List of USC Trojans starting quarterbacks

The following individuals have started games at the quarterback position for the USC Trojans football team, updated from 1975 through November 15, 2025. Inductees into the College Football Hall of Fame are designated alongside the player's final season. Players who had taken a redshirt season are designated (Redshirt).

Year Name Class First career start Number of starts Record as starter Awards/honors References
2025 Jayden Maiava Redshirt Jr. 10 8-2 [1]
2024 Miller Moss Redshirt Jr. 9 4–5 [2]
Jayden Maiava Redshirt So. November 16 4 3–1 [1]
2023 Caleb Williams Jr. 12 7–5 [3]
Miller Moss Redshirt So. December 27 1 1–0 Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP [2]
2022 Caleb Williams So. September 3 13 11–2 Heisman; Maxwell Award; Walter Camp Award; Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year; All-Pac-12 First Team; AP Player of the Year [4]
2021 Kedon Slovis Jr. 9 4–5 [5]
Jaxson Dart Fr. November 20 3 0–3
2020 Kedon Slovis So. 6 5–1 All-Pac-12 First Team [6]
2019 JT Daniels So. 1 1–0 [7]
Kedon Slovis Fr. September 7 11 7–4 Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year; All-Pac-12 Team Honorable Mention
Matt Fink Redshirt Jr. September 28 1 0–1
2018 JT Daniels Fr. September 1 11 5–6 [8]
Jack Sears Redshirt Fr. October 27 1 0–1
2017 Sam Darnold Redshirt So. 14 11–3 All-Pac-12 First Team; Pac-12 Championship Game MVP [9]
2016 Sam Darnold Redshirt Fr September 23 10 9–1 Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year; All-Pac-12 Team Honorable Mention; Rose Bowl Offensive MVP [10]
Max Browne Redshirt Jr. September 3 3 1–2
2015 Cody Kessler Redshirt Sr. 13 8–5 [11]
2014 Cody Kessler Redshirt Jr. 13 9–4 Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP [12]
2013 Cody Kessler Redshirt So. August 29 14 10–4 [13]
2012 Matt Barkley Sr. 11 7–4 Wuerffel Trophy [14]
Max Wittek Redshirt Fr. November 24 2 0–2
2011 Matt Barkley Jr. 12 10–2 All-Pac-12 Second Team [15]
2010 Matt Barkley So. 12 8–4
Mitch Mustain Redshirt Sr. November 27 1 0–1 [16]
2009 Matt Barkley Fr. September 5 12 9–3
Aaron Corp Redshirt So. September 19 1 0–1 [17]
2008 Mark Sanchez Redshirt Jr. 13 12–1 All-Pac-10 First Team; Rose Bowl MVP [18]
2007 John David Booty Redshirt Sr. 10 9–1 Rose Bowl MVP
Mark Sanchez Redshirt So. October 13 3 2–1 [19]
2006 John David Booty Redshirt Jr. September 2 13 11–2 All-Pac-10 First Team [20]
2005 Matt Leinart Redshirt Sr. 13 12–1 Unitas; All-Pac-10 First Team; College Football Hall of Fame (2017) [21]
2004 Matt Leinart Redshirt Jr. 13 13–0 Heisman; Consensus All-American; Co-Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year; All-Pac-10 First Team; Walter Camp Award; AP Player of the Year; Manning Award; Orange Bowl MVP [22]
2003 Matt Leinart Redshirt So. August 30 13 12–1 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year; All-Pac-10 First Team; Rose Bowl MVP [23]
2002 Carson Palmer Redshirt Sr. 13 11–2 Heisman; Unitas; Consensus All-American; Co-Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year; All-Pac-10 First Team; Sporting News College Football Player of the Year; Orange Bowl MVP; College Football Hall of Fame (2021) [24]
2001 Carson Palmer Redshirt Jr. 12 6–6 [25]
2000 Carson Palmer Redshirt So. 12 5–7 [26]
1999 Carson Palmer So. 3 2–1 [27]
Mike Van Raaphorst Redshirt Jr. 5 1–4
John Fox Redshirt Sr. 4 3–1
1998 Carson Palmer Fr. October 31 5 3–2 [28]
Mike Van Raaphorst Redshirt So. 8 5–3
1997 John Fox Redshirt So. September 6 9 5–4 [29]
Mike Van Raaphorst Redshirt Fr. November 1 2 1–1
1996 Brad Otton Redshirt Sr. 12 6–6 [30]
1995 Brad Otton Redshirt Jr. 10 8–1–1 [31]
Kyle Wachholtz Redshirt Sr. November 11 2 1–1
1994 Rob Johnson Sr. 10 6–3–1 [32]
Brad Otton Redshirt So. October 8 2 2–0
1993 Rob Johnson Jr. 13 8–5 All-Pac-10 First Team [33]
1992 Rob Johnson So. 12 6–5–1 [34]
1991 Reggie Perry Redshirt So. September 2 10 3–7 [35]
Rob Johnson Fr. November 16 1 0–1
1990 Todd Marinovich Redshirt So. 11 7–4 [36]
Shane Foley Redshirt Sr. October 27 2 1–0–1
1989 Todd Marinovich Redshirt Fr. September 4 12 9–2–1 All-Pac-10 First Team [37]
1988 Rodney Peete Redshirt Sr. 12 10–2 Unitas; Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year; All-Pac-10 First Team [38]
1987 Rodney Peete Redshirt Jr. 12 8–4 [39]
1986 Rodney Peete Redshirt So. 12 7–5 All-Pac-10 Second Team [40]
1985 Rodney Peete Redshirt Fr. November 16 4 2–2 [41]
Sean Salisbury Redshirt Sr. 8 4–4
1984 Tim Green Sr. October 6 9 7–2 Rose Bowl Co-MVP [42]
Kevin McLean Redshirt Fr. September 29 1 0–1
Sean Salisbury Sr. 2 2–0
1983 Sean Salisbury Jr. 11 4–6–1
1982 Scott Tinsley Sr. 4 3–1 [43]
Sean Salisbury So. September 11 7 5–2
1981 John Mazur Redshirt Fr. September 5 12 9–3
1980 Gordon Adams Redshirt Sr. September 13 9 7–1–1 [44]
Scott Tinsley So. November 22 2 1–1
1979 Paul McDonald Sr. 12 11–0–1 All-Pac-10 First Team
1978 Paul McDonald Jr. September 9 12 11–1
Rob Preston Jr. December 2 1 1–0
1977 Rob Hertel Sr. 12 8–4
1976 Vince Evans Sr. 12 11–1 Rose Bowl MVP
1975 Vince Evans Jr. ? 8 4–4
Mike Sanford So. November 15 1 0–1
Rob Hertel So. October 4 3 3–0

References

  1. ^ a b "Jayden Maiava College Gamelog". College Football at Sports Reference. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Miller Moss College Gamelog". College Football at Sports Reference. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  3. ^ "Caleb Williams College Gamelog". College Football at Sports Reference. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  4. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2023). 2023 USC Football Media Guide (PDF). Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 99. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  5. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2022). 2022 USC Football Media Guide (PDF). Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 55. Retrieved November 28, 2022. Dart started versus UCLA, BYU, and California; Slovis started all other games.
  6. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2021). 2021 USC Football Media Guide (PDF). Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 64. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  7. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2020). USC Football 2020 Media Guide (PDF). Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 61. Retrieved June 6, 2021. Daniels started versus Fresno State; Fink started versus Washington; Slovis started all other games.
  8. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2019). USC Football 2019 Media Guide (PDF). Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 57. Retrieved June 6, 2021. Sears started versus Arizona State; Daniels started all other games.
  9. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2018). USC Football 2018 Media Guide (PDF). Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 58. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  10. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2017). USC Football 2017 Media Guide (PDF). Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 57. Retrieved February 3, 2018. Browne started versus Alabama, Utah State, and Stanford; Darnold started all other games.
  11. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2016). 2016 USC Football Media Guide (PDF). Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 55. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  12. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2015). USC Football 2015 (PDF). Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 55. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  13. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2014). USC Football 2014 (PDF). Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 54. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  14. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2013). 2013 USC Football Media Guide (PDF). Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 56. Retrieved July 14, 2013. Wittek started versus Notre Dame and Georgia Tech; Barkley started all other games.
  15. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2012). 2012 USC Football (PDF). Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 56. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  16. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2011). 2011 USC Football (PDF). Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 55. Retrieved July 15, 2011. Mustain started versus Notre Dame; Barkley started all other games.
  17. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2010). 2010 USC Football (PDF). Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 58. Retrieved November 29, 2010. Corp started versus Washington; Barkley started all other games.
  18. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2009). 2009 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 61. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  19. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2008). 2008 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 61. Retrieved November 29, 2010. Sanchez started versus Arizona, Notre Dame, and Oregon; Booty started all other games.
  20. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2007). 2007 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 61. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  21. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2006). 2006 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 59. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  22. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2005). USC 2005 Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 62. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  23. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2004). 2004 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 123. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  24. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2003). 2003 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 117. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  25. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2002). 2002 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 123.
  26. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2001). 2001 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 122.
  27. ^ USC Sports Information Office (2000). Trojan Football 2000 Media Guide. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 121. Palmer started versus Hawaii, San Diego State, and Oregon; Fox started versus Arizona State, Washington State, UCLA, and Louisiana Tech; Van Raaphorst started all other games.
  28. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1999). Trojan Football 1999 Media Guide. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 108. Palmer started versus Washington, Stanford, UCLA, Notre Dame, and TCU; Van Raaphorst started all other games.
  29. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1998). Trojan Football 1998 Media Guide. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 118. Van Raaphorst started versus Washington and Stanford; Fox started all other games.
  30. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1997). Trojan Football 1997 Media Guide. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 198.
  31. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1996). 1996 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 97. Wachholtz started versus Oregon State and UCLA; Otton started all other games.
  32. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1995). USC Football 1995. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 99. Otton started versus Oregon State and California; Johnson started all other games.
  33. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1994). 1994 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 93.
  34. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1993). 1993 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 99.
  35. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1992). 1992 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 101. Johnson started versus Arizona; Perry started all other games.
  36. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1991). 1991 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 155. Foley started versus Arizona State and California; Marinovich started all other games.
  37. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1990). 1990 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 165.
  38. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1989). 1989 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 145.
  39. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1988). 1988 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 126.
  40. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1987). 1987 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 104.
  41. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1986). 1986 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 98. Peete started versus Washington, UCLA, Oregon, and Alabama; Salisbury started all other games.
  42. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1985). 1985 USC Football. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 93. Salisbury started versus Utah State and Arizona State; McLean started versus LSU; Green started all other games.
  43. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1983). USC Football 1983. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. pp. 80–86. Tinsley started versus California, Arizona, UCLA, and Notre Dame; Salisbury started all other games.
  44. ^ USC Sports Information Office (1982). USC Football 1982. Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. p. 30. Tinsley started versus UCLA and Notre Dame; Adams apparently started all other games.
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