Wait. Stop.
Before we get into the stats and the "what ifs," you have to understand who USC QB Miller Moss actually is. He wasn't just another blue-chip recruit at Southern Cal. For three years, he was the guy who didn't leave. In an era where the transfer portal moves faster than a Lincoln Riley track star, Moss stayed. He waited behind Caleb Williams. He watched Jaxson Dart leave. He watched the roster churn.
Then he threw six touchdowns in a single bowl game and the world thought they’d finally found the heir to the Heisman throne.
But football is rarely that clean. If you've followed the 2024 and 2025 seasons closely, you know that the "Miller Moss story" at USC didn't end with a trophy in Los Angeles. It ended with a plane ticket to Kentucky.
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The 2024 Season: When the Hype Hit the Reality Wall
Moss started 2024 like a house on fire. That win over LSU? 378 yards. 27-of-36 passing. It felt like the Holiday Bowl wasn't a fluke.
However, the Big Ten is a different beast. USC’s debut season in the conference was a brutal lesson in physicality and late-game execution. Moss was a "refined pocket passer" with one of the quickest releases in the country, but the protection didn't always hold. By the time the Trojans hit the meat of the schedule, the cracks were showing.
- Michigan: A tough loss that served as a wake-up call.
- Wisconsin: Moss bounced back, throwing for 308 yards and three scores.
- Maryland: He hit a career-high 34 completions but the team still fell short.
The real turning point was the Washington game. Three interceptions. A 26-21 loss. Suddenly, the "unshakeable" Miller Moss looked human. Lincoln Riley made the call that sent shockwaves through LA: he benched Moss for Jayden Maiava.
That was basically the end of the USC chapter.
Why He Left: The Louisville Pivot
Moss didn't just walk away; he looked for a system that actually fit his "brainy" approach to the game. On December 14, 2024, he committed to the Louisville Cardinals. People asked: why Louisville? Missouri was on the table. Other Power Four schools were calling.
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He chose Jeff Brohm.
Moss later admitted that Brohm's track record of putting quarterbacks in the NFL was the deciding factor. He wanted to be the next Lamar Jackson or Tyler Shough—or at least the next guy to get a real look from scouts.
The 2025 Stats at Louisville
Moss didn't reinvent himself in Kentucky; he just refined what he already was. He finished his 2025 season with nearly identical numbers to his time at USC, proving he wasn't just a product of Lincoln Riley's system.
- Passing Yards: 2,679
- Completion Rate: 64.2%
- Touchdown to Interception Ratio: 16:7
- Rushing: 9 touchdowns (a surprising uptick in mobility)
He led the Cardinals to a 9-4 record and capped it off by winning the MVP of the 2025 Boca Raton Bowl. They beat Toledo 27-22. It wasn't the College Football Playoff, but it was redemption.
The NFL Draft Reality: Is He a Pro?
January 7, 2026. That’s the date Moss officially declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Honestly, the draft community is split. If you talk to a "brand" scout, they’ll tell you he’s a Day 3 pick. He’s 6-foot-2, 210 pounds. He doesn't have the "alien" arm of a Caleb Williams. He isn't going to outrun a linebacker in the open field.
But look at the release. It's fast. Like, really fast.
His "cerebral" game is what will get him drafted. He understands timing and anticipation better than most of the guys projected in the first round. However, the limitation is the "clean pocket" factor. Scouts have noted that when the pocket breaks down, Moss’s efficiency drops significantly. He’s a distributor, not a creator.
What Most People Miss About the "USC QB" Label
There’s a weird stigma with USC quarterbacks. People think they’re all "system" guys. But Moss’s path was different. He survived the Lincoln Riley era, got benched, moved across the country, and still produced.
He didn't have the luxury of a perfect offensive line at Louisville either. He suffered a foot injury late in the 2025 season and missed the SMU game. He played through "lows" that would have broken a lot of other high-profile recruits.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you are tracking Moss for the 2026 NFL Draft or just curious about his legacy, keep these specific points in mind:
- Watch the release time: In the NFL, he will thrive in a West Coast system where the ball has to be out in 2.5 seconds.
- Red Zone efficiency: Moss's 9 rushing touchdowns in 2025 were mostly "scrappy" plays. He's tougher than the "pocket passer" label suggests.
- The "USC Hangover": Don't judge him solely on the 2024 interceptions. Look at how he managed the Brohm offense with less elite talent around him at wide receiver compared to his LA days.
Miller Moss is officially done with college football. From the 5:00 am runs in Los Angeles to the humid nights in Boca Raton, he’s lived the "odyssey" as he called it. He might not be the first QB off the board in April, but he’s the guy who will likely hang around an NFL roster for a decade because he’s simply too smart to cut.