Caleb Williams helps USC run out the clock and escape with a win
No. 24 USC 50, Cal 49, end of game
Cal was offsides during the onside kick attempt.
USC got the ball at the Cal 38 with 58 seconds left.
Caleb Williams moved backward to burn time, losing 11 yards.
After a Cal timeout, Williams again moved backward to burn time and was dropped for a loss of sevenyards with 45 seconds left.
On third-and-28, Caleb rushed backward to the left to run enough time off the clock to essentially end the game.
The teams shook hands on the field as the final seconds rolled off the clock.
USC gives up touchdown but denies conversion to protect the lead
No. 24 USC 50, Cal 49, with 58 seconds left in fourth quarter
Cal started at its 21.
After an incomplete pass, Fernando Mendoza passed to Jeremiah Hunter for two yards and USC was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, adding to the sea penalties the Trojans have picked up so far this game.
On first down at the Cal 38, the Justin Williams-Thomas carried the ball for no gain.
There was a Cal player injured, stopping the clock at 2:58.
Mendoza passed to Hunter for what appeared to be a 10-yard gain, but the play was reviewed by officials with 2:32 left on the clock. It was ruled a nine-yard gain.
Cal was called for a false start. Mendoza passed to Hunter for a 21-yard gain. Williams-Thomas ran for 23 yards to the USC 14.
On first down, Williams-Thomas ran for one yard.
On second down, Mendoza tossed an incomplete pass.
On third down, Mendoza passed to Jaivian Thomas for a 13-yard touchdown.
Cal lined up to go for it on a two-point conversion and USC called timeout.
Mendoza’s pass attempt was knocked down and USC is now holding onto a one-point lead with 58 seconds left. Cal wanted a holding call on USC with Eric Gentry’s hands on the receiver, but the refs didn’t call it.
USC scores quickly and takes lead after defense picks up big stop
No. 24 USC 50, Cal 43, with 3:33 left in fourth quarter
Cal started at the USC 41.
On fourth-and-six the USC 37, Fernando Mendoza tossed an incomplete pass and turned the ball over on downs.
MarShawn Lynch then ran up the middle for 56 yards. Austin Jones rushed up the middle for the seven-yard touchdown.
Denis Lynch hit the extra point to give USC a lead.
Caleb Williams turns the ball over
No. 24 USC 43, Cal 43, with 5:35 left in fourth quarter
USC started at Cal’s 47.
Caleb Williams was sacked for a loss of 12 yards, fumbled and the ball was recovered by Cal.
The teams have now matched turnovers on back-to-back drives.
Cal fumbles and USC recovers with a chance to take a lead
No. 24 USC 43, Cal 43, with 5:40 left in fourth quarter
Cal started with the ball on its 35.
Fernando Mendoza passed for an 11-yard gain.
Ashton Stredick rushed for one yard to the Cal 45 and fumbled, with USC recovering the ball at the Golden Bears’ 47.
USC ties the game after special teams unit forces a turnover
No. 24 USC 43, Cal 43, with 6:11 left in fourth quarter
USC started on Cal’s 18.
Caleb Williams passed to Dorian Singer for no gain, then rushed for nine yards.
On third-and-one at the Cal 9, MarShawn Lloyd rushed up the middle for a nine-yard touchdown.
Denis Lynch hit the extra point to tie the game.
USC offense punts after one first down, but special teams gets the ball back
Cal 43, No. 24 USC 36, 7:30 left in fourth quarter
USC started on its 7-yard line after the punt.
Caleb Williams passed to Lake McRee for an 18-yard gain.
On first down at the USC 25, Williams’ next pass was incomplete.
Williams passed to McRee for two yards, bringing up third-and-8.
Williams pass intended for Zachariah Branch was a little high and he couldn’t pull it in.
Williams was disappointed USC had to punt, but the special teams unit came through for him, forcing a fumble and recovering the ball on the Cal punt return.
USC defense picks up a big stop
Cal 43, No. 24 USC 36, 9:09 left in fourth quarter
Cal started at its 25 after the touchback.
USC’s defense dropped a Cal runner for a three-yard loss before Fernando Mendoza completed passes for gains of eight and 12 yards.
Cal rushed for no gain before Mendoza tossed two incomplete passes.
The Golden Bears punted.
USC scores, trimming Cal’s lead
Cal 43, No. 24 USC 36, 9:09 left in fourth quarter
USC started on its 25 after the touchback.
Caleb Williams completed a 16-yard pass before connecting with MarShawn Lloyd, who broke some tackles during a 53-yard reception that moved the ball to the Cal 6.
Austin Jones ran for two yards to the Cal 4.
Lloyd ran up to but not past the goal line.
On third-and goal at the Cal 1, Williams kept the ball and plunged ahead for the touchdown.
A Cal player was injured, leaving time before Denis Lynch converted the extra point attempt.
Cal quickly scores and rebuilds its two-touchdown lead
Cal 43, No. 24 USC 29, 14:06 left in fourth quarter
On first down at the USC 26, Fernando Mendoza completed a pass to Jeremiah Hunter for a 25-yard gain and the Trojans were called for roughing the passer.
On first-and-goal at the USC 1, Jaydn Ott rushed for no gain.
On second down at the USC one, the Trojans were called for delay of game.
On second-and-goal at the 1/2 yard line, Mendoza ran for a one-yard touchdown. Cal then hit the extra point and extended its lead.
Cal is driving as third quarter ends
Cal 36, No. 24 USC 29, end of third quarter
Cal started on its 46 after the punt.
Fernando Mendoza completed passes for 21 yard and seven yard gains, moving the ball to the USC 33 before time expired in the third quarter.
USC punts again as Caleb Williams struggles to find receivers
Cal 36, No. 24 USC 29, 26 seconds left in the third quarter
USC started on its 10-yard line after the punt.
MarShawn Lloyd rushed for one yard before Caleb Williams tossed two incomplete passes and USC punted.
Everyone punts!
Cal 36, No. 24 USC 29, 1:06 left in the third quarter
Cal started on its 47 after the punt.
Jaydn Ott rushed for one yard, five yards and a loss of 11 deep in the Golden Bears territory, forcing another quick punt.
Fumble leads to quick USC punt
Cal 36, No. 24 USC 29, 3:13 left in the third quarter
USC started on its 25 after the touchback.
Austin Jones rushed for five yards.
On second-and-five, Caleb Williams had the ball deflected out of his hands while he was looking for a receiver and narrowly beat a Cal player to the ball. USC lost 23 yards on the play.
Williams tossed an incomplete pass and USC punted.
Cal scores eight points and reclaims the lead
Cal 36, No. 24 USC 29, 4:42 left in the third quarter
Cal started on its 25.
Fernando Mendoza passed for 11 yards. His next two passes were incomplete, but USC was called for pass interference on back-to-back plays, moving the ball to the Trojans’ 34-yard line.
Mendoza tossed two incomplete passes and one for a six-yard gain with no penalties called.
On fourth-and-four, Mendoza ran for 13 yards to the USC 15.
Isaiah Ifanse ran for two yards, five yards and five yards before Jaydn Ott ran for two. Mendoza ran to his right and narrowly cleared the pylon for an two-yard touchdown run.
Cal completed the two-point conversion attempt, with Mendoza running the ball in.
USC interception sets up Trojans’ touchdown
No. 24 USC 29, Cal 28, 8:12 left in the third quarter
Cal started at its 11 after the punt.
On first down, USC’s Calen Bullock broke up a Fernando Mendoza pass along the sideline.
On second-and-10, Mendoza’s pass was intercepted by Eric Gentry and Cal was called for holding.
USC got the ball at Cal’s 22-yard line and Caleb Williams immediately passed to Brenden Rice for a 22-yard touchdown.
USC lined up for another two-point conversion. While Williams was fighting for more time before passing to Dorian Singer in the end zone, the Trojans were called for holding. USC was moved back and went for the extra point instead. Denis Lynch missed, leaving USC with a one-point lead.
Penalties thwart USC offense’s drive
Cal 28, No. 24 USC 23, 8:29 left in the third quarter
Zachariah Branch returned Cal’s punt six yards to the Golden Bears’ 47.
On first down, Caleb Williams tossed a long incomplete pass.
On second-and-10, USC and Cal were called for offsetting penalites and the down was repeated.
Williams stepped through a collapsing pocket, but didn’t get far and was tackled for a loss of one.
On third-and-11, MarShawn Lloyd fought to stay on his feet for five yards.
On fourth-and-six at the Cal 43, refs called USC for false start.
On fourth-and-11, USC punted and the ball was caught at the Cal 11.
USC forces Cal to go three-and-out again
Cal 28, No. 24 USC 23, 10:15 left in the third quarter
Cal started on its 25 after the kickoff.
Jaydn Ott rushed for four yards, Fernando Mendoza passed for five yards and the Cal was called for a personal foul.
On third-and-16, on the Cal 19, Ott rushed for a four-yard loss and punted.
Mason Cobb was credited with the tackle for a loss, a big momentum boost for the USC defense that got its first back-to-back stops of the game.
USC scores but two-point conversion attempt fails
Cal 28, No. 24 USC 23, 11:59 left in the third quarter
USC starts on the Cal 45 after the defense forced a turnover on downs.
MarShawn Lloyd rushed for four yards before Caleb Williams passed to Kyron Hudson for 33 yards.
On first down at the Cal 8, Lloyd ran for two yards and then Williams completed a six-yard touchdown run.
The Trojans’ two-point conversion attempt failed, with Williams’ pass to Dorian Singer falling incomplete.
USC defense opens third quarter with a stop
Cal 28, No. 24 USC 17, 13:09 left in the third quarter
Cal started the third quarter on its 25 following a touchback.
Fernando Mendoza’s first pass was incomplete, but USC was called for pass interference.
Mendoza passed no gain, Jaydn Ott rushed for five yards and Mendoza rushed for four, moving the ball to the Cal 41.
On fourth-and-one, USC’s defense got a big stop after struggling to tackle Cal players for most of the first half.
Denis Lynch missed field goal on bonus second quarter play
Cal 28, No. 24 USC 17, really the end of the second quarter
After the refs accidentally called halftime early, the teams returned from the break to play the final second of the second quarter.
Denis Lynch lined up to take a 33-yard field goal amid complaints from Cal coach Justin Wilcox. Cal took a timeout to ice the kicker. Lynch practiced the kick from the right hash mark during second-half warm ups.
Lynch then missed the field goal as time expired in the second quarter.
Onto the third quarter.
Pac-12 refs say it isn’t halftime after all
Lincoln Riley was the only one who didn’t leave the sideline after refs initially said time expired in the first half.
The Cal band was on the field by the time officials completed a review and announced there was actually one second left in the second quarter.
USC will get a play at the Cal 16-yard line as we start the second half rather than opening with a traditional kickoff since halftime was well under way before the call was made.
Cal’s coach was unhappy about the decision, while Riley got the review he wanted.
The teams are now warming up.
USC can’t score on final drive of second quarter before time expires
Cal 28, No. 24 USC 17, end of second quarter
USC started on its 34.
Austin Jones rushed for four yards.
After an incomplete pass, Caleb Williams passed to Kyron Hudson for a six-yard gain and a first down.
Williams tossed two incomplete passes before connecting with Tahj Washington for a gain of 12 yards, moving the ball to the Cal 44.
Jones rushed for four yard sand Williams rushed for five.
On third-and-one, MarShawn Lloyd plowed ahead for an apparent first down, but USC was called for holding.
On third-and-11, Williams passed slightly behind his receiver, the ball was deflected by a Cal player and it fell incomplete.
On fourth-and-11 with 12 seconds left in the quarter, Cal called timeout.
Williams passed to Lake McRee for a 29-yard gain, but time expired and USC goes to the locker room trailing.
USC defense finally gets a stop
Cal 28, No. 24 USC 17, 2:14 left in the second quarter
Cal started on its 26.
Fernando Mendoza tossed an incomplete pass and rushed for two yards, suggesting USC’s defense might get its first stop since a Cal fumble early in the first quarter.
But Mendoza then passed for a 16-yard gain.
Jayden Ott rushed for two yards, Mendoza passed for 11 and Ott ran for seven.
Mendoza then completed a 17-yard pass that moved the ball to the USC 17, but was the Golden Bears were called for unsportsmanlike conduct.
On first-and-10 at the USC 34, Ott rushed for a loss of one yard before Mendoza completed a five-yard pass.
On third-and-six, Isaiah Ifanse ran for a loss of our yards.
On fourth-and-10, at the USC 34, Mendoza was under pressure and his sideline pass sailed out of bounds.
It was USC’s first stop of the game other than a Cal ball drop the Trojans recovered in the first quarter.
Another USC drive stalls
Cal 28, No. 24 USC 17, 6:20 left in the second quarter
USC started on its 25-yard line.
Caleb Williams passed to Tahj Washington for a nine-yard gain.
MarShawn Lloyd rushed for a loss of one yard before running up the middle for eight yards to the USC 41.
On first down, Lloyd ran for three yards.
On second-and-seven, Williams faked a handoff and tossed a pass under pressure that was deflected before falling incomplete.
On third-and-seven, an unblocked defender forced Williams to side-step a sack and quickly throw a long incomplete pass.
USC punted and Cal returned the ball to its 26.
USC defense surrenders during another quick Cal scoring drive
Cal 28, No. 24 USC 17, 8:58 left in the second quarter
Cal starts on the 50-yard line after a short punt.
Fernando Mendoza’s first pass was incomplete, but USC was called for pass interference.
On first down at the USC 35, Jaydn Ott rushed for four yards.
Mendoza then pass dot Jack Endries for a 14-yard gain to the USC 17.
Mendoza then capped the drive by passing to Trond Grizzell for a 17-yard touchdown.
Cal hit the extra point. The Golden Bears are pummeling the Trojans’ defense, putting more pressure on the USC defense to stay on the field and slow the bleeding.
USC goes three-and-out
Cal 21, No. 24 USC 17, 10:04 left in the second quarter
Zachariah Branch returns the kickoff five yards to the USC 10.
Austin Jones rushed for one yard, then rushed for five yards before Caleb Williams tossed an incomplete pass and USC quickly punted.
The pressure will be on USC’s defense to pick up a stop.
Cal shreds the USC defense again
Cal 21, No. 24 USC 17, 11:55 left in the second quarter
Cal returned USC’s punt to its 34.
Fernando Mendoza passed to Trond Grizzell for 26 yards on first down, moving the ball to the USC 40.
Mendoza tossed an incomplete pass and Jaydn Ott rushed up the middle for four yards.
After a two-yard pass, Mendoza kep the ball on third-and-six for a 12-yard gain.
On first down at the USC 22, Mendoza rushed for another 16 yards.
Ott rushed for two yards to the USC 4 and then closed the quick drive with a four-yard touchdown run. With the extra point, Cal took a 21-17 lead.
USC’s defense continues to slow Cal down.
USC punts
No. 24 USC 17, Cal 14, 14:21 left in the second quarter
On second-and-eight, Caleb Williams tossed a spiral to Zachariah Branch for a 26-yard gain. Cal was called for holding on the play.
On first down at the USC 39, Williams’ pass down field was incomplete. USC was called for a penalty that was declined.
Williams then tossed three consecutive incomplete passes and the Trojans punted.
USC is deep in its territory as first quarter ends
No. 24 USC 17, Cal 14, end of first quarter
Zachariah Branch returned the Cal kickoff one yard to the USC 11.
MarShawn Lloyd rushed for two yards before time expired in the first quarter.
USC leads, but its offense has had to work harder than Cal’s to score. The Trojans will need to keep scoring on every possession if the defense can’t wrap up the Godlen Bears at the line of scrimmage.
Cal gashes USC defense again
No. 24 USC 17, Cal 14, 12 seconds left in the first quarter
USC’s kickoff was not returned and Cal started on its 25.
Jaydn Ott carried some USC defenders as he ran up the middle for five yards.
Fernando Mendoza pass up the middle to Jack Endries for a nine-yard gain, moving the ball to the Cal 39.
Ott then split the middle of the defense before veering to the led sideline for a 61-yard touchdown. Multiple USC players were in position to tackle him early in the run, but they didn’t wrap up him and he found a lot of space after clearing five the pack at the line of scrimmage.
Cal hit the extra point and seemed to require little effort countering USC’s touchdown.
USC counters with quick score
No. 24 USC 17, Cal 7, 1:02 left in the first quarter
Zachariah Branch returned the Cal kickoff 16 yards to the USC 20.
On first down, MarShawn Lloyd ran for four yards.
On second down, Caleb Williams passed to Tahj Washington for a gain of 56 yards, moving the ball to the Cal 20.
Lloyd ran for 11 yards to the Cal 9.
On first down, Lloyd rushed for one yard. Williams then passed to Kyron Hudson for three yards.
On third-and-goal at the Cal 6, Williams passed to Austin Jones for a six-yard touchdown.
Denis Lynch hit the extra point. The Trojans have scored on every possession so far this game.
Cal efficiently marches up field and scores
No. 24 USC 10, Cal 7, 3:55 left in the first quarter
USC kicked the ball off through the end zone for no return.
Cal started on its 25-yard line.
On first down, Fernando Mendoza passed to Jeremiah Hunter for a 10-yard gain.
Jaydn Ott carried the ball twice for gains of seven and six yards, moving the ball to the Cal 48.
On first down, Mendoza tossed an incomplete pass and Cal was then called for a false start.
On second-and-15, Mendoza passed Trond Grizzell for a 14-yard gain to the USC 43.
And Ott then split the middle of the defense, running for a 43-yard touchdown.
Cal hit the extra point and efficiently trimmed USC’s lead. The Golden Bears’ offense has only been slowed by its unforced fumble and a false start penalty, marking another rough start for the USC defense.
USC defense forces turnover that sets up a touchdown
No. 24 USC 10, Cal 0, 5:23 left in the first quarter
USC kicked the ball out of bounds and Cal started on its 35-yard line.
After Jaydn Ott rushed for nine yards, the Bears fumbled a handoff and USC’s Jarrett Kingston pounced on it immediately.
USC started the ensuing drive on Cal’s 42-yard line.
Caleb Williams passed to Tahj Washington for 25 yards and then Williams rushed for 11 yards, moving the ball to the Cal 6.
USC was called for a false start and lost five yards. Williams then passed to Austin Jones for an eight-yard gain.
On second-and-three, MarShawn Lynch rushed for one yard and then got the ball one more time for a two-yard touchdown.
Denis Lynch hit the extra point to extend the USC lead.
USC hits a field goal to cap opening drive
No. 24 USC 3, Cal 0, 8:24 remaining in first quarter
USC received the opening kickoff and did not return, starting the drive on its 25-yard line.
Caleb Williams scrambled for six yards on first down. He then tossed an incomplete pass. On third-and-four, he had time in the pocket before passing to Dorian Singer for a nine-yard gain.
After a pass for two gain and two Austin Jones rushes for gains of nine total yards, USC faced fourth-and-one. Williams kept the ball for a two-yard gain and a first down at the Cal 49.
Williams then pass to Lake McRee for a 22-yard gain that moved the ball to the Cal 27.
MarShawn Lloyd, who saw a shorter leash after a fumble last week, rushed for five yards on first down. Williams passed to Brenden Rice for an 11-yard gain, moving the ball to the Cal 11.
Williams passed to Lloyd for a three-yard gain.
On second-and-seven, Williams faked a handoff, ran to his left, evaded one Cal tackler and then was forced out after a two-yard gain.
On third-and-five, Williams weaved around a collapsing pocket and stepped in to throw a pass toward a well covered player that hit the turf.
Denis Lynch hit a 23-yard field goal to give USC a lead.
And we’re off ...
USC received the opening kickoff and did not return it. The game is under way.
Lincoln Riley is shaking off pneumonia but still sure USC can push for Pac-12 title
The symptoms started setting in early last week, but at the time, Lincoln Riley tried to ignore them. In his more than 20 years coaching, he’d never missed so much as a practice. Considering how critical the week was to USC’s season, the coach was determined to push through. He rode a surge of adrenaline all the way into Saturday’s gut-wrenching loss to Utah.
Then, Riley said, “Sunday didn’t go too well.”
While his team was left reeling from its second straight loss, Riley was left to deal with the effects of pneumonia. The coach was forced to stay home sick Monday and Tuesday while his assistants filled in, an absence that Riley deemed “excruciating.” In hindsight, he wondered if he should’ve taken the sickness more seriously the week before; though, deep down, he knew he’d probably do the same thing again.
Max Williams out for second consecutive game
Safety Max Williams will miss a second consecutive game with a leg injury as the redshirt senior did not participate in warmups at California Memorial Stadium. Williams suffered the injury early against Notre Dame, but his absence has allowed redshirt freshman Zion Branch to flourish.
Branch, the older brother of star receiver/returner Zachariah Branch, is coming off consecutive career highs in tackles with four stops against the Fighting Irish and six last week against Utah. Branch and Bryson Shaw are up for the starting role in Williams’ place.
Cornerback Jacobe Covington will miss his third game with an undisclosed injury.
USC vs. Cal five greatest games: Golden Bears and Trojans have delivered thrillers
With USC playing in its final season in the Pac-12, The Times is revisiting the top five games in the history of each conference series. This week: USC versus California.
Oct. 20, 1951: No. 11 USC 21, No. 1 Cal 14
Frank Gifford powered USC to an upset over top-ranked Cal by running for a 69-yard touchdown, throwing for another score and leading the game-winning drive in the final minutes. The future Pro Football Hall of Famer led USC back from a 14-0 halftime deficit to snap Cal’s 38-game regular-season winning streak. Gifford was named an All-American that season before being drafted by the New York Giants.
‘You keep fighting.’ Caleb Williams says USC football isn’t letting up after losses
USC players crowded the sideline, craning their necks to see the drive that could decide the Trojans’ playoff fate. Some stood on top of the bench as Utah drove 54 yards into field goal range. Others climbed on top of crates used to transfer equipment to see the final play.
Caleb Williams was the only one sitting as Utah’s game-winning field goal went through the uprights.
Four days after the heartbreaking loss, Williams said he was trying to stay composed during the frantic final moments. The Heisman winner’s brand of stoic leadership will be put to the test as the No. 24 Trojans (6-2, 4-1 Pac-12) try to salvage conference championship hopes, their once-promising season having taken a turn for the worse.
USC’s Jamil Muhammad dedicated his life to being a QB. Now he’s taking them down
Jamil Muhammad knew he was a quarterback as soon as any kid could grasp such a thing. He was 5 years old, the youngest at the time in a football-obsessed family. Each of his three older brothers — Deandre, Marquez and Terrance — played the game — two of the three went on to play college ball — but it was Terrance, the only quarterback of the three, who Jamil watched with a particular sense of awe.
As quarterback, he was the one everyone else relied on, the engine that made the offense go. And boy could Terrance go. A dual threat at Sparkman High outside of Huntsville, Ala., he could make something out of nothing. And watching his brother, young Jamil became convinced he was destined for something similar. He felt the same as he grew up devouring performances from Cam Newton, Lamar Jackson, Johnny Manziel, soaking in their every nuance. It was like the position was a part of his DNA.
USC vs. Cal four things to watch: Trojans still in Pac-12 title hunt
The vibes, as the kids say, were off.
Even when USC was undefeated, putting up record-breaking numbers on offense behind a quarterback still favored to win his second Heisman, nothing felt good enough. Coach Lincoln Riley pushed his team to “play on our own terms,” but his attempts to ignore and isolate from outside criticism grew futile. Expectations crept in. Expectations wore the Trojans down. Expectations felt bigger than the wins USC piled up en route to a 6-0 record.
“We let some of the appreciation and fun out of winning get away there in the middle,” Riley said this week. “I’ve seen that happen before, especially this year, especially susceptible to it, and high-level programs like this.”