The USC Trojans’ first season as members of the Big Ten Conference has left a lot to be desired for the once-great program.
As they enter the season’s final stretch, USC is 4-5 on the season and 2-5 in Big Ten play, ranking 15th among the conference’s 18 teams.
Their season opened with a 27-20 win over the LSU Tigers in Las Vegas. Quarterback Miller Moss seemingly showed he was set to pick up right where former Heisman Trophy winner and 2024 NFL top-overall pick Caleb Williams left off. Moss went 27-for-36 for 378 passing yards and a touchdown pass in the win over the tough LSU defense.
However, USC’s success proved fleeting. Big Ten play has shown that the team is well behind the conference’s top or even middle-tier teams.
After losing four of their last five games, head coach Lincoln Riley has decided it’s time for a quarterback change. ESPN reported Tuesday morning that highly touted sophomore Jaylen Maiava will replace Moss when USC hosts the Nebraska Cornhuskers on November 9.
Maiava transferred to USC over the offseason after a strong freshman season with the UNLV Rebels, during which he went 224-for-353 for 3,085 yards and 17 touchdowns, with ten interceptions.
Moss and Maiava competed for the starting job during summer camp, with Moss winning going into the season. In nine games, Moss went 233-for-362 with 2,555 passing yards and 18 touchdown passes to nine interceptions.
[ESPN]
