Caleb Williams Runs, Passes No. 6 USC Past Arizona St. 42–25

Running back Travis Dye (26) of the USC Trojans goes airborne as he scores a touchdown against Kyle Soelle (34) of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, on Oct. 1, 2022. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES—Caleb Williams passed for 348 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another score, keeping No. 6 Southern California unbeaten in coach Lincoln Riley’s first season with a 42–25 victory over Arizona State on Oct. 1.

Mario Williams, Malcolm Epps and Kyron Hudson caught TD passes from Caleb Williams, who returned to elite form after struggling through much of the Trojans’ nail-biting 17–14 win at Oregon State last weekend.

Travis Dye also rushed for 62 yards and two second-half touchdowns for USC (5–0, 3–0 Pac-12).

Caleb Williams committed USC’s first turnover of the season with an end-zone interception, but the Oklahoma transfer otherwise marched the Trojans up and down the field against Arizona State for 485 total yards while demonstrating his elusiveness, accuracy and playmaking acumen.

Emory Jones passed for 243 yards and Xazavian Valladay rushed for two touchdowns for the Sun Devils (1–4, 0–2), who gave an encouraging effort in their second game under interim head coach Shaun Aguano after the firing of Herm Edwards.

Valladay and Jones scored early TDs to keep the game close for nearly three quarters, but Arizona State’s offense stalled on three straight drives while USC pulled away. The Sun Devils had minus-6 yards rushing in the second half.

Jordan Addison had eight catches for 105 yards for the Trojans, who are off to their first 5–0 start since 2020—but their first in a full season since 2006, near the height of the Pete Carroll era. USC is also 3–0 under Riley at the Coliseum, where another lively crowd turned up to see the Trojans’ rebirth.

USC’s first three drives all ended in touchdowns, with Caleb Williams sneaking in for the first score. The quarterback also showed off his elusiveness while evading several near-sacks, and his across-the-body scoring pass to Mario Williams was an exceptional play.

But Arizona State was nearly as effective on offense, making three straight scoring drives longer than 50 yards to stay within 21–17 at halftime.

Jones went 9 of 11 for 117 yards, while Valladay rushed for 57 yards and made a 29-yard TD reception.

USC’s defense again struggled to get important stops, continuing a theme for a unit that didn’t get the massive influx of elite transfer talent received by the offense.

The Trojans also committed six penalties in the first half, including an offensive holding call that erased an 82-yard TD catch by Mario Williams.

Mario Williams (4) of the USC Trojans catches a touchdown pass from Caleb Williams (13) against Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half of the game at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, on Oct. 1, 2022. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Hudson scored his first career touchdown with 10:54 to play. Valladay replied with 6:16 left, but Addison recovered an onside kick before Dye put it away with several gritty runs leading up to his second TD with 3:46 to play.

First Blemish

Caleb Williams committed USC’s first turnover of the season on the opening drive of the second half, underthrowing Addison in the end zone for an interception by Timarcus Davis. The Trojans had been the only team left in the FBS without a turnover.

The Takeaway

Arizona St.: The Sun Devils might be in transition, but they clearly don’t intend to write off the rest of this season, as they showed with a spirited effort against a Top-10 opponent.

Jones and Valladay are big-time playmakers who could make ASU dangerous in the second half of the season.

USC: Caleb Williams is the engine driving the Trojans’ powerhouse offense, and he was in elite, feisty form. If he stays healthy, USC has the potential and talent to outscore just about anybody.

Quarterback Caleb Williams (13) of the USC Trojans rushes out of the pocket and gains a first down B.J. Green II (35) of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the second half at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, on Oct. 1, 2022. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The defense? It still isn’t at the offense’s level, but that won’t matter in some games.

Up Next

Arizona St.: Hosts Washington on Saturday.

USC: Hosts Washington State on Saturday.

By Greg Beacham