At a time when switching schools is easier than ever, Southern California’s Miller Moss and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier are showing how patience can still pay off.
Moss and Nussmeier were top-100 recruits who waited behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks before leading their teams to bowl victories in their first career starts. Now that the guys ahead of them are gone — they were the top two picks in this year’s NFL draft — Moss and Nussmeier open this season as unquestioned starters.
They’re the most notable examples of guys who never transferred and now have a chance to earn featured roles for the first time in their fourth or fifth seasons on campus. They happen to be facing each other to open the season Sept. 1 when No. 13 LSU takes on No. 23 USC in Las Vegas.
Nussmeier made just one start his first three seasons at LSU. He backed up 2024 Heisman winner Jayden Danielsthe last two seasons rather than leaving …