No.9 USC Survives Late Rally by Cal To Win 41-35

USC Trojans #13 Caleb Williams (QB) threw four touchdowns against the California Golden Bears’ secondary. Photo by Darwin Walker/TGSportstv1.

LOS ANGELES, CA - The No.9 USC Trojans survived a late rally by the California Golden Bears in the second half and came away with a 41-35 win in the Pac-12 Conference.

Caleb Williams had another solid night at quarterback, completing 26 of his 41 passes for 306-yards and four touchdowns.

Michael Jackson III had a breakout game at receiver, catching five passes for 115-yards and two touchdowns, followed by Tahj Washington with seven catches for 112-yards, and one touchdown, and Travis Dye had fifteen carries for 98-yards and one touchdown.

California Golden Bears #6 Jaydn Ott 10-yard touchdown against the USC Trojans’ defense. Photo by Darwin Walker/TGSportstv1.

''We didn't play our best on really any of the sides (of the ball),'' USC coach Lincoln Riley said. ''Didn't have a very good first half offensively. Did not finish the game well defensively. Made some big special teams plays, but also gave up a few. Obviously, a lot to improve on. We know we're going to have to improve, but if you can improve by winning, you're going to be there in the end.''

The Golden Bears took it to the USC Trojans and went 76-yards, capping off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run by Jaydn Ott, giving them a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

The Trojans answered the call, with Caleb Williams taking their offense downfield on a 72-yard drive and scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run, but the extra-point try was no good trail Cal 7-6.

USC took the lead 13-7 in the second quarter after Travis Dye scored on a 12-yard touchdown run. The Trojans got the first turnover when Calen Bullock intercepted Jack Plummer's pass.

The Trojans would capitalize on the turnover when Caleb Williams threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Michael Jackson III to give them a 20-7 halftime lead.

USC Trojans #9 Michael Jackson (WR) caught five passes for 115-yards and two touchdowns. Photo by Darwin Walker/TGSportstv1.

USC led by twenty points in the third quarter, 27-7, when Williams threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Jackson III, his second of the night.

Plummer would throw a 57-yard pass completion to Jeremiah Hunter, who went out of bounds at USC's 4-yard line. The Trojans were guilty of pass interference in the endzone, which would put the football on the 2-yard line.

Califronia Golden Bears #14 Monroe Young (WR) 2-yard touchdown catch. Photo by Darwin Walker/TGSportstv1.

Moments later, Plummer threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Monroe Young that had Cal trailing 27-14. The Trojans increased their lead to 34-14 after Todd Washington caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Williams after going 86-yards for the score.

The Golden Bears would score in the fourth quarter when Plummer threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Anderson with 12:56 left in the game, which made the score 34-21.

Cal caught the Trojans' special teams napping and recovered an onside-kick byMichael Luckhurts at their 43-yard line. The Golden Bears would make the Trojans pay for not recovering the onside kick when Plummer threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jerimiah Hunter, making the score 34-27 after the extra point was no good with 9:00 minutes left in the game.

USC Trojans #87 Lake McRee (TE) 2-yard touchdown catch against the California Golden Bears # 32 Daniel Scott (S). Photo by Darwin Walker/TGSportstv1.

Terrell Bynum caught a 16-yard pass from Williams to give the Trojans first and goal at the 2-yard line. USC got some breathing room after Williams threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to his tight-end Lake McRee, now led 41-27.

Cal made it a game again late in the fourth quarter after Ott scored on a 4-yard touchdown run that had them down 41-35 with 2:31 left in the game.

USC recovered the onside kick by Cal, and on offense, they picked up the first down, and Williams took a knee to run out the clock and improve their record to (5-0) in the Pac-12 Conference.

Plummer finished the game completing 35 of his 49 passes for 406-yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Jeremiah Hunter led Cal in catches with six for 106-yards one touchdown, followed by Marvin Anderson with five catches for 87-yards one touchdown, and Monroe Young with five catches for 66-yards and one touchdown.