USC quarterback Caleb Williams did virtually all he could against Washington Saturday evening.
The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner was his usual excellent self in a back-and-forth tilt with the Huskies, completing 27 of 35 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns. He lost a key fumble in the first half, but repeatedly kept the Trojans in the game while the Huskies blowtorched his team’s porous defense.
However, it wasn’t enough, as Washington beat USC 52–42 to hand the Trojans their third loss of the season.
After the game, Williams was captured embracing his family, appearing to weep profusely in his mother’s arms.
Caleb Williams was emotional after USC's loss to Washington pic.twitter.com/6SzGP9Cn4h
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 5, 2023
Williams has endured a difficult 2023 on the field, despite a statistical line nearly indistinguishable from his ’22 campaign. USC, afflicted with one of the nation’s worst defenses, has fallen short of expectations in a season that began with conference and national aspirations. Things may yet get worse for the Trojans, who travel to white-hot Oregon for their next game on Nov. 11.
Despite this, Williams has continued to care deeply—a fact evident in victory and in defeat.