced he was transferring to Georgia. However, shortly thereafter, Lincoln Riley and USC flipped Maiava, and he is now a Trojan
Could the Trojans Take a Hybrid Approach, Featuring Both QBs?
Plainly, the Trojans have two QBs with impressive credentials competing for the starting roll. However, instead of predominantly playing just one QB throughout the 2024 season, the Trojans could adopt a hybrid/two-QB approach, as suggested on Trojans Wire:
“Riley brought in Maiava as a ready-to-play 2025 option at quarterback. If he wants Maiava to stay for 2025 — which would definitely help the program — he might need to keep Maiava happy. This could be achieved by giving Maiava a drive or two per game as a change of pace relative to Moss. It would be clear who is the starter, but Maiava could get some action and USC could throw a curveball at opposing defenses, especially if Moss is not at the very top of his game. It’s certainly something to consider.”
In any event, the competition for the respective rolls to be played by Moss and Maiava will be compelling. It will be closely monitored here.
