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.
YearNameClassFirst career startNumber of startsRecord as starterAwards/honorsReferences
2025Jayden Maiava Jr.108-2
2024Miller Moss Jr.94–5
2024Jayden Maiava So.November 1643–1
2023Caleb WilliamsJr.127–5
2023Miller Moss So.December 2711–0Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP
2022Caleb WilliamsSo.September 31311–2Heisman; Maxwell Award; Walter Camp Award; Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year; All-Pac-12 First Team; AP Player of the Year
2021Kedon SlovisJr.94–5
2021Jaxson DartFr.November 2030–3
2020Kedon SlovisSo.65–1All-Pac-12 First Team
2019JT DanielsSo.11–0
2019Kedon SlovisFr.September 7117–4Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year; All-Pac-12 Team Honorable Mention
2019Matt Fink Jr.September 2810–1
2018JT DanielsFr.September 1115–6
2018Jack Sears Fr.October 2710–1
2017Sam Darnold So.1411–3All-Pac-12 First Team; Pac-12 Championship Game MVP
2016Sam Darnold FrSeptember 23109–1Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year; All-Pac-12 Team Honorable Mention; Rose Bowl Offensive MVP
2016Max Browne Jr.September 331–2
2015Cody Kessler Sr.138–5
2014Cody Kessler[FIle:Redshirt.svg|10px|Redshirt] Jr.139–4Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP
2013Cody Kessler So.August 291410–4
2012Matt BarkleySr.117–4Wuerffel Trophy
2012Max Wittek Fr.November 2420–2
2011Matt BarkleyJr.1210–2All-Pac-12 Second Team
2010Matt BarkleySo.128–4
2010Mitch Mustain Sr.November 2710–1
2009Matt BarkleyFr.September 5129–3
2009Aaron Corp So.September 1910–1
2008Mark Sanchez Jr.1312-1All-Pac-10 First Team; Rose Bowl MVP
2007John David Booty Sr.109-1Rose Bowl MVP
2007Mark Sanchez So.October 1332-1
2006John David Booty Jr.September 21311-2All-Pac-10 First Team
2005Matt Leinart Sr.1312-1Unitas; All-Pac-10 First Team; College Football Hall of Fame
2004Matt Leinart Jr.1313-0Heisman; 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
2003Matt Leinart So.August 301312-1Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year; All-Pac-10 First Team; Rose Bowl MVP
2002Carson Palmer Sr.1311-2Heisman; 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
2001Carson Palmer Jr.126-6
2000Carson Palmer So.125-7
1999Carson PalmerSo.32-1
1999Mike Van Raaphorst Jr.51-4
1999John Fox Sr.43-1
1998Carson PalmerFr.October 3153-2
1998Mike Van Raaphorst So.85-3
1997John Fox So.September 695-4
1997Mike Van Raaphorst Fr.November 121-1
1996Brad Otton Sr.126-6
1995Brad Otton Jr.108-1-1
1995Kyle Wachholtz Sr.November 1121-1
1994Rob JohnsonSr.106–3–1
1994Brad Otton So.October 822–0
1993Rob JohnsonJr.138–5All-Pac-10 First Team
1992Rob JohnsonSo.126–5–1
1991Reggie Perry So.September 2103–7
1991Rob JohnsonFr.November 1610–1
1990Todd Marinovich So.117–4
1990Shane Foley Sr.October 2721–0–1
1989Todd Marinovich Fr.September 4129–2–1All-Pac-10 First Team
1988Rodney Peete Sr.1210–2Unitas; Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year; All-Pac-10 First Team
1987Rodney Peete Jr.128–4
1986Rodney Peete So.127–5All-Pac-10 Second Team
1985Rodney Peete Fr.November 1642–2
1985Sean Salisbury Sr.84–4
1984Tim GreenSr.October 697–2Rose Bowl Co-MVP
1984Kevin McLean Fr.September 2910–1
1984Sean SalisburySr.22–0
1983Sean SalisburyJr.114–6–1
1982Scott TinsleySr.43–1
1982Sean SalisburySo.September 1175–2
1981John Mazur Fr.September 5129–3
1980Gordon Adams Sr.September 1397–1–1
1980Scott TinsleySo.November 2221–1
1979Paul McDonaldSr.1211–0–1All-Pac-10 First Team
1978Paul McDonaldJr.September 91211–1
1978Rob PrestonJr.December 211–0
1977Rob HertelSr.128–4--
1976Vince EvansSr.1211–1Rose Bowl MVP
1975Vince EvansJr.?84–4
1975Mike SanfordSo.November 1510–1
1975Rob HertelSo.October 433–0