I'm not surprised Utah won but the fact that they dominated was surprising. Shows how much USC was dependent on Williams being special. When he wasn't anymore, they couldn't do anything.
Utah- USC
- Thread starter The Spin Meister
- Start date
The hype train for last nights game was deplorable. Its showcases everything wrong about college football, which is everyone tries to predetermine outcomes until they don't manifest.
Caleb Williams was God in the pregame and through the first quarter to anyone who had a mouthpiece and USC is one team nobody wants in the playoff....Except they aren't....and weren't.
They were a one trick pony in a mediocre conference, with basically no defense that won 4 games the year prior. But because they were USC they were getting so much latitude with anyone and everyone about what and who they were.
Please spare me with "oh WIlliams got hurt".....Williams got hurt because his team isn't that good, which makes him have to do more, which leads to more injury opportunity due to "overuse". Sean Clifford didn't get hurt this year because his team was better which means he didn't have to do as much, in fact he had 35% less rushing attempts than his previous seasons high water mark. 35% less of anything is significant and means a lot for health, stamina and longevity, among other things.
Caleb Williams was God in the pregame and through the first quarter to anyone who had a mouthpiece and USC is one team nobody wants in the playoff....Except they aren't....and weren't.
They were a one trick pony in a mediocre conference, with basically no defense that won 4 games the year prior. But because they were USC they were getting so much latitude with anyone and everyone about what and who they were.
Please spare me with "oh WIlliams got hurt".....Williams got hurt because his team isn't that good, which makes him have to do more, which leads to more injury opportunity due to "overuse". Sean Clifford didn't get hurt this year because his team was better which means he didn't have to do as much, in fact he had 35% less rushing attempts than his previous seasons high water mark. 35% less of anything is significant and means a lot for health, stamina and longevity, among other things.
Only contention would be saying the Pac 12 was mediocre...I think they have like 6 top 25 teams -- including Washington (who had a surprisingly good yr) and Oregon St who was very good. I actually think it was a better year for the Pac than usual.
I agree however they are are still the 3rd best conference at best which puts them squarely in the middle of the 5 power conferences, which is average or mediocre by definition.
I think the PAC12 had more good teams this year because they had no great teams and several very, very bad teams that were automatic wins. Colorado might be the worst power5 team in all of football.
Just like the big 10 had teams that were nearly as good as some of the ranked PAC12 teams but with 1 or 2 more losses because there were 3 big 10 teams whose only losses came to each other and no other big 10 teams could touch them. Also, teams that sucked like Nebraska didn't suck bad enough to not pick up a conference win or 2.
So is Utah ranked above USC when the CFP committee closes it out? They beat them twice and dominated them this time. Of course USC was #4 and Utah #11 so those are some big movements to put one ahead of the other. Then you have the fact that USC has only 2 losses with Utah having 3. Most of the teams ranked between them are 2 loss teams so does 3 loss Utah jump 2 loss teams or does USC go to the bottom of the 2 loss teams? Before last night:
4. USC 11-1 now 11-2
5. Ohio St 11-1
6. Alabama 10-2
7. Tennessee 10-2
8. PSU 10-2
9. Clemson 10-2
10. K st 9-3
11. Utah 9-3 now 10-3
I'd move Utah to 9 or 10 and put USC at 10 or 11
4. USC 11-1 now 11-2
5. Ohio St 11-1
6. Alabama 10-2
7. Tennessee 10-2
8. PSU 10-2
9. Clemson 10-2
10. K st 9-3
11. Utah 9-3 now 10-3
I'd move Utah to 9 or 10 and put USC at 10 or 11
Riley is saying Williams "popped a hamstring" during that long run in the 1st quarter and played on one leg after that...but refused to come out of the game. Little did I know that Caleb also coached the team.
That was a typo, dammit! I meant to say Utah is the team nobody wants to play. And now it looks like we will. Very interesting Rose Bowl game shaping up.
Yes. Yes. Yes. They still average 9-3 for the most part. If you were a Utah fan, wouldn't you think 11-1 is the floor? That conference is average.
They were in a shootout. Rising getting hurt compromised their end of the shootout.
A product of no excellent teams. The middle just takes turns thumping each other. Try rating Utah, UCLA, Oregon, Washington and Oregon State. Your brain will explode with the a beat b, b beat c, c beat d, but d beat a stuff.
https://www.outkick.com/cam-rising-caleb-williams-nails-message-usc-utah-response/
Utah QB Cam Rising had a very blunt reaction to Caleb Williams’ vulgar message on his nails for the PAC-12 title game.
The Heisman front-runner and USC QB painted “F*ck Utah” on his nails, and that turned out to be a tough look when the Utes hammered the Trojans 47-24. After the game, Rising was asked about William’s message and he took the opportunity to twist the knife after burying USC’s playoff chances.
“Don’t give a sh*t. It is what it is. You can do whatever you want. Put whatever you want on your nails. I’m not going to judge you for whatever you do, but hope you liked it,” Rising told the media after the game.
Utah QB Cam Rising had a very blunt reaction to Caleb Williams’ vulgar message on his nails for the PAC-12 title game.
The Heisman front-runner and USC QB painted “F*ck Utah” on his nails, and that turned out to be a tough look when the Utes hammered the Trojans 47-24. After the game, Rising was asked about William’s message and he took the opportunity to twist the knife after burying USC’s playoff chances.
“Don’t give a sh*t. It is what it is. You can do whatever you want. Put whatever you want on your nails. I’m not going to judge you for whatever you do, but hope you liked it,” Rising told the media after the game.
USC isn't falling 6 or 7 spots. They're probably going to be 6 or 7. With Williams playing hurt they'll downplay the score
So you have USC above Utah that has beat them twice and most recently destroyed them? I guess anything in your mind to not have PSU move up one spot.
Random thoughts:
1. The game well have gone the other way had Williams not been hurt, but he was and that’s part of the game. Props to ut. But I truly believe Williams may end up a generational qb talent.
2. Tosu will clearly be in the cfp as a one loss team. But what if tcu loses? While I think tcu is out at that point even as a one loss, I’m honestly not sure why AL seems to be the consensus pick among 2 loss teams. First, they lost head to head to TN. Second, their losses (7/14) aren’t materially better than either TN’s (1/19) or Psu’s (2/5). Third, tn’s wins are just as good if not better, though psu’s are probably not as good.
1. The game well have gone the other way had Williams not been hurt, but he was and that’s part of the game. Props to ut. But I truly believe Williams may end up a generational qb talent.
2. Tosu will clearly be in the cfp as a one loss team. But what if tcu loses? While I think tcu is out at that point even as a one loss, I’m honestly not sure why AL seems to be the consensus pick among 2 loss teams. First, they lost head to head to TN. Second, their losses (7/14) aren’t materially better than either TN’s (1/19) or Psu’s (2/5). Third, tn’s wins are just as good if not better, though psu’s are probably not as good.
To point 2, I think your reasoning on Bama is why TCU is in barring a blow out loss. It avoids controversy. 1 loss over 2 is a more justifiable position than 2 losses over a weak 1 and over other 2 losses with as good or better arguments.
I'm just curious but how did Caleb Williams cause Utah to score 44 points in the final 34 minutes of the game?
You realize USC has the 91st ranked defense? Not exactly a stellar defensive team.
A bit snarky…I certainly wasn’t whining because I really didn’t care who won, but let’s not act like Utah is the greatest team on the planet because they blew out a team with a one legged QB and we’re getting their ass beat when that QB was healthy….that’s all I’m saying.
It’s a lot harder on your defense when your offense isn’t doing well. And USC was one pass away from making it a three point game in the fourth quarter with a one legged QB.
If you are going to the playoff you have to more than one player in the ultimate team game.
Michigan beat Ohio State on the road without their Heisman candidate.
Because USC couldn't sustain a drive? When your offense doesn't control the ball at all your defense tires. Do I think that's why USC couldn't tackle? No but it certainly didn't help.
Again I think Penn State and Tennessee (with Hooker anyway) are better than USC but I don't think the rankings will reflect that based on historical evidence
Yeah but no one is saying USC is Michigan or Georgia, right? Those are the best two teams not in that order though.
Again, that’s not my argument….I’m not supporting USC in any way. I’m saying Utah is not the greatest team on the planet based on this game (like some one here are acting like) because they would have lost or been in a dog fight if Williams hadn’t gotten hurt. That’s all I’m saying.
I think Ohio State is going to win the national championship. Ohio state is the most talented team. The national champion is undefeated less than half the time.
Again it's not about those 2 games. Look at then entire resume as the committee will. This is why you get mad about obviously predictable things.
USC will likely be 6 maybe 7. Utah might jump up but probably not. It will depend on if the chalk holds on the other games. But if you think USC is falling to 10 or 11 with that resume you should stop watching football.
Considering Utah isn't a traditional blue blood with a championship tradition, umm...no they probably don't demand or expect 11-1, considering they don't recruit nationally or hit the top recruiting rankings like USC, Oregon, etc. Kyle W has done a great job at a place that has a limited talent area and not a glamorous program.
I think Georgia is the most talented team but Ohio State is the team that is closest talent wise. I just think Georgia will run Ohio State to death if they play
If USC is so good and deserving and Utah isn't the greatest then they should be able to overcome a top player not performing their best or not playing.
Alabama won without Waddle.
Ohio State won the NC with a 3rd string QB.
It's not like USC was playing Georgia last night but it sure looked like it in the second half after their coach handed Utah the momentum and they ran with it.
Utah was predicted by many to contend for a title this year. The opening loss hurt and truthfully the should have beat UCLA and probably Oregon but they didn't so here we are with a solid season
I think that applies to like all but maybe two teams this year in CFB....really odd season as to how much of the top 12 or so, especially the clustered 2 loss teams are good and at times very good...but also very beatable and indistinguishable. Many years in CFB, the grouping of dominant teams is larger and more pronounced.
Not having Waddle isn't the same as Caleb hobbling like an old man that forgot his walker.
Ohio State is a good comparison but USC was never thought to be on that level. The committee didn't want them to be 4 they just felt like they had to. Same with TCU which is why Bama fans are wearing purple today
I don't think it matters which of the four you are, simply that you are one of the four. The optics stuff is just opinion based BS based on who's spouting it. Guess what the optics are for Reggie Bush & Matt Leinert vs. the optics of Kirk Herbstreit & Joey Galloway? They all have big influence.
Kind of a jerk move win or lose and if I was his coach no way you get away with that / karma is a bitch.
Then I could say if Utah is such a world beater, it shouldn’t have taken them until the fourth quarter to blow out a team with a bad defense and a one legged QB. I’m not sure why people think I’m supporting USC, because I’m not. I’m just trying to not overreact to this win by Utah and keep it in perspective.
If DeVonta Smith was the best player in college football and Jalen Waddle was better than DeVonta Smith that's a bigger loss than some guy who is maybe a top 3 QB in college football. Nobody can definitely say Caleb is better than Brice or CJ.
Stop the two best WR's in the game on the same team is the same as stopping a top QB. No difference.
Obviously he doesn’t play defense. But he does give them a lot more possession rather than the successive 3 and outs we saw
Similar threads
