Caleb Williams left the No. 20 USC game against No. 5 Washington on Saturday night to spend a brief moment with his family.
USC’s record after the 52-42 loss was 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Pac-12. Ahead of a crucial game against No. 8 Oregon in Week 11, the Trojans are still in the hunt for a spot in the College Football Playoffs but are officially eliminated from the running for the Pac-12 championship.
Williams sprang onto the edge of the seating bowl at the Coliseum after shaking hands with Washington players, and it was evident that he was overcome with emotion as his mother covered his face.
Williams’ performance on Saturday night did not cause the Trojans to lose. He completed 27 of 35 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns in all. Yes, he fumbled, and the fourth quarter ended with no points for USC. However, 42 points ought to be sufficient to win a football match. The current Heisman Trophy winner is far down the list of factors contributing to USC’s dismal season.
First on the list is the USC defense. After defeating Arizona in overtime, USC’s defense was deemed “much-improved” by coach Lincoln Riley in 2023. In the four games since those remarks, USC has allowed at least 32 points and more than 40 points in three of the games.
Williams is expected to be selected in the top five next spring and is considered to be one of the top two quarterbacks available in the 2024 NFL Draft. On Saturday night, it was evident how excruciating a third defeat in four games was for him.
