The USC Trojans entered the Cotton Bowl game against Tulane without their best wide receiver (Jordan Addison) and star running back (Travis Dye).
Somebody needed to step up, and it turned out to be former Colorado Buffaloes WR Brenden Rice.
Rice made a ton of noise in the first half with a couple of massive grabs, and social media reacted after seeing Rice excel with Caleb Williams throwing some spectacular passes against the Green Wave defense.
Rice had to compete all year with Mario Williams, Addison, Tahj Washington, and Kyle Ford, but he emerged on the big stage and went viral for one eye-popping grab.
Yet, Alex Grinch’s atrocious performance as USC’s defensive coordinator meant that Rice’s outstanding display was all for naught. It’s just one reason why USC has to rethink what it does on the defensive side of the ball, and why Lincoln Riley’s loyalty to Grinch can’t — and shouldn’t — be assumed at this point: