Caleb Williams handed for 268 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 2 extra scores, and No. 8 Southern California overcame an apparently critical harm to high operating again Travis Dye in a 55-17 victory over Colorado on Friday night time.
Williams accounted for 5 whole touchdowns in his fourth consecutive excellent sport for the Trojans (9-1, 7-1 Pac-12), who warmed up for season-defining video games in opposition to No. 9 UCLA and No. 20 Notre Dame within the subsequent two weeks with a gradual begin adopted by a blowout victory over the Buffaloes (1-9, 1-6).
Former Colorado receiver Brenden Rice had 70 yards receiving and a landing for the Trojans, whereas Tahj Washington and Austin Jones caught TD passes from Williams within the third quarter. Jones threw up a 2 and a 6 after his rating to honor the jersey variety of Dye, the Pac-12’s second-leading rusher with 884 yards.
Dye left the sector on a cart with an air forged on his left leg after getting tackled awkwardly within the second quarter. The Oregon switch and Los Angeles-area native has been a key element of the Trojans’ instant transformation from a four-win program to a School Soccer Playoff contender.
Dye’s teammates all gathered across the cart in help earlier than it left the sector, and Dye flashed USC’s signature V for Victory to his cheering followers. Dye then watched the second half from the sideline on crutches whereas the Trojans scored no less than 41 factors for the fourth consecutive sport with a prolific offense led by Williams, who had one other standout sport regardless of throwing solely his second interception of the season.
Alex Fontenot rushed for 108 yards and a landing for the Buffaloes, who’ve yielded 188 factors throughout their four-game dropping streak underneath interim head coach Mike Sanford.
J.T. Shrout handed for 124 yards and rushed for a late TD whereas Colorado fell to 0-16 in opposition to USC in a collection that started in 1927 and contains 11 straight Pac-12 losses for the Buffs.
USC’s protection had its finest sport in a month, with Tuli Tuipulotu recording 2 1/2 sacks to extend in FBS-leading whole to 11 1/2, however the Trojans truly trailed 3-2 after an unsightly first quarter.
USC’s second drive ended when Williams’ underthrown lengthy go was wrestled away from Rice by Nikko Reed, however USC’s protection scored the sport’s first factors on a security moments later when Tuipulotu pressured Shrout into an intentional grounding penalty ultimately zone.
Williams shortly took management, and he excelled even with a 3rd straight week of minimal assist from his high two receivers. Jordan Addison made just one reception in restricted motion in the course of the Biletnikoff Award winner’s return from a two-game harm absence, however receiver Mario Williams missed his third straight sport with an harm.
THE TAKEAWAY
Colorado: The Buffs’ first quarter will look good on movie when interim coach Mike Sanford tells them they have an opportunity to win certainly one of their remaining two video games. This misplaced season is a motivational problem, however Sanford’s crew clearly continues to be enjoying laborious with what it has.
USC: Dye’s absence is a blow to the Trojans’ management and coronary heart, however they have proficient backups in Jones and Raleek Brown, who had a 25-yard TD catch from Miller Moss within the fourth quarter. USC’s defensive play nearly actually will decide the place the Trojans end this common season.
UP NEXT
Colorado: At Washington on Saturday, Nov. 19.
USC: At UCLA on Saturday, Nov. 19.
