Utah has had USC's number the last few seasons, and the Utes dialed it again on Saturday.
The No. 14-ranked Utes came to LA Memorial Coliseum and knocked off the No. 18-ranked Trojans 34-32 thanks to a 38-yard game-winning field goal at the death from Cole Becker.
USC trailed 28-14 at one point in the third quarter before using a 15-point fourth to spice things up. However, Bryson Barnes drove Utah down the field in its last possession to seal the deal, handing USC its second straight loss after Notre Dame beat the group 48-20 last week.
The loss also continued a worrying trend for quarterback Caleb Williams, widely considered the best prospect in the 2024 draft class should he declare -- he has yet to show up against a top team.
Get top local stories in Southern California delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC LA's News Headlines newsletter.
Prior to Saturday's loss to Utah, Williams against non-top-25 total defenses averaged a 70.3% completion rate and 317.2 yards per game while throwing 78 touchdowns to seven picks across 23 games. In five games against top-25 defenses, those dwindled to 51.4%, 172.0 and six touchdowns to six picks.
Against Utah, a team he is now 0-3 against, he completed 24 of 34 passes (70.5%) for 256 yards with no passing touchdowns or picks (he had an 11-yard rushing score). His opponent, the aforementioned Barnes, put up 235 yards on three touchdowns and one pick while completing 14 of 23 passes (60.8%).
There's an argument to be made about small sample sizes, but not shining when the lights have been the brightest can raise eyebrows.
NCAAF
Here's how social media reacted to Williams' recent performance and the USC loss under Lincoln Riley:
Williams and USC will look to right the ship on Saturday, Oct. 28 when they're on the road against unranked (3-4) Cal Berkeley.
