According to a source close to the situation and confirmed by a USC spokesperson, USC has signed redshirt quarterback Max Browne's permission-to-contact paperwork, allowing him to talk to any NCAA school about a transfer.

Browne received his bachelor's degree in communications from USC in the fall of 2015 and is currently working on his master's degree in business administration.

With his undergraduate degree in hand, Browne can transfer to another FBS program and play without sitting out a season. He has one year of eligibility remaining and can transfer anywhere, including other Pac-12 schools, to play his redshirt senior season.

According to our source, Browne has yet to contact any programs and is keeping all options open.

Browne, the top-rated quarterback and No. 8 national prospect in the class of 2013 according to Scout.com, graduated from high school a semester early and enrolled at USC in the spring of 2013.

As Cody Kessler's backup in 2014 and 2015, Browne completed 11 of 19 passes (57.9%) for 143 yards.

In 2016, Browne was named the starting quarterback for the Trojans after fall camp. He started against Alabama, Utah State and Stanford before Clay Helton announced he was being replaced by redshirt freshman Sam Darnold.

This season, Browne has completed 58 of 91 passes for 507 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Max Browne is No. 21 in the nation and No. 5 in the Pac-12 in completion percentage at .637.

Browne will remain on the USC football team and enrolled in school until the end of the fall semester. After the season, Browne can transfer to another program and participate in spring football before his final season of eligibility.



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Ryan Abraham has been the publisher of USCFootball.com since 1996. You can follow him on Twitter at @InsideTroy or email him at ryan@uscfootball.com.