Southern California quarterback Miller Moss (7) throws during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Stanford in Los Angeles, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
With an impressive opening win to his credit, Miller Moss makes his home debut as the No. 1 quarterback for No. 13 Southern California on Saturday when the Trojans welcome Utah State to Los Angeles.
Moss comes in fresh off a 378-yard passing effort in the Trojans’ 27-20 victory over LSU on Sunday in Las Vegas. He finished 27 of 36. He completed 5 of 6 passes to set up running back Woody Marks’ game-winning touchdown carry with 8 seconds remaining.
It was Moss’ turn in the spotlight taking over for 2022 Heisman Trophy winner and 2024 NFL No. 1 draft pick Caleb Williams.
USC (1-0) improved to 2-0 with Moss starting under center, following a 42-28 defeat of Louisville in last season’s Holiday Bowl. With the role of quarterback seemingly in good hands, the Trojans head into Week 2 looking to continue the progress on the offensive line.
“Jonah (Monheim) did a good job handling (moving to center),” USC coach Lincoln Riley said Tuesday. “Our young guys, Elijah (Paige) and Alani (Noa) had some awesome plays, and they had some plays they’ll have to get better at. They looked like talented, young guys (who) are going to be really good players … and going to have to improve.”
Although Riley noted the revamped offensive line had some misses against LSU, in a game the Trojans totaled only 69 rushing yards, the offense has the attention of Utah State interim coach Nate Dreiling.
“You guys saw how good the quarterback was. He can make every throw in the book and he processes things so fast,” Dreiling said. “Then you throw in the receivers. They’ve got a couple (big) guys (6-foot-6 Duce Robinson and 6-4 Ja’Kobi Lane). They’ve got the fastest receiver in the country (Zachariah Branch). They’ve got two tailbacks — the Mississippi State kid (Marks) who transferred in is a phenomenal player.
“They’re what you’d expect a playoff-caliber team looks like,” Dreiling added.
Utah State (1-0) prepares for a USC receiving corps that also features Kyron Hudson, whose leaping, one-handed catch in traffic in the second quarter vs. LSU provided a highlight of Week 1. Hudson led USC in receptions (five) and yards (83) against LSU.
The Aggies had their own standout wide receiver performance last week, with Kyrese White tallying 131 yards on just three receptions with two touchdowns in a 36-14 win over Robert Morris. Utah State scored 26 unanswered points to notch the win.
White’s scoring snags went 53 yards from Bryson Barnes and 57 yards from Spencer Petras. Both quarterbacks played significant snaps against Robert Morris. Barnes was 11 for 21 for 198 yards with two touchdowns, while Petras finished 10 of 15 with a touchdown but was intercepted twice.
Barnes also contributed to Utah State’s 303-yard rushing output, totaling 88 to match running back Robert Briggs Jr. for the team high. Barnes scampered 63 yards for a touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
The Aggies’ offense overcame a sluggish start and halftime deficit in the opener, which marked the first game under Dreiling, who was hired as defensive coordinator but elevated to interim head coach when Blake Anderson was fired in July.
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