It’s a battle of the Heisman winner versus the Heisman hopeful this weekend at the Coliseum.
On Saturday, USC takes on Pac-12 rival Washington in what could be a potential 2023 versus 2024 Heisman matchup between USC’s junior quarterback Caleb Williams and UW’s senior quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
No. 24 USC had its preseason hopes set on a College Football Playoff appearance, but it hasn’t played its best football the last four weeks, which could be a problem against the powerhouse that is Washington.
The Trojans started out the season with a commanding 5-0 record, averaging more than 53 points per game and holding its first four opponents to 28 or less. In its sixth through ninth games, however, USC has gone 2-2, with those two wins coming by just three combined points.
Washington comes into the game ranked No. 5 nationally, but its previous two performances have looked anything but top-five worthy. In fact, Washington barely eked out a 42-33 win at Stanford on Oct. 28. Against Arizona State on Oct. 21, the Huskies, who have had one of the most high-octane offenses in the country, only managed 15 points.
Needless to say, the 8-0 Huskies may be looking a bit more human, and therefore beatable, as a team coming into Saturday.
But, again, Penix is still performing like a top Heisman candidate nonetheless. He’s averaging 368 pass yards per game, has thrown 24 touchdowns and has completed 69% of his passes. Penix has also thrown at least four touchdown passes in five of Washington’s eight games this season.
As for USC, it’s going to take a Heisman performance from its star quarterback if the Trojans want to stay in the win column. Williams is averaging 294 pass yards per game, has thrown 25 touchdowns and has completed 68% of his passes, putting him in many top-10 lists to repeat as Heisman.
The burden, however, should not just be on Williams. It also falls on the nearly abysmal USC defense, which currently allows 174 rush yards and nearly 250 yards in the air per game.
Unfortunately for USC, most of Washington’s potency on offense comes from its passing game, as two Huskies average more than 100 yards receiving per game. Both of those receivers, junior Rome Odunze and sophomore Ja’Lynn Polk, have seven receiving touchdowns apiece.
As for USC, its receivers will need to make some big plays for long yardage to stay in the game.
To win, it’s likely that Williams’ favorite target, Brenden Rice will need to add a couple more touchdowns to the nine he currently has. As for the run game, Washington has allowed an average of 135 rush yards per game, so if redshirt junior MarShawn Lloyd can have a big performance for the Trojans once again, USC has a shot.
USC takes on Washington Saturday at the Coliseum at 4:30 p.m.