Trojan quarterback Caleb Williams
When Lincoln Riley said he planned to win a championship at Southern California over the
summer at the Pac-12 Media Day, many people scoffed at the notion. It turns our Riley was
right, whether it was hubris or faith that led him to believe he would impact the culture and
success at USC in his first year.
As he predicted, the Trojans are primed at a title run after their season's 10-1 start. After
USC stormed into the Rose Bowl and etched out a 48-45 win over UCLA Saturday night, they
can make the improbable possible.
It is happening because Caleb Williams their quarterback. He has the swagger, smarts, and
moxie that drives this team. Williams plays like someone out of a Marvel movie.
The game was built as a clash between dynamo quarterbacks, Williams and UCLA's Dorian
Thompson-Robinson. But when the dust settled, USC's man of steel was left standing. After a
503 total-yard and three total touchdown performance, he not only showed that he was the
superior quarterback but most certainly punched his ticket to New York for the Heisman
ceremony. Never, in the 92-game history of this cross town rival has there been a performance
like the one Williams delivered last Saturday night "He's been one of the best players in the
country this year," Riley said of Williams.
After an early 14-0 deficit and starting the second half trailing 24-20, USC opened the second
half with touchdowns on their first possession to take the lead in the third quarter. Williams
had to carry his team to paydirt, because his in-game nemesis, Thompson-Robinson, and the
Bruins, refused to relent.
Williams completed 32 of 43 passes for 470 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
He also rushed for one touchdown. Austin Jones ran 21 times for 120 yards and two
touchdowns. Jordan Addison caught 11 passes for 178 yards and one touchdown.
Thompson-Robinson was 23 of 38 for 309 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions;
he also rushed for two touchdowns.
The road to the college football playoffs is set for the Trojans. If they win their next two
games, against Notre Dame on Saturday at the Coliseum and in the Pac-12 Championship game
in Las Vegas on December 2. UCLA travels to Cal on Friday.
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