To begin the 2025 season, looking at the matchup against Louisville, it might have been daunting to go up against Miller Moss, who was a former four-star high school recruit and a four-star transfer recruit.
But how a season can change things. The once intimidating matchup against the former USC quarterback, Miller, calling the plays in the huddle for Louisville, seems easier to contain. The former Trojan has been struggling in recent games for the Cardinals. 6’2” commander of offense in the past two games, a 28-16 win over Virginia Tech on November 1 and a 29-26 loss to California on Saturday, has gone 39-for-66 (a 59% completion rate), 339 passing yards, adding only one passing touchdown (also had a rushing touchdown).
With a QBR of 68.1 in the Virginia Tech game and a 26.9 QBR in the California loss, Moss has averaged a QBR of 47.5 in those two games.
Moss is 197-for-309 on the season, adding 2,132 passing yards and 11 touchdowns with 7 interceptions. The former USC quarterback has also added seven rushing touchdowns but has lost yards on the ground, rushing for -73 yards.
Looking good in the Florida State win, the Clemson defense still must be glad to face a struggling Moss instead of a version of Moss where he is playing at the top of his game. All of this is not to say that Moss does not have the potential to have a great game against the Tigers’ defense.
On Tuesday, the line was set at 3.5 points in Louisville’s favor. Going into Louisville as a slight underdog, Clemson will be looking to take advantage of a struggling quarterback on the opposing sidelines.
If the Clemson defense can stop the run and Moss struggles to move the ball through the air, Clemson could be in a good position to pull off the upset.