USC vs. UCLA score, takeaways: No. 7 Trojans keep playoff hopes alive by edging No. 16 Bruins

Caleb Williams made a Heisman statement as USC clinched a berth in the Pac-12 Championship Game

By David Cobb

Nov 20, 2022 • 1 min read

No. 7 USC clinched its spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game and kept its College Football Playoff aspirations alive with an epic offensive showing in a 48-45 win over No. 16 UCLA. The Trojans only punted once while racking up 649 yards and rallying from a 14-0 deficit against their crosstown rival in a massive game for both programs.

A win would have kept UCLA's hopes of reaching the Pac-12 title game intact, but the Bruins had no answer for USC's prolific offense on senior night at the Rose Bowl. USC quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 470 yards and scored both through the air and on the ground while out-dueling UCLA's Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

In the final home game of his five-year career, Thompson-Robinson accounted for all six UCLA touchdowns -- throwing four and running for two -- and had the Bruins ahead 21-10 late in the first half. But he also committed turnovers on three of UCLA's next four possessions right as USC settled into an offensive rhythm.

Ever a warrior, Thompson-Robinson played through some obvious pain and answered USC's offense repeatedly in the second half. But when the Bruins finally forced USC's first punt of the night with 2:27 remaining in the game and took possession with a chance to tie or take the lead, another turnover doomed their chances. Korey Forman intercepted Thompson-Robinson with 1:26 remaining, which allowed the Trojans to run out the clock and seal the win.

Here are more takeaways from Saturday night's wild offensive showing in Los Angeles.

Caleb Williams makes Heisman case

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud looked relatively pedestrian in an uninspiring win over Maryland Saturday. Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker was injured late in the Volunteers' blowout loss at South Carolina. Michigan running back Blake Corum went over 100 yards yet again in the Wolverines' narrow win over Illinois, but he was limited in the second half due to injury. North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye threw for 200 yards against Georgia Tech ... but the Tar Heels lost to the Yellow Jackets.

Overall, it wasn't a great day for the Heisman Trophy frontrunners -- except for Williams. The Oklahoma transfer has now thrown for 3,480 yards, 33 touchdowns and just three interceptions while leading the Trojans to a spot in the league title game. He will be tested against a solid Notre Dame defense next week in a game that figures to garner significant national attention, but a good performance there might catapult Williams to the top of the Heisman odds sheet.

The No. 2-ranked quarterback from the 2021 recruiting class showed flashes of brilliance as a true freshman for the Sooners last season, but he has been far more consistent this season. His performance on Saturday was particularly heroic because it came with USC's leading rusher and emotional leader Travis Dye sidelined due to a season-ending injury suffered last Friday against Colorado.

The Heisman is a season-along honor, but this year's race is as wide-open as it's been in a while. How contenders play late in the season matters, and Williams is showing up at the right time.

Important transfers come up big

Trojans wideout Jordan Addison, the most highly scrutinized transfer of the offseason, delivered for his team in a huge spot with 11 catches for 178 yards and a touchdown. The reigning Biletnikoff Winner as the nation's best receiver from his standout season at Pitt last year, Addison proved impossible to defend for the Bruins. This was Addison's first effective game back since suffering a leg injury vs. Utah last month, and he showed why he was such a valuable addition.

Another transfer, running back Austin Jones, also delivered when called upon. The former Stanford running back effectively handled an increased workload with Dye out, finishing with 120 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Jones also caught four passes for 57 yards, making him USC's second-leading receiver behind Addison on the night.

CFP scenarios

With No. 5 Tennessee falling out of the CFP picture with a 63-38 loss at South Carolina, USC figures to move up at least one spot in the new CFP Rankings on Tuesday night. The victory will go down as the best yet for the Trojans, which could give them a case to surpass No. 6 LSU. The Tigers have two losses and did little to help their résumé in Week 12 by beating Conference USA foe UAB in a nonconference game.

With No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan set to play next week, more carnage near the top of the rankings is inevitable. USC will get a crack at a quality Notre Dame team next week at home and then have a shot to polish its résumé even further in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

It may have looked like a long shot after the Trojans lost at Utah on Oct. 15 and fell to 6-1, but USC has a legitimate shot at making the CFP in Lincoln Riley's first season as coach.

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Memorable win

USC clinches its spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game in Year 1 under Lincoln Riley as Caleb Williams goes off for more than 500 yards. What a performance by the Trojans' offense. Dorian Thompson-Robinson was great for UCLA, but his four turnovers were the difference in the game. Williams threw one interception but was otherwise pretty close to flawless. The Trojans will have an excellent shot to be in the CFP if they beat Notre Dame next week and win in the Pac-12 Championship Game against a quality opponent (likely Oregon).

CFP implications

They are real for USC. With No. 5 Tennessee down 18 points in the fourth quarter at South Carolina, the Trojans are likely going to be moving up in next week's CFP Rankings if they can pull out a victory here. With No. 6 LSU still facing an SEC Championship Game against No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Ohio State hosting No. 3 Michigan next week, the path to the playoff is quite real for USC. Gotta come through here.

DTR's response

He's been through more ups and downs in his career than anyone on the field. Will be interesting to see how he responds to those two interceptions late in the half. With USC's offense chugging along, the Bruins are going to need to keep pace.

UCLA fortunate to be ahead

USC outgained UCLA in the first half 368-224 but trails by a point. UCLA has turned it over twice, compared to once for the Trojans and has possessed the football for over five minutes less than USC. Bruins should be feeling good to have the lead, especially since they get the football to begin the third quarter. But seeing USC score on four straight possessions to close the half portends trouble for the Bruins.

Denis Lynch misses again

Brendan Rice dropped a would-be first down ball on third-and-9 with 49 seconds left to force the Trojans into kicking a field goal. Denis Lynch missed again, this time from 33 yards out. He's 1 for 3. The Trojans would be winning if he was 3 for 3. Now the question is if UCLA can orchestrate something quickly here with one timeout

DTR INT

Mekhi Blackmon just picked off DTR on a poorly thrown out route. He runs it back 14 yards to set the Trojans up at the UCLA 35 with 1:15 left in the half. Trojans have a chance to take the lead here. Huge momentum swing.

Big answer

Austin Jones runs eight yards to cap a quick scoring drive for USC. The Trojans did leave 1:42 on the clock for DTR and the UCLA offense, but that was a nice answer for the Trojans, who haven't had much trouble moving the football tonight. Three scores on their last three possessions.

DTR again

UCLA's super senior QB is making a statement in his last game as part of this rivalry. He just snuck in for his second rushing touchdown of the game to go with his passing touchdown. Bruins answer after USC's 10 straight points and have a 21-10 lead late in the half. Big possession coming up since UCLA gets the football to begin the third quarter.

USC scores

Denis Lynch drills one from 44 to make it 14-10. Consecutive big completions to Jordan Addison helped the Trojans get off their own 1-yard line. Nice kick from Lynch after his first try in the fourth quarter was a hideous miss. 10 unanswered for USC now.

Bruins punt

DTR made a nice play to evade pressure, step up in the pocket and identify a receiver beyond the sticks. But as another defender closed in with DTR on the move, his throw was just a bit errant. UCLA downs the subsequent punt on the 1-yard line. Long way to go if USC is going to tie it up.

Caleb Williams answers

Nice answer by USC as the Trojans go 75 yards on 10 plays and draw within 14-7 on a 6-yard QB keeper from Caleb Williams. He's been the offense so far with Travis Dye out. Has attempted 15 passes and run three times. His 19-yard scramble on the final play of the first quarter was the longest play of the drive.

Great start

For UCLA, things couldn't have gone much better in the first quarter. The fourth down stop and Williams' dreadful interception have the Trojans in command early despite the fact that USC racked up 152 yards in the first quarter. DTR had the sticks moving pretty well on the Bruins' touchdown drive as well.

UCLA!

In the blink of an eye, it's 14-0 UCLA. It started with Gain Medrano picking off Caleb Williams. The linebacker was just sitting in coverage and Williams threw it straight to him. Bizarre misread there that returned right after their first touchdown. DTR then hit Michael Ezeike for a 30-yard TD to make it 14-0. USC in trouble.

Touchdown!

DTR punches it in from a yard out to cap a 14-play, 80-yard drive. UCLA strikes first with 2:29 left in the quarter. DTR brought his hard hat on that drive as he picked up a big first down run along the USC sideline and then started barking at any and all Trojans in the vicinity. Charbonnet earning some tough yards early as well.

Trojans kick it

Facing a fourth-and-6 after a delay of game penalty, Lincoln plays it safe and settles for a 31-yard field goal attempt from Denis Lynch, but it was no good and not even close. We remain scoreless. Caleb Williams hit Jordan Addison for a gain of 37 to spark the drive, but it yields no return.

UCLA's injury

Interior defensive lineman Jay Toia — a USC transfer — is down and receiving attention from the UCLA trainers as the Trojans get into the red zone. Lot of Trojans clapping and offering their well wishes to him as he walks off gingerly.

Three-and-out

UCLA's first possession begins with a false start and goes nowhere from there as DTR fires incomplete on third-and-9. Michael Jackson III returns the punt 17 yards to set the Trojans up with good field position midway through the first quarter.

Fourth down fail

It looked like Raleek Brown may have had the first down shortly after catching a pass over the middle. But he danced around trying to avoid defenders and wound up short of the sticks. Forced a fourth-and-1 at the UCLA 19. The Trojans called timeout to talk it over as their first drive of the game reached a pivotal moment. Caleb Williams kept it on the read option, but Gabriel Murphy blew it up.

Here we go

UCLA won the toss and deferred. USC gets the football first as Caleb Williams and the offense will head out onto the field without Travis Dye, who was lost for the season last week. The Trojans have plenty of other options, including Stanford transfer Austin Jones. But Dye was the heart and soul of the team.

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