Utah shocked USC on Friday night with a dominant second half to upset the Trojans 47-24 and win the Pac-12 championship. Here’s what you need to know:
- Utah ripped off a 44-7 run to win the title after trailing 17-3 in the second quarter.
- USC star quarterback Caleb Williams appeared to be hampered by a lower-body injury in the second half, finishing with 363 yards on 28-of-41 passes with three touchdowns, along with a fourth quarter interception and fumble. After the game, USC coach Lincoln Riley said Williams popped his hamstring on a long run.
- The Trojans were ranked No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings entering the game.
Trojans’ leaky defense does USC in
Though USC was only a 2.5-point favorite going into the Pac-12 championship game, there weren’t a ton of people who thought the Trojans would lose this game. But if you have been paying attention to USC all year, you knew it had a leaky defense that struggles to tackle. That stuff has a way of catching up to a team, and it certainly did against Utah. There is only so much you can put on a quarterback’s shoulders, even one as dynamic and entertaining as Williams.
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USC’s build is ahead of schedule, but this defense was not up to snuff when it comes to competing for a national title. It was a solid year for USC, but it is also a harsh reminder of what it takes to build a national title-caliber team. What’s next? Riley has to hit the recruiting trail hard and build a more well-rounded team, not just a fractured team with explosive offensive playmakers. – Wasserman
Highlight of the game
UTAH TAKES THE LEAD.
🎥 @CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/8938u8L8y8
— The Athletic CFB (@TheAthleticCFB) December 3, 2022
Key stats
The Trojans gained just one yard of offense in the third quarter.
The Utes have now beaten USC in three straight contests for the first time in the history of their rivalry.
What they’re saying
Riley on Williams’ performance: “He was not even 50 percent. … I thought about taking him out but he wouldn’t let me … maybe the gutsiest performance (at that position) I’ve ever seen.”
Required reading
- How USC, Utah offenses have evolved to make Pac-12 title rematch look different
- Vannini: 12-team College Football Playoff will elevate conference title games
(Photo: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)