If this was once Caleb Williams’ ultimate recreation in a USC uniform, it didn’t cross as deliberate.
Williams and the Trojans had been trounced at house 38-20 through crosstown rival UCLA, shedding their report to 7-5 for the season.
USC opened its season all the way through Week 0, so this was once its common season finale. The Trojans are bowl eligible, however it continues to be noticed whether or not Williams — the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and attainable No. 1 pick out within the 2024 NFL Draft — will make a decision to play within the bowl recreation.
Saturday’s loss capped off what has been a brutal moment part of the season for Lincoln Riley’s Trojans. USC began the season 6-0 ahead of dropping 5 of six video games to near out the common season. The one win all the way through that extend was once a one-point victory over Cal. As opposed to that 50-49 victory in Berkeley, USC misplaced to Notre Dame, Utah, Washington, Oregon and UCLA.
The loss to UCLA on Saturday was once the second-most lopsided lack of the season after a 48-20 loss at Notre Dame. Williams threw an unbelievable 74-yard landing go to Brenden Rice within the first part, however UCLA went into halftime with a 14-10 lead.
The second one part was once ruled through the Bruins, who scored two touchdowns within the span of 16 seconds to peer that lead develop from 14-10 to 28-10 halfway in the course of the 1/3 quarter. The primary of the ones ratings was once a seven-yard landing go to T.J. Harden from Ethan Garbers. After which at the first play of the following ownership, a fumble from USC’s MarShawn Lloyd was once returned for a landing.
With the stalwart UCLA protection at the different facet, that two-score deficit was once simply an excessive amount of to conquer. As opposed to a third-quarter box function and a landing within the ultimate mins when the sport was once out of succeed in, the once-vaunted USC offense was once close down the remainder of the way in which because the ferocious UCLA go rush teed off on Williams and his overmatched offensive line.
Williams would end the day 31-of-42 for 384 yards, however it wasn’t sufficient.
The entire whilst, UCLA added to its lead with sound decision-making from Garbers and a bruising dashing assault. Riley fired defensive coordinator Alex Grinch a couple of weeks in the past, however the Trojans’ defensive problems haven’t been solved. Whilst Garbers threw 3 landing passes, UCLA completed the sport with 199 general dashing yards, making it the 8th time the USC protection has allowed a minimum of 190 dashing yards this season.
USC’s rent of Riley from Oklahoma was once a significant coup and he led the Trojans to the precipice of the Faculty Soccer Playoff ultimate yr as Williams put in combination a Heisman Trophy-winning season. However because the 11-1 common season report ultimate fall, the Trojans are 7-7 of their 14 video games since. And with Saturday’s loss to UCLA, Riley has a three-game dropping streak for the primary time as a head trainer throughout his time at each OU and USC.
With a transfer to the Large Ten forward, Riley has so much to determine to get the Trojans again on target. And barring an enormous marvel, Williams can be within the NFL and received’t be there to bail out the USC protection transferring ahead.
