USC avoids upset vs. Oregon State after Caleb Williams connects with Jordan Addison for game-winning TD

Oregon State pushed No. 7 USC to the brink of an upset on Saturday evening earlier than the Trojans survived for a 17-14 victory because of a late landing from a largely ineffective offense. After connecting simply twice for 21 yards over the span of 58 minutes, quarterback Caleb Williams discovered Jordan Addison for a 21-yard rating down the appropriate sideline with 1:13 remaining. The Trojans protection, which got here up large all evening, then produced a game-clinching interception — the fourth of the night —  as Max Williams picked off Chance Nolan with 35 seconds remaining.

The landing connection between Williams and Addison was a uncommon second of brilliance in an in any other case irritating evening for the Trojans offense. Williams completed simply 16 of 36 passing for 180 yards and was held with no landing till his go-ahead toss to Addison, who completed with simply 42 yards on receiving on three receptions.

USC began the evening with a turnover on downs, a missed area objective and a punt earlier than lastly getting on the scoreboard with a 42-yarder from Denis Lynch with 5:38 left within the first half. It wasn’t till the fourth quarter that the Trojans lastly discovered the tip zone, when Travis Dye surged in from 7 yards out to make it 10-7 with 14:18 remaining.

The Trojans averaged 50.7 factors per recreation of their first three wins towards Rice, Stanford and Fresno State; Oregon State equally entered averaging 45.7 factors. Protection gained the day, nonetheless, as USC’s 4 turnovers provides the Trojans an astonishing 14-0 turnover edge on its opponents to date this season.

Jam Griffin scored from 18 yards out with 4:41 remaining to provide the Beavers a 14-10 lead. Then, with its again towards the wall, the Trojans delivered their response to enhance to 4-0 in coach Lincoln Riley’s first season.