# 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 2024. 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.
| Year | Name | Class | First career start | Number of starts | Record as starter | Awards/honors |
| 2024 | Miller Moss | Jr. | | 9 | 4–5 | |
| 2024 | Jayden Maiava | So. | November 16 | 3 | 2–1 |
| 2023 | Caleb Williams | Jr. | | 12 | 7–5 | |
| 2023 | Miller Moss | So. | December 27 | 1 | 1–0 | Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP |
| 2022 | Caleb Williams | So. | September 3 | 13 | 11–2 | Heisman; Maxwell Award; Walter Camp Award; Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year; All-Pac-12 First Team; AP Player of the Year |
| 2021 | Kedon Slovis | Jr. | | 9 | 4–5 | |
| 2021 | Jaxson Dart | Fr. | November 20 | 3 | 0–3 | |
| 2020 | Kedon Slovis | So. | | 6 | 5–1 | All-Pac-12 First Team |
| 2019 | JT Daniels | So. | | 1 | 1–0 | |
| 2019 | Kedon Slovis | Fr. | September 7 | 11 | 7–4 | Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year; All-Pac-12 Team Honorable Mention |
| 2019 | Matt Fink | Jr. | September 28 | 1 | 0–1 |
| 2018 | JT Daniels | Fr. | September 1 | 11 | 5–6 | |
| 2018 | Jack Sears | Fr. | October 27 | 1 | 0–1 | |
| 2017 | Sam Darnold | So. | | 14 | 11–3 | All-Pac-12 First Team; Pac-12 Championship Game MVP |
| 2016 | Sam Darnold | Fr | September 23 | 10 | 9–1 | Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year; All-Pac-12 Team Honorable Mention; Rose Bowl Offensive MVP |
| 2016 | Max Browne | Jr. | September 3 | 3 | 1–2 | |
| 2015 | Cody Kessler | Sr. | | 13 | 8–5 | |
| 2014 | Cody Kessler | Jr. | | 13 | 9–4 | Holiday Bowl Offensive MVP |
| 2013 | Cody Kessler | So. | August 29 | 14 | 10–4 | |
| 2012 | Matt Barkley | Sr. | | 11 | 7–4 | Wuerffel Trophy |
| 2012 | Max Wittek | Fr. | November 24 | 2 | 0–2 | |
| 2011 | Matt Barkley | Jr. | | 12 | 10–2 | All-Pac-12 Second Team |
| 2010 | Matt Barkley | So. | | 12 | 8–4 | |
| 2010 | Mitch Mustain | Sr. | November 27 | 1 | 0–1 | |
| 2009 | Matt Barkley | Fr. | September 5 | 12 | 9–3 | |
| 2009 | Aaron Corp | So. | September 19 | 1 | 0–1 | |
| 2008 | Mark Sanchez | Jr. | | 13 | 12–1 | All-Pac-10 First Team; Rose Bowl MVP |
| 2007 | John David Booty | Sr. | | 10 | 9–1 | Rose Bowl MVP |
| 2007 | Mark Sanchez | So. | October 13 | 3 | 2–1 | |
| 2006 | John David Booty | Jr. | September 2 | 13 | 11–2 | All-Pac-10 First Team |
| 2005 | Matt Leinart | Sr. | | 13 | 12–1 | Unitas; All-Pac-10 First Team; College Football Hall of Fame (2017) |
| 2004 | Matt Leinart | Jr. | | 13 | 13–0 | Heisman; 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 |
| 2003 | Matt Leinart | So. | August 30 | 13 | 12–1 | Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year; All-Pac-10 First Team; Rose Bowl MVP |
| 2002 | Carson Palmer | Sr. | | 13 | 11–2 | Heisman; 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 (2021) |
| 2001 | Carson Palmer | Jr. | | 12 | 6–6 | |
| 2000 | Carson Palmer | So. | | 12 | 5–7 | |
| 1999 | Carson Palmer | So. | | 3 | 2–1 | |
| 1999 | Mike Van Raaphorst | Jr. | | 5 | 1–4 | |
| 1999 | John Fox | Sr. | | 4 | 3–1 | |
| 1998 | Carson Palmer | Fr. | October 31 | 5 | 3–2 | |
| 1998 | Mike Van Raaphorst | So. | | 8 | 5–3 | |
| 1997 | John Fox | So. | September 6 | 9 | 5–4 | |
| 1997 | Mike Van Raaphorst | Fr. | November 1 | 2 | 1–1 | |
| 1996 | Brad Otton | Sr. | | 12 | 6–6 | |
| 1995 | Brad Otton | Jr. | | 10 | 8–1–1 | |
| 1995 | Kyle Wachholtz | Sr. | November 11 | 2 | 1–1 | |
| 1994 | Rob Johnson | Sr. | | 10 | 6–3–1 | |
| 1994 | Brad Otton | So. | October 8 | 2 | 2–0 | |
| 1993 | Rob Johnson | Jr. | | 13 | 8–5 | All-Pac-10 First Team |
| 1992 | Rob Johnson | So. | | 12 | 6–5–1 | |
| 1991 | Reggie Perry | So. | September 2 | 10 | 3–7 | |
| 1991 | Rob Johnson | Fr. | November 16 | 1 | 0–1 | |
| 1990 | Todd Marinovich | So. | | 11 | 7–4 | |
| 1990 | Shane Foley | Sr. | October 27 | 2 | 1–0–1 | |
| 1989 | Todd Marinovich | Fr. | September 4 | 12 | 9–2–1 | All-Pac-10 First Team |
| 1988 | Rodney Peete | Sr. | | 12 | 10–2 | Unitas; Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year; All-Pac-10 First Team |
| 1987 | Rodney Peete | Jr. | | 12 | 8–4 | |
| 1986 | Rodney Peete | So. | | 12 | 7–5 | All-Pac-10 Second Team |
| 1985 | Rodney Peete | Fr. | November 16 | 4 | 2–2 | |
| 1985 | Sean Salisbury | Sr. | | 8 | 4–4 | |
| 1984 | Tim Green | Sr. | October 6 | 9 | 7–2 | Rose Bowl Co-MVP |
| 1984 | Kevin McLean | Fr. | September 29 | 1 | 0–1 | |
| 1984 | Sean Salisbury | Sr. | | 2 | 2–0 | |
| 1983 | Sean Salisbury | Jr. | | 11 | 4–6–1 | |
| 1982 | Scott Tinsley | Sr. | | 4 | 3–1 | |
| 1982 | Sean Salisbury | So. | September 11 | 7 | 5–2 | |
| 1981 | John Mazur | Fr. | September 5 | 12 | 9–3 | |
| 1980 | Gordon Adams | Sr. | September 13 | 9 | 7–1–1 | |
| 1980 | Scott Tinsley | So. | November 22 | 2 | 1–1 | |
| 1979 | Paul McDonald | Sr. | | 12 | 11–0–1 | All-Pac-10 First Team |
| 1978 | Paul McDonald | Jr. | September 9 | 12 | 11–1 | |
| 1978 | Rob Preston | Jr. | December 2 | 1 | 1–0 | |
| 1977 | Rob Hertel | Sr. | | 12 | 8–4 |
| 1976 | Vince Evans | Sr. | | 12 | 11–1 | Rose Bowl MVP |
| 1975 | Vince Evans | Jr. | ? | 8 | 4–4 | |
| 1975 | Mike Sanford | So. | November 15 | 1 | 0–1 | |
| 1975 | Rob Hertel | So. | October 4 | 3 | 3–0 | |