USC Trojans Live Blog – SC Takes On Colorado In Boulder

Updated:

The 8th-ranked USC Trojans are facing their toughest competition of the season today as they take on the Colorado Buffaloes in Boulder. We are at Folsom Field with all the updates for this game. Follow our USC Trojans Live Blog below!

For more USC content head here.

Go here for the USC Trojans Depth Chart.

USC marched down the field on their opening drive which resulted in a 27-yard touchdown run from Marshawn Lloyd.

The defense started the game great forcing a 3 and out. In Colorado’s second drive, two 3rd down penalties kept the Buffaloes drive alive. The defense did shore up just outside of the red zone and forced Colorado to attempt a field goal, which they missed.

In the ensuing drive, on 3rd and 6, Caleb Williams danced around the pocket for what felt like an eternity, and eventually found Tajh Washington in the intermediate soft zone. Tahj did the rest and took it 71 yards for a house call.

SC up 14-0 with 2:30 left in the 1st quarter.

On Colorado’s next drive, facing a 3rd and 5, Shedeur Sanders faced pressure, forcing him to throw an INT to Christian Rolland-Wallace. SC starts with the ball on the Colorado 22-yard line and is driving.

Caleb Williams and the USC offense are making it look easy. Three plays resulted in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Williams to Dorian Singer. Williams is now 9-12 for 155 yards and two touchdowns.

Colorado answers with a nice drive of their own. SC gave them way too much on the ground and some easy connections for Sanders. The drive ended with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Sanders to Joe Horn Jr. SC defense looked a little remnant of last week, as they gave Colorado pretty much whatever they wanted. They will need to tighten up on the next series if they want to get the momentum back. This will be a big statement drive for the offense to push the lead back to 21.

USC moved the ball well on that drive, mostly on the ground with Marshawn Lloyd. He had runs of 12 and 18 yards. After crossing mid-field, Caleb took a BIG shot and a loss of 8 yards. It was a miracle he was even able to hang to the ball as he never saw the blitzer coming. SC punted after a 3rd down run came up short.

A lot happened very quickly here in Boulder. The defense responded with a forced 3 and out. The fourth down punt was blocked, giving SC the ball on the Colorado 23-yard line. On the second play, Caleb Williams found Mario Williams on a seam route resulting in a touchdown. The snap was fumbled on the XT point attempt.

SC leads 27-7 with 6:17 left in the 2nd quarter.

USC offense marches down the field, 73 yards in 2 min and 23 seconds. Drives ends with a 13-yard touchdown pitch and catch from Caleb Williams to Brenden Rice.

Caleb Williams is now up to 248 yards passing and 4 touchdowns.

On Colorado’s ensuing drive, the Buffs move methodically down the field. With 28 seconds left in the half, Shedeur Sanders scrambled up the middle for a 25-yard touchdown run.

At the half, USC leads Colorado 34-14.

Great response from the USC defense out of the half. Get their first sack of the game courtesy of Jamil Muhammad. Solomon Byrd had great initial pressure from the edge, and Muhammad cleaned it up.

USC’s offense gets cooking again. They drive the field in 7 plays and cap it off with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Williams to Brenden Rice. USC now has 405 yards of total offense, and Caleb Williams is up to 5 touchdowns on the day. Marshawn Lloyd has quietly put together a nice afternoon with 11 carries for 78 yards and the game-opening touchdown.

Colorado responds with a scoring drive of their own. The drive started with a harmless short throw on the comeback route that turned into a 65-yard yard gain. The defense has looked improved overall, but unfortunately, there are still moments of missed tackles and giving up big explosive plays. Colorado was able to punch it in in a goal-to-go situation and cut the lead to 41-21.

SC responds with a scoring drive of their own. At the moment, Caleb Williams has as many incompletions as he does touchdowns, 6. USC pushes their lead up to 48-21.

Giving up big plays rears its ugly head again. Shedeur Sanders completes a 44-yard pass to Omarion Miller, and then a 21-yard touchdown pass on the next play. This USC defense has played extremely inconsistent. There are possessions where they look dominant, and then others where it is the same story as last year.

After the touchdown, SC was looking to gain some momentum back, but unfortunately, the opposite happened. Caleb Williams scrambled to his right, and heaved one deep to a streaking Mario Williams. He wasn’t able to get enough on it, and the pass was intercepted. It was Caleb Williams’ first interception thrown of the season.

Colorado is able to capitalize. On 4th and 5, Sanders finds Miller in the end zone for a touchdown. Sanders now has 273 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. Colorado isn’t going away, and the SC defense is letting them hang around.

After the turnover on downs, SC is able to move the ball 22 yards, but come up empty. Caleb Williams gets sacked on 3rd down and Denis Lynch misses the field goal attempt.

Colorado with an impressive drive to make it a one-score game. This USC defense has really fallen flat in the 2nd half. Colorado has been able to do pretty much whatever they have wanted in the 2nd half.

Colorado attempted an onside kick that was easily recovered by USC. It was close, way closer than it should have been, but USC is able to leave Boulder 5-0. We will have plenty to talk about on the Salute To Troy podcast after this one.