Replacing Tyler Shough at quarterback won’t be a simple task for the Louisville Cardinals. In 2024, Shough delivered his best collegiate season, leading Louisville football to a 9–4 record while throwing for 23 touchdowns against just six interceptions.
His efficient play helped make him one of the top quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft, where the New Orleans Saints selected him in the second round. At 25 years old and in his sixth college season, Shough saved his best for last — and could soon be starting on Sundays.
Now, the reins pass to Miller Moss, a seasoned and talented transfer from USC. Moss spent four years with the Trojans, highlighted by his MVP performance in the 2023 Holiday Bowl, where he threw six touchdowns against none other than Jeff Brohm’s Louisville team. It wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine Brohm circling Moss’s name right then as a future target, and now, in his third season in charge, he’s landed his guy.
Statistically, Moss and Shough show plenty of similarities, especially looking at their 2024 numbers. But Moss brings two advantages: a higher talent ceiling and a skill set that may be an even better fit for Brohm’s offensive scheme. Topping Shough’s 2024 production won’t be easy, but here are three reasons why Moss could do exactly that.
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3. Sack Rate
Both Shough and Moss prefer to win with their arm rather than their legs. Neither is a true running threat, as both quarterbacks averaged less than one yard per carry last season. That’s not a fatal flaw, but while quarterbacks don’t have to be rushing weapons, they must extend plays and avoid negative ones.
This is where Moss holds the edge over the former Louisville star quarterback. Over his career, Shough has been sacked once every 19.4 pass attempts. Moss? Once every 45.4 attempts — less than half as often.
In close games, especially in crunch-time or two-minute drills, avoiding sacks can preserve drives and keep momentum alive. Shough wasn’t exactly a liability in this area, but Moss’s track record suggests he’ll take even fewer sacks in 2025.
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2. Completion Percentage
Accuracy is another category where Moss has the advantage. In 2024, Shough started all 14 games, attempting about 32 passes per game and completing 62.7 percent of them, which ranked him No. 56 among the quarterbacks who qualified for this stat.
Moss posted a 64.4 percent completion rate, ranking No. 38 nationally, and he did so while attempting 40 passes per game, eight more than Shough. That’s a meaningful difference, especially considering Moss often played from behind at USC, forcing him into obvious passing situations against defenses geared to stop the throw.
Add in that Moss faced Big Ten defenses, which are generally stronger than the ACC’s, and his numbers look even more impressive. A slightly higher completion percentage against tougher competition, with more volume and less favorable game scripts, could translate into big things when he’s operating in a more balanced offense in 2025.
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1. Run Game and Brohm’s Scheme
An accurate quarterback with a big arm is exactly what Jeff Brohm wants. His system thrives on balance: a strong running game complemented by timely passing, often off play-action or bootlegs — think Jack Plummer in 2023.
Both Plummer and Shough succeeded in this setup, but Moss might have the highest ceiling of all three. At USC, Moss was often asked to be Superman every week — a tough ask in the Big Ten, where defenses are stout and USC’s run game was inconsistent. The Trojans averaged 145 rushing yards per game on the season, with 60 fewer carries than Louisville logged in 2024.
By contrast, Brohm’s 2024 Cardinals averaged 185 rushing yards per game and 5.7 yards per carry. That kind of production on the ground takes enormous pressure off the quarterback. With a deep and talented running back room behind him, Moss can lean on the ground game, pick his spots in the passing attack, and fully leverage his arm talent. As he grows comfortable in Brohm’s scheme, expect him to flourish — especially once ACC play begins.
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