PASADENA, Calif. -- Caleb Williams boosted Southern California's pursuit of a possible college football Playoff berth with the biggest sport of his profession in opposition to the Trojans' archrival.

He might have to e book a journey to the big apple next month as a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Williams had 503 yards of general offense and three touchdowns Saturday night time, and the No. 7 Trojans defeated No. sixteen UCLA 48-forty five on Saturday night to attain the p.c-12 Championship recreation.

“If you will have told me remaining yr wherein we might be now, i might have called you a lifeless liar,” Kyle Ford said.

The Trojans (10-1, 8-1) picked up their first win of the season over a ranked group. they'll be ready to see who can be their opponent on Dec. 2 in Las Vegas for the conference crown.

"obviously it's very, very meaningful," USC train Lincoln Riley stated. “With all of that, it was a grab performance from our soccer crew that made it take place.

Williams completed 32 of forty three passes for 470 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. The sophomore also rushed for 33 yards and a rating. It was the second one maximum speeding yards with the aid of a USC quarterback in 92 editions of the Crosstown Showdown.

“i've performed like two other games which are rivalries and i went into this game expecting the same element. you need to do your task and do your task at a excessive level and preserve gambling, hold swinging,” Riley stated.

inside the first recreation where both los angeles colleges had been led with the aid of a black quarterback, Williams defeated his UCLA counterpart Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

The fifth-12 months senior accounted for all six of the Bruins' touchdowns and 384 yards of overall offense, however additionally had 4 turnovers (three interceptions, one fumble) that the Trojans turned into 10 factors.

"manifestly I experience the disappointment, a lot on me," said Thompson-Robinson. "You cannot have (4) turnovers at quarterback and win a sport, it truly is just now not suited."

The Trojans had a season-high 648 yards of general offense. Williams finished nine passes, however his favourite goal was Jordan Addison, who had eleven receptions for 178 yards and a landing.

Williams' overall performance was the trendy in a string of fantastic games which have put him in Heisman Trophy attention. In his last 5 games, Williams has 2,027 yards of total offense and 23 touchdowns.

"We performed as desirable a quarterback as i've confronted in my university profession, looking what Caleb did tonight, so i'd supply Caleb quite a few credit and say he is a heck of a quarterback," UCLA teach Chip Kelly said.

USC trailed 14-0 earlier than the rally. The Trojans scored on 8 in their nine drives, which includes five directly, after arising empty on their first 3 possessions.

UCLA (8-three, 5-3) were given the ball with 2:21 remaining after forcing USC to punt with a hazard to win or force time beyond regulation. The Bruins drove to midfield, but their comeback hopes evaporated when Thompson-Robinson turned into picked off at midfield by means of Korey Foreman with 1:26 closing.

Thompson-Robinson was 23 of 38 for 309 yards and four touchdowns. He additionally rushed for seventy five yards and rankings.

TURNING point

After Jones' 8-backyard run put the Trojans up 21-17, UCLA were given the ball and searched for the final rating before halftime — at the side of getting the ball early in the 2nd half of.

matters didn't pass according to plot.

Thompson-Robinson changed into fouled twice inside the final 1:forty two of the first 1/2. USC changed into able to convert on the second one interception when Denis Lynch connected from forty nine yards out to place the Trojans up 21-20 at halftime.

Nicholas Barr-Mira prolonged the Bruins' result in 4 on a 46-backyard field purpose on the outlet pressure of the second 1/2 before Williams related with Addison for a 35-yard TD to position the Trojans on top 27-24.

USC's defense got here up with its third turnover halfway through the 0.33 quarter while Tyrone Taleni sacked Thompson-Robinson and compelled a fumble that become recovered by way of Latrell McCutchin on the UCLA nine. two performs later, Jones scored on a 2-yard run up the center to extend the game. The Trojans' lead is in double digits.

Caleb Williams leads USC to thrilling victory over crosstown rival UCLA


a calm settled over Caleb Williams, on a night time whilst that might be said about few others.
Touchdowns had been traded back and forth. Turnovers too. area desires have been ignored. response after reaction after reaction changed into installed, inside the maximum dizzying night time of the crosstown competition in current memory, a roller coaster that USC rode to a 48-forty five victory Saturday night and a berth inside the percent-12 name game.
The Trojans’ big name quarterback had come to USC exactly for moments like those, with each chest in a sold-out Rose Bowl thumping and the stakes heart-stoppingly high. He’d put up extra than 500 yards of offense, and now, it turned into as much as him to position the game away. however the pocket directly collapsed, USC’s famous person turned into sacked, its hopes unexpectedly unsure with time left for UCLA to mount one final power.
That’s when an sudden hero emerged to do what neither Williams nor another Trojan may want to.