Last year’s Heisman winner and current FBS QBR leader, USC’s Caleb Williams, accounted for all but seven points of his teams 42-28 victory over Arizona State out in Tempe, connecting on 20-of-31 for 322 yards, 3 TD’s in the air, two to Senior WR Brenden Rice, as well as running for two more in nine attempts rushing. Rice, fellow Senior Tahj Washington, along with Freshman Zachariah Branch and Junior Michael Jackson combined for 276 yards of USC’s 322 on the ground with Washington picking up the other TD in the air. Although Williams was responsible for both TD’s on the ground, it was Junior RB Marshawn Lloyd who did all the heavy lifting while rushing 14 times for 154 yards of the 213 yard total for the Trojans.
Considering that the Trojan defense accounted for 8 sacks and 11 tackles for loss, Arizona QB Drew Pyne had a pretty decent day connecting on almost 60% of his passes for 221 yards, 2 TD’s and 1 interception. On the ground, Junior RB Cameron Skattebo rushed 20 times for 111 yards and the only rushing TD for the Sun Devils.
Getting the ball first, USC never trailed in this one scoring a TD on their very first possession on a 12 play, 75 yard, 6+ minute drive resulting in Williams first rushing score to go up 7-0. After holding the Sun Devils to a three-and-out on their crack at it the Trojans had a chance to extend the lead but instead fumbled the ball on the first play of their next possession at their own 13 yard line setting Arizona State up to tie the score three plays later. USC would score again in the 1st Qtr to go up 14-7 and the Sun Devils got a field goal of their own with time expiring to inch a little closer at 14-10 which is the way the rest of the game played out. USC would always score enough to stay ahead, eventually widening the margin with a 15 point fourth quarter and a 42-28 win.
Both teams fumbled the ball twice and losing it once with both leading to TD’s. USC just edged out Arizona State regarding 1st Downs at 22-21, but were dominate in both passing and rushing yards, 322-to-263 and 213-to-90 respectively. Neither side was very good at third down conversions, both in the low 30% range and were more successful converting their 4th down attempts with USC at 50% and the Sun Devils converting three out of the four times they went for it. Arizona State had the ball four minutes longer and USC was starting to look a little bit like the pre Lincoln Riley SC with 10 penalties for 85 yards. As pointed out in the AP Recap for ESPN; “Nearly five-touchdown favorites, the high-scoring Trojans were off-kilter offensively for long stretches, plagued by ill-timed penalties and an early fumble in their own end. USC had a touchdown negated by a penalty, lost a fumble to set up an Arizona State score and turned it over deep in the Sun Devils’ end in the third quarter.” Afterwards Lincoln Riley gave the team credit for playing their best ball in the 4th Qtr when it counted the most but also said; “It certainly wasn’t our cleanest performance.” USC will stay on the road to take on Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffaloes this next Saturday.