Every year when college football bowl season comes around — more in recent years — several players decide to opt out of playing in their respective bowl games, especially if they’re not in the College Football Playoff.
Sure, some rosters aren’t the same as the regular season because of the transfer portal, but a lot of players decide not to play in their bowl games to protect their bodies and prepare for the NFL Draft.
USC quarterback Caleb Williams is among them and will not play in Wednesday’s DIRECTV Holiday Bowl against No. 15 Louisville. USC coach Lincoln Riley announced Williams’ plans to miss the bowl game on Dec. 4.
RELATED: A running list of college football players skipping 2023-24 bowl games
Williams, however, hasn’t released a statement on his social channels about not playing and hasn’t declared for the NFL Draft. But that’s presumably where the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is headed.
In his place, sophomore Miller Moss will start for the Trojans against Louisville, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Lincoln Riley on QB Miller Moss making his much-anticipated first start for #USC tomorrow:
“He understands the opportunity that’s here. … He’s been waiting three years for an opportunity like this, and so he’s very ready to play and the guys are ready to play around him.” pic.twitter.com/Uq1PffkYFy
— Ryan Young (@RyanYoungRivals) December 26, 2023
Williams’ second season with USC wasn’t quite as impressive as his first when he won the Heisman, but he’s still expected to be a top NFL Draft pick. For the Trojans this season, he had a 68.6 completion percentage while throwing for 3,633 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 136 total yards and 11 touchdowns.
So far in 2023, Moss threw passes in three games — all in August or September — for 309 yards and one touchdown with a 71.9 completion percentage.
