No.6 USC routs Stanford to improve to 3-0

September 9, 2023

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 09 STANFORD at USC — LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: USC Trojans running back Austin Jones (6) punches the ball in for a touchdown during a college football game between the Stanford Cardinals and the USC Trojans on September 09, 2023, at United Airlines Field at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)

Los Angeles, Ca - USC and Stanford faced off for the last time as PAC-12 conference opponents. Caleb Williams threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns while running for another touchdown in the first half of a 56-10 rout of Stanford on Saturday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Freshman wide receiver Zachariah Branch returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown. MarShawn Lloyd and Austin Jones added rushing touchdowns. Williams has 897 yards passing and 12 touchdowns in eight quarters of football.

“All three sides of the ball just surged and got the momentum and kept,” USC head coach Lincoln Riley said. “It’s fun to see the team really playing there at a high level together for a sustained period.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 09: USC Trojans running back MarShawn Lloyd (0) celebrates with teammates after a touchdown run during a college football game between the Stanford Cardinals and the USC Trojans on September 09, 2023, at United Airlines Field at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)

Williams gives USC a 7-0 lead on its opening drive when he runs it for a 21-yard touchdown. It looked like Williams was going to step out of bounds at the 5-yard line but he muscled his way into the end zone for the score.

On Stanford’s ensuing drive, Max Williams comes up with the interception and almost scores. USC running back MarShawn Lloyd scores from five yards out to give USC a 14-0 lead with 9:05 left in the first quarter.

USC extended the lead 21-0 at the end for the first quarter on Austin Jones’ 1-yard touchdown run.

LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 09: USC Trojans running back Austin Jones (6) runs the ball for a gain during a college football game between the Stanford Cardinals and the USC Trojans on September 09, 2023, at United Airlines Field at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)

Freshman wide receiver Zachariah Branch continues to dazzle as he took the ensuing punt return 75 yards for the score. USC took a 28-0 lead in the second quarter.

Dorian Singer scored a 19-yard touchdown and Brenden Rice hauled in a 75-yard touchdown to give the Trojans a 35-0 lead in the second quarter. Stanford got on the board with a 38-yard field goal.

USC took a 49-3 lead in the second quarter when Williams hit Brenden Rice in stride for a 75-yard touchdown.

LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 09: USC Trojans wide receiver Brenden Rice (2) catches the ball for a touchdown during a college football game between the Stanford Cardinals and the USC Trojans on September 09, 2023, at United Airlines Field at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)

“Just go catch the ball. Don’t fall, and you’re going to score,” Williams told Rice before the play. “We practiced it all week and I saw him in a look that we kind of liked.”

USC’s backup quarterback played the entire second half and finished 11-for-15 with 112 yards passing while scoring a rushing touchdown. USC gets a bye next weekend but will be back in action Sept. 23 when they go on the road to take on Arizona State.