What’s the cost of sticking with Miller Moss as USC’s starter?

Hello everyone! Welcome to another week of The Times of Troy newsletter. I Ryan KartjeYour new USC writer for the LA Times is still warming up after a rainy, freezing night game in the outdoor press box in Washington. I promised myself years ago that I would always bring a warm coat to Husky Stadium, so naturally I left mine at home on this trip and had to buy one at Target. Frankly, it’s like USCI’ve been on the road long enough.

With the season taking a wrong turn eight years ago, USC opted to make a midseason change at quarterback. The move comes just three weeks after the campaign began. But as coach Clay Helton saw it, the Trojan offense wasn’t working. That’s why he pulled Max Browne asideThe former top recruit, who had been waiting for this opportunity for years, opted for the younger, more mobile option, Sam Darnold.

At the time, this was a bold move that could backfire. USC had only lost to two ranked teams at that point in the season. But it turned out that the key Just the spark USC needsDarnold led the Trojans to nine consecutive victories, including a memorable win in the Rose Bowl. This move changed the course of the program in many ways. Even if this trend doesn’t last long.

This brings us to this point: Lincoln Rileyand a decision he may have to face sooner or later.

It’s too late to expect that making a move at quarterback will somehow turn USC’s season around. But bowl eligibility with two wins in the next three weeks like that is still available. Perhaps more importantly, there is also next season to think about.

Through eight games this season, USC’s offense isn’t working the way it should. You don’t need to be an offensive genius to see this. This doesn’t all fall on the quarterback’s shoulders; Riley probably agrees. Takes most of the responsibility – but in all five of USC’s losses this season, Miller Moss He made a costly interception that changed the course of the game. This cannot be ignored.

When Moss took over caleb williamsThere was a belief that USC’s offense would look different without a Heisman winner at the helm because…it had to be. Moss was never going to elevate the offense the way Williams or previous Riley coach quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Baker Mayfield did. But the expectation was that Moss could serve as an ideal guard in Riley’s offense under the right circumstances, executing quickly, making smart decisions and making accurate throws in a timely manner.

USC running back Woody Marks (4) looks at quarterback Miller Moss (7) after he was tackled at the goal line by Washington players, including safety Cameron Broussard (8) and linebacker Sebastian Valdez (50), in the Trojans’ fourth quarter. ‘ Missing in Seattle on Saturday.

(Lindsey Wasson/Associated Press)

Moss looked like a quarterback at times. Amazing 37-yard touchdown pass Makai Lemon Saturday was a perfect example of what he can do. Other times, often in the same play, he failed to do so: Two drives later, he threw his third interception of the game directly at linebacker Carson Bruener, giving the Huskies the chance they needed to take the lead for good.

The juxtaposition of those two shots was an apt representation of the last seven weeks that Moss has been in charge. But the loss was also fitting in the sense that Moss was once again asked to do too much. In the last seven games, including Saturday, Moss has completed 50 passes three times; This is something Williams has never done in three seasons.

As Riley looks to the future with caution in the coming weeks, the question is whether Moss still believes he can be successful in this way. needs A playmaker who will deliver. Or if they are willing to make changes to ensure it is successful.

After Moss’ worst game as a starter on Saturday, Riley was asked if he had any desire to give Jayden Maiava, the dual-threat UNLV transfer behind Moss, any reps to see what he had.

“I can’t say that right now, no,” he said.

But if Riley has no intention of trying out Maiava at any point this season, why would Maiava remain in 2025 despite Moss’ struggles and USC’s spiraling? Why risk losing the competition to Moss, who Riley has his back on, when he could easily have a clearer path to playing time?

This is the reality these days. If Riley doesn’t give Maiava some sort of chance over the next three games, don’t be surprised if he heads back to the transfer portal when it opens next month. Add in the possible commitment of five-star quarterback Julian Lewis, and USC’s quarterback situation in 2025 could suddenly look pretty bleak.

Moss could still return to USC next season. But I don’t see many scenarios where both he and Maiava will be in the same quarterback room next season. And if Riley wants to make that decision herself, it’s best to do it sooner rather than later. Before the choice is made for him.

— Lincoln Riley’s refusal to run the ball continues to be confusing. USC objectively has one of the most dynamic backfields in the Big Ten with Woody Marks and Quinten Joyner. But in a driving rain, with the quarterback struggling against the nation’s No. 1 pass defense, the run-pass breakdown went like this through three quarters Saturday.

First quarter: 2 runs to 9 passes

Second quarter: 7 runs to 21 passes

Third quarter: 8 runs to 8 passes

Fourth quarter: 12 runs to 13 passes

Riley clearly adjusted to run more in the second half. But why did it have to come to this point? Everything about the circumstances of the game suggested that this should have been the approach from the beginning. Asked if he regretted not being able to execute the run sooner, Riley said USC “tried” but “we didn’t execute it very well.” They didn’t pass well at that point, but Riley still passed 30 times in the first half. At some point this lack of balance becomes untenable. Of course, it feels like we’re past that point.

— After six weeks of struggle, Zachariah Branch has finally achieved success. The speedy sophomore hadn’t eclipsed 44 yards since USC’s trip to Michigan in late September, but on Saturday Branch was open early and often, catching six passes for 102 yards as he put together his first 100-yard game this year. It was the type of contribution USC expected from Branch, who is expected to step up as a more complete receiver this season. It’s unclear if that’s the case on Saturday (or if USC is scheming for him to be more effective), but the Trojans’ offense could certainly use more of that.

— Mason Murphy had four false starts against WashingtonThis was the most penalties in a single game by a USC offensive lineman during the Riley era and the second-most of any lineman in college football this season. This is not a statistic you want to be associated with. But overall, I think the Trojans’ offensive line had one of its best games this season against Washington. USC allowed only seven pressures and did not give up a single sack; Moss, on the other hand, has spent more than three seconds on average to throw most of his time in the pocket this season.

Big Ten best bet, Week 11

Indiana (-11.5) vs. Michigan

After another Hoosiers victory in this area, I see no reason to continue rooting for Indiana, which lost 10-0 to Michigan State and from there defeated the Spartans 47-10. Our Times of Troy picks are now 5-1, so we’re feeling a little touchy. Michigan is a better opponent, has a much better defense, and that difference is quite large. But after a hard-fought week in the Big Ten, why don’t we go back to the well one more time?

If you missed it

USC went cold at the goal line and fell to Washington in another road loss

USC and UCLA’s basketball teams have a chance to surprise and disappoint this year

Exciting USC freshman duo Kameryn Fountain and Sam Greene support Trojans

Former five-star receiver Kyle Ford put aside disappointment to finish strong at USC

New focus in life has USC’s Emmanuel Pregnon blocking out pain

The Times of Troy: The big receiver USC needed was there all along: Makai Lemon

What am I watching this week

I didn’t grow up watching wrestling. Actually, my mother wouldn’t let him enter our house. But I really had fun Mr McMahonsix-episode Netflix series about former WWE chairman Vince McMahon. The series offers a thrilling look at the behind-the-scenes drama of wrestling, which for my money is more fascinating than the in-ring theatrics. He also doesn’t take any knocks at McMahon; This is a rarity in the world of sports documentaries these days.