USC Beats San Jose State Behind Four Touchdown Passes From Caleb Williams

Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams picked up right where he left off, completing 18 of 25 passes for 278 yards and four touchdowns as sixth ranked USC beat San Jose State 56-28 in one of the so called Week 0 college football early openers on August 26th in Los Angeles. Williams spread it around, with four different wide receivers catching touchdown passes.

One of those wide receivers who caught a touchdown pass was freshman Zachariah Branch. Branch also returned a third quarter kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. The Trojans also got it done on the ground, with 161 rushing yards and three touchdowns, two of which were by senior Austin Jones. San Jose State quarterback Chevan Cordeiro completed 21 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns, all of which were caught by Nick Nash. The Spartans also rushed for 198 yards, with Quali Conley accounting for 108 of those.

Last season, USC had legit College Football Playoff hopes, with a one point loss at Utah as the sole blemish on its regular season schedule. But USC faced Utah again in the Pac-12 championship game, and lost 47-24, ending its CFB Playoff hopes. Instead, the Trojans went to the Cotton Bowl to face Tulane. USC had a 15 point lead with 4:30 to go in the game, but the Green Wave pulled off a 46-45 upset after scoring 16 points in 3:59.

USC will not face a team currently in the Top 25 until its seventh game on October 14th, when they will play at #13 Notre Dame. (The Fighting Irish also won a Week 0 game, beating Navy 42-3 in Dublin, Ireland). They will then host #14 Utah on October 21st. After playing at California on October 28th, the Trojans will host #10 Washington on November 4th before visiting #15 Oregon on November 11th.