The USC Trojans handled the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday night. It wasn’t pretty in terms of a complete game. The Trojans showed several weaknesses, as one might readily expect after a draining, taxing game against Oregon State the week before.
The unquestionably good news is that Caleb Williams got back in the saddle and dazzled with his improvisational playmaking skills. USC was able to throw the ball for first downs, big plays, and another 40-plus-point performance. That’s how it should be.
The bad news was that the defense’s containment and its ability to set the edge were not up to par, certainly not in the first half. Arizona State entered the second half trailing by only four points. At least the Trojans responded well in the second half and put the game to bed midway through the fourth quarter.
Here’s what USC coaches and players had to say about the win, which moves the Trojans to 5-0 in 2022: