The USC Trojans saw Caleb Williams play his worst game of the season but still survived an upset bid from Oregon State and college football media reacted big time.
From everything that we’d seen from the USC Trojans leading into Week 4 of the 2022 college football season, it was going to be Caleb Williams at the helm of Lincoln Riley’s offense that was going to guide them to victory in hopes that the defense didn’t give up just too many points. But weird things happen in Corvallis when Oregon State is trying to pull off an upset.
USC was not immune to that. Williams looked like he could barely start for a Power Five program, much less be a Heisman contender, from basically start to finish in the game. But meanwhile, the Trojans defense under Alex Grinch stepped up in the biggest way possible to force turnover after turnover.
After Oregon State took a late 14-10 lead, though, Williams and Travis Dye moved the ball downfield and the quarterback finally found his superstar receiver, Jordan Addison, to run into the end zone to go ahead.
And after one final interception to seal the game, the Trojans survived to move to 4-0.
USC survives Oregon State upset bid: College football media reacts
The late-night college football media crowd was collectively exhausted and impressed after the performance and a wild game.
I believe USC is now plus-14 turnover margin on the season and has yet to have a giveaway through four games. That’s how you go 4-0.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) September 25, 2022
#USC defense better get the best seats on the plane. That’s all I’m saying
— Chris Treviño (@ChrisNTrevino) September 25, 2022
That’s one hell of a win for # 7 USC over Oregon State. 17-14. Fight on. Major hat tip to the Beavers (they cover the +6.0 spread too btw)
— Angel Ghoul-ero 🧟♂️ (@angelguerrerooo) September 25, 2022
Ugly offensive showing for USC, but man that defense is opportunistic.
— Patrick Schmidt (@PatrickASchmidt) September 25, 2022
Can’t give the ball away like that either. USC thrives off turnovers. Hope to see them in the pac 12 championship
— Terron Ward (@MVPWard) September 25, 2022
USC getting the Pac-12’s only ever CFP Final win on their way out the door would be hilarious.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 25, 2022
Believe it or not the #USC defense won the game – Caleb Williams was awful until final drive after “bush push” – hits a TD pass to Addison . But did it when it counted.
— Connie Carberg (@ConnieScouts) September 25, 2022
Might be time for all of us to leave USC’s defense alone
— Ray Jr (@RaymondLucasJr) September 25, 2022
USC shouldn’t have won that. I said what I said. Oregon State is good and USC has work to do. FTFO.
— VANESSA 🌵🏎 (@TheVFCastro) September 25, 2022
Just about every USC team from the late Carroll era onward loses that game. This really does feel like the start of something.
— Mike Piellucci (@mikelikessports) September 25, 2022
In all honesty, you have to be impressed with this performance.
Anyone who thought that USC’s offense would struggle in this matchup surely had the Trojans losing in Corvallis. Instead, the defense showed it can step up its game just as much when needed, which is hugely positive for a team that has College Football Playoff aspirations.
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