Caleb Williams erupts for six touchdowns as USC holds off Colorado 48-41
USC Trojans #13 Caleb Williams (QB) threw for 406 yards and six touchdown passes against the Colorado Buffaloes secondary. Photo by Arnie Bazemore/TGSportstv1.
BOULDER, CO – What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, the NCAA got one of the most highly anticipated games of the past decade that ends up surpassing its wildest expectations. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams threw six touchdown passes as the No. 8 USC Trojans (5-0) held off a furious comeback by the Colorado Buffaloes (3-2) at Folsom Field, 48-41.
It was a matchup that pitted the flashiest player in college football versus its flashiest coach and team, both Williams and head coach Deion Sanders, with Buffaloes shining during the game. Williams threw for 403 yards and a career-high six touchdown passes.
Coach Prime, as Sanders prefers to go by, inspired his team during a rebuilding year and an onside kick away from a potential game-winning drive, despite being 21-point underdogs and facing a 27-point hole in the second half.
"Fired up to get the win," said Trojan coach Lincoln Kelly. "Best first half we played all year against a good opponent in a tremendous atmosphere, we'll give Colorado and their fans a lot of credit."
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders had a stellar game with a combined 421 yards and five touchdowns for the Buffaloes.
The Trojans struck on their opening drive with running back Marshawn Lloyd reversing the field on a 27-yard scamper following a caravan of blockers down the sideline for the early 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.
Later in the quarter, with a chance to get on the board, Buffaloes kicker Jace Feely missed a 41-yard field goal. Williams took full advantage of the miscues, hitting a wide-open Tahj Washington for a 71-yard touchdown, increasing the Trojan lead 14-0 with 2:30 left in the quarter.
After picking off Shedeur Sanders on the ensuing drive, the Trojans went for the jugular, with Williams throwing an 8-yard touchdown strike to Dorian Singer on the opening play of the second quarter.
Colorado got on the board two minutes later with Shedeur Sanders floating a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Horn Jr., cutting the lead to 21-7.
Colorado Buffaloes #2 Shedeur Sanders (QB) avoiding USC Trojans #10 Jamil Muhammad. Photo by Arnie Bazemore/TGSportstv1.
The offense came alive and inspired their defense, with cornerback Omarion Cooper blitzing untouched from the blind side of Williams drilled him in the chest, electrifying the Colorado fans with the thunderous sack.
"It was a tremendous road atmosphere," said Kelly. "Even when we went up they kept it loud in there, which kind of kept their team in it."
Minutes later, it was the Trojans’ turn for a defensive jolt as their special teams blocked a Colorado punt, leaving them with great field position. Two plays later, Williams threw his third touchdown, hitting Mario Williams with an easy 24-yard pass. Kicker Denis Lynch would miss the extra point attempt as USC led 27-7.
The Trojans would add to the lead as Williams tossed a short pass to Brendan Rice, who broke a tackle, went down the field, beating two more Buffalo defenders as he dove past the pylon for the touchdown to make the score 34-7.
This was Rice's sixth straight game with a touchdown and was especially meaningful for the young receiver, who has personal and family ties to Colorado and Coach Prime.
Rice transferred to USC from Colorado in 2021. Jerry Rice, his father, had a rich history with Coach Prime himself, with both being rivals early in their year before becoming teammates on the San Francisco 49ers years before Brendan was born.
Shedeur Sanders was able to sneak in a 21-yard touchdown run in the waning seconds as the defense parted for him, giving him a wide-open lane into the endzone as the Buffaloes cut the lead to 34-14 going into halftime.
After giving up 35 points in the first half last week against No. 9 Oregon, Coach Prime was not happy to see his defense give up 34 at halftime today.
"We got to stop blowing coverages and giving up the big plays," said Coach Prime during halftime.
In the third quarter, both teams had two touchdowns a piece, bringing Williams' touchdown count up to six on the day and an NCAA-leading 21st on the season.
With under a minute left in the third quarter, Caleb Williams launched a dangerous pass downfield that was intercepted, giving Colorado a glimmer of hope going into the final frame trailing 48-27. It was his first interception of the season.
"Mario was open down the sideline," said Caleb Williams. "I didn't get my legs under it, I had enough time to do it. I threw my first interception, we won the game; awesome."
USC Trojans #0 Marshawn Lloyd carried the football 13 times for 88 yards and one touchdown against the Colorado Buffaloes. Photo by Arnie Bazemore/TGSportstv1.
In the fourth quarter, Shedeur Sanders found Omarion Miller in the endzone with a desperation pass on fourth down to cut the lead to 48-34. After a missed USC field goal, Sanders drove Colorado 78 yards down the field, ending with a 16-yard touchdown strike to Horn Jr., cutting their deficit down to a one-possession game, 48-41, with 1:43 remaining.
With Colorado needing to recover an onside kick for an opportunity to go on a final game-tying or potential winning drive, USC recovered the ball to escape with the win after giving up 20 unanswered points to end the game.
Miller was nearly the surprise hero for Colorado, whose 196 receiving yards were a freshmen record. Miller had zero receptions before today's game, and with Colorado down big early, Coach Prime decided to give new players opportunities.
"I didn't think we'd get that from Omarion," said Coach Prime. "He hadn't practiced well, which is why he hadn't played. But he was forced into action, and he showed up and showed out, and we celebrated him after the game because of how he showed up."
The Trojans will head back to Los Angeles to face Arizona (3-1) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 7th.