Caleb Williams rescues defensively challenged USC in win over Arizona State
TEMPE, Ariz. — Against a team that got shut out by Fresno State at home last week, USC made just enough plays to avoid a disaster of its own self-inflicted wounds during a 42-28 win over Arizona State on Saturday at Mountain America Stadium.
The No. 5 Trojans (4-0, 2-0 Pac-12 Conference) played like they extended their bye week by committing 10 penalties, fumbling twice and missing tackles, but pulled away late with two second-half takeaways and eight total sacks.
For the first time this season, quarterback Caleb Williams had to play the whole game, finishing with 322 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-31 passing with two more rushing touchdowns. Running back MarShawn Lloyd paced the ground game with 154 rushing yards on 13 carries.
USC defeats Arizona State to remain unbeaten on the season
No. 5 USC 42, Arizona State 28, end of fourth quarter
USC lined up in victory formation to close out a hard-fought, sloppy game that was much closer than predicted.
USC defense shuts down Arizona State rally
No. 5 USC 42, Arizona State 28, 1:40 left in fourth quarter
After Drew Pyne was sacked twice, he passed to Cam Skattebo for 14-yard gain and Elijhah Badger for 13-yard gain.
USC’s defense came out of a pile with the ball after a Pyne pass, but officials ruled after a review that the Arizona State receiver Jaylin Conyers caught the ball and was down for a 15-yard gain before the ball popped out.
Two plays later, Cam Skattebo fumbled the ball on a carry and an Arizona State offensive lineman recovered it.
The Sun Devils called timeout after Pyne was sacked for a loss of five yards. Arizona State faces second-and-15 at on the USC 42.
Pyne’s next pass deep sailed off target. Scattebo was rushed for two yards.
And on fourth-and-17, Arizona State had to call a timeout again.
Pyne’s pass fell incomplete and he hit the turf under pressure from USC.
USC scores after three snaps
No. 5 USC 42, Arizona State 28, 7:07 left in fourth quarter
USC showed it can score faster than Arizona State.
The Trojans started on their 25-yard line. Caleb Williams delivered a 16-yard pass to Brenden Rice, MarShawn Lloyd rushed for 14 yards and Williams hit Tahj Washington for a 45-yard touchdown pass.
It’s what people expected from USC, which entered this game a 34.5-point favorite.
USC gives up 52-yard touchdown pass
No. 5 USC 35, Arizona State 28, 8:05 left in fourth quarter
Arizona State is not giving up.
The Sun Devils started on their 25-yard line. On second down, a five-yard pass turned into a 20-yard gain thanks to a roughing the passer penalty.
Cam Skattebo rushed for seven yards, Pyne passed to Elijhah Badger for four yards and Skattebo caught a 52-yard touchdown pass.
Arizona State hit the extra point to trim the USC lead to seven.
USC forces turnover and Caleb Williams scores soon afterward
No. 5 USC 35, Arizona State 21, 10:31 left in fourth quarter
After Arizona State’s Drew Pyne completed a 26-yard pass, USC’s defense dropped a receiver for a one-yard loss, sacked Pyne for a 10-yard loss and sacked Pyne again for a one-yard loss. Pyne fumbled on the final sack and USC recovered at the Arizona State 44-yard line.
MarShawn Lloyd rushed for 15 yards and Caleb Williams connected with Brenden Rice for a 29-yard touchdown. With the two-point conversion pass to Mario Williams, USC got some breathing room.
USC offense can’t capitalize on defense’s stop
No. 5 USC 27, Arizona State 21, 13:27 left in fourth quarter
USC’s defense quickly tightened pressure on Arizona State to open the fourth quarter.
On third-and-nine on the Arizona State 48, Bear Alexander sacked Drew Pyne for a loss of eight yards and the Sun Devils punted.
Caleb Williams took over at the Trojans’ 22-yard line. Zachariah Branch caught a seven-yard pass and Williams’ next toss to Branch fell incomplete.
On third-and-three, Williams tossed another incomplete pass into traffic. USC was forced to punt and Arizona State took over at its 30-yard line.
Arizona State moves the ball before third quarter expires
No. 5 USC 27, Arizona State 21, start of fourth quarter
Arizona State efficiently moved from its 12-yard line to the USC 49-yard line despite one five-yard penalty before time expired in the third quarter.
USC can’t capitalize on interception
No. 5 USC 27, Arizona State 21, 3:16 left in third quarter
Arizona State was fired up bu limiting USC to a field goal on the previous drive, but the Trojans’ defense delivered a big blow.
Calen Bullock intercepted Drew Pyne’s pass and returned it 11 yards to the Arizona State 42-yard line.
USC drove the ball up the field, but a false start penalty and Arizona State’s aggressiveness once again led to the Trojans’ offense stalling in the red zone.
The Trojans went for it on fourth-and-three at the Arizona State 12. Williams’ pass to Michael Jackson III, who was faced heavy contact, fell incomplete and USC turned the ball over with no points off the interception.
USC settles for a field goal after penalty erases a touchdown
No. 5 USC 27, Arizona State 21, 6:29 left in third quarter
Arizona State quickly wrapped up Zachariah Branch on the kickoff return, but it couldn’t quell ensuing big plays from USC.
MarShawn Lloyd rushed for 43 yards and Branch caught a 36-yard pass.
It appeared Branch scored a four-yard touchdown, but it was nullified by an offensive pass interference call.
The Trojans faced first-and-19 from the Sun Devils’ 19-yard line. Lloyd ran for four yards. Williams passed to Lloyd for a four-yard loss. And a Williams pass to Dorian Singer in the end zone fell incomplete.
Denis Lynch hit a 36-yard field goal after penalties once again cost USC points.
Arizona State scores quickly, trims USC’s lead
No. 5 USC 24, Arizona State 21, 9:25 left in third quarter
Arizona State started its next drive on the 35-yard line.
The miscues continue, surely irritating coach Lincoln Riley.
Mason Cobb was called for a facemask penalty on the Sun Devils’ first snap, gifting Arizona State 15 yards and a first down.
After three Cam Skattebo runs, Drew Pyne tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Elijhah Badger. The referee stated Arizona State fumbled the on the two-point conversion attempt, but a film review overtuned the decision and the Sun Devils got the points.
Arizona State was shut out by Fresno State last week and had not scored during the past six quarters. It’s lineup has been depleted injuries. The points the Sun Devils have scored tonight will only heighten long-festering questions about the Trojans’ defense.
Denis Lynch hits 53-yard field goal
No. 5 USC 24, Arizona State 13, 11:13 left in third quarter
Caleb Williams attempted a deep pass up the left sideline to Brenden Rice, but it fell incomplete. Williams went back to Rice for a 20-yard gain.
MarShawn Lloyd rushed for six yards, Kyron Hudson dropped a short pass and the Trojans called timeout as the play clock was about to expire on third-and-four at the Arizona State 28-yard line.
The timeout didn’t translate to success, with Arizona State defenders blowing past the USC offensive line and sacking Williams for a nine-yard loss.
Denis Lynch stepped in to hit a 53-yard field goal to extend USC’s lead.
USC defense quickly forces a punt
No. 5 USC 21, Arizona State 13, 14:04 left in third quarter
Arizona State quarterback Drew Pyne completed an 11-yard pass before tossing three consecutive incomplete passes and the Sun Devils punted to the USC 35-yard line.
And we’re back ...
No. 5 USC 21, Arizona State 13, start of third quarter
Arizona State received the ball to open the third quarter as both teams try to shake off a mistake-filled first half.
USC punts on final drive before halftime
No. 5 USC 21, Arizona State 13, halftime
USC quarterback Caleb Williams got he ball back at the USC 35-yard line with 2:21 left in the second quarter.
The Trojans punted with 21 seconds left and the Sun Devils ran one play before time expired.
It was a sloppy first half for the Trojans, who fumbled three times — turning it over once — and were called for six penalties.
Williams was 11 of 15 passing for 144 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 16 yards on seven carries, scoring two touchdowns.
Brenden Rice led the Trojans with three catches for 57 yards, with six receivers catching passes.
MarShawn Lloyd was USC’s top rusher with six carries for 64 yards.
Arizona State uses fake punt to eventually hit a field goal
No. 5 USC 21, Arizona State 13, 2:26 left in the second quarter
Arizona State hit a 30-yard field goal, but the Sun Devils were pushing for more.
Coach Kenny Dillingham dialed up a fake punt as the Sun Devils faced fourth-and-five on their 25-yard line. The Sun Devils converted and clearly are going all out to try to stick close with USC.
Arizona State moved the ball into USC territory, but the Sun Devils stalled at the Trojans’ 12-yard line and had to settle for the field goal.
Caleb Williams leads another scoring drive
No. 5 USC 21, Arizona State 10, 8:29 left in the second quarter
USC return an onside kick to the Arizona State 46-yard line and quickly marched to the end zone.
After a 14-yard Dorian Singer catch and a pair of long MarShawn Lloyd runs, USC faced first-and-three at the Arizona State three-yard line.
Caleb Williams faked a handoff and tossed a shovel pass to Lake McRee, who was stopped at the 1-yard line. After a personal foul penalty by Arizona State, Williams rushed for a one-yard touchdown.
USC gives up a field goal
No. 5 USC 14, Arizona State 7 with 10:34 left in the second quarter
USC’s defense gave up a series of chunk plays before digging in once Arizona State reached the red zone.
Arizona State quarterback Drew Pyne pass on third-and-five on the USC 12-yard line bounced on the turf in front of his intended receiver.
After faking going for it, Dario Longhetto hit a 35-yard field goal to trim USC’s lead.
USC closes first quarter with lead despite three fumbles
No. 5 USC 14, Arizona State 7, end of first quarter
The first quarter comes to an end with a few gifts for USC coach Lincoln Riley.
The Trojans have fumbled three times, losing possession once, and have racked up penalties. USC was expected to put up a lopsided win, but these miscues give Riley something to hound his players about so that they don’t let up during the teeth of the team’s Pac-12 schedule.
Caleb Williams passes for a touchdown
No. 5 USC 14, Arizona State 7 with 1:15 left in the first quarter
Early in the drive, Caleb Williams faked a handoff and to one potential ball carrier and handed it off to sweeping Zachariah Branch. That left Caleb Williams as his lead blocker. Williams scrambled up field and tried to put up a few blocks. Receiver Kyron Hudson was called for holding while trying to block on the play, but USC still gained seven net yards.
USC got another ball security scare later in the drive when Williams didn’t sense the pocket collapsing and fumbled the ball as he hit the turf. He quickly recovered to avoid the turnover.
The Trojans went for it on fourth-and-seven at the Arizona State 43-yard line. It didn’t look like much of a gamble, with Williams lofting the ball to roughly the five-yard line and Brenden Rice running it the rest of the way for a 43-yard touchdown.
USC narrowly avoids another fumble
No. 5 USC 7, Arizona State 7 with 6:45 left in the first quarter
USC freshman Zachariah Branch was trying to gain as much ground as possible on a kickoff return when he nearly gave up another big turnover.
Branch fumbled the ball as he was tackled in USC’s red zone, but the officials reviewed the play and ruled his knee was down before the ball popped out.
USC gives up first turnover on botched handoff
No. 5 USC 7, Arizona State 7, 7:05 left in the first quarter
USC’s defense stopped Arizona State from recording a first down despite a penalty.
After a punt, the Trojans ran into trouble.
Caleb Williams handed the ball off to MarShawn Lloyd at the USC 15-yard and he fumbled the ball. Arizona State recovered at the Trojans’ 15-yard and three plays later Cam Skattebo rushed for 15-yard Sun Devils touchdown.
Caleb Williams leads USC on long scoring drive
No. 5 USC 7, Arizona State 0, 8:53 left in the first quarter
Despite two penalties, Caleb Williams steadily marched No. 5 USC to the end zone on the Trojans’ opening drive.
Williams passed twice to Zachariah Branch for gains and MarShawn added a pair of long runs that extended the drive. Williams capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run that was upheld following review. Denis Lynch hit the extra point.
The 12-play, 75-yard drive spanned 6:14.
And we’re off ...
No. 5 USC at Arizona State kicked off about 16 minutes later than advertised.
The Sun Devils won the toss and deferred. Caleb Williams is on the field to lead USC.
Domani Jackson, USC corners face ‘steep learning curve’ as stiffer challenges loom
As a deep pass soared toward his sideline, a trailing Domani Jackson quickly closed the gap between him and the Nevada receiver. As a former track phenom, Jackson’s straight-line speed was just one of many tantalizing tools that made him California’s most coveted cornerback prospect in recent memory. So by the time the ball reached its destination, the USC sophomore was in position to make a play.
But the pass, which was underthrown, slipped through his outstretched arms and somehow was corralled by Nevada’s Spencer Curtis, who made it inside the 10-yard line before Jackson finally tripped him up from behind.
“It happens,” Jackson said this week. “Not everyone is perfect.”
USC’s Max Williams ‘rewriting his story’ in Arizona State matchup with brother
Macen Williams had big plans for 2018. Then a junior at Gardena Serra High, where his older brother Max was already a star senior, Macen envisioned a dominant season for the brothers who trained together their whole lives for a moment like this. Macen would cement his spot in the starting lineup and boost his recruiting profile. Max would put a perfect ending on a dominant four-year varsity career.
Then Max tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the season opener.
“I was really hurt,” Macen said, “because there wasn’t anything I was looking forward to more than balling out with my brother.”
Five years later, the brothers get a final chance to share the field on the college level as Max’s fifth-ranked USC Trojans visit Macen’s Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday at Mountain America Stadium.
The timing hasn’t always been ideal for the siblings. They missed each other in 2020 while Macen redshirted. Max sat out in 2021 because of his second torn ACL.
Looking back at the five greatest games in the USC-Arizona State football history
With USC and UCLA playing their final season in the Pac-12, The Times is revisiting the top five games in the history of each series. This week: USC versus Arizona State.
Oct. 19, 1996: No. 4 Arizona State 48, USC 35 (2OT)
Brad Otton’s shovel pass looked like a harmless incompletion, but Arizona State’s Courtney Jackson turned it into an 85-yard fumble recovery for a game-winning touchdown. In the first Division I-A regular season with overtime, Arizona State forced an extra period with a touchdown run by Terry Battle with 1:30 remaining in the fourth quarter.
After the teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime and Battle scored on ASU’s first possession of the second extra period, USC faced third-and-six from the ASU 22-yard line. As most players stopped when Otton’s underhand toss floated to the ground, Jackson scooped it up without hesitation.
The pass was ruled a fumble and Arizona State finished its season in the Rose Bowl after winning its second Pac-10 championship.
USC vs. Arizona State four things to watch: Trojans embrace ‘villain’ mode
Deafening cheers of a packed Coliseum crowd aren’t enough to satisfy Mason Cobb. The USC linebacker prefers the stunned silence of thousands of rival fans.
“Away games, you’re a villain,” Cobb said with a sly grin. “I love being the villain.”
After three dominant wins at the Coliseum pushed USC’s home winning streak to 10, the No. 5 Trojans are ready for their villain era as they begin a brutal road stretch. Saturday’s game at Arizona State is USC’s first of three road games in the next four weeks with No. 19 Colorado and No. 9 Notre Dame on the horizon.
Is No. 5 USC as strong as its record? Three good and three bad trends for the Trojans
There was no way Lincoln Riley would bite, even if the stats gave him a perfect reason to indulge.
“Do you think this team has the chance to be the best team you’ve ever coached?” a reporter asked this week.
Riley recoiled.
“This team has a chance to be a very good team,” said Riley, who is in second year leading USC and took three teams to the College Football Playoff in his first six seasons as a coach. “But we’re three games in. We’re one conference game in with a lot of things we haven’t done yet that we’re getting opportunities to do so. We’ll get our chance, just like we have every year. If we are [one of my best teams], then we’ll prove it here in the next couple months.”