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Caleb Williams’s Three First-Half Interceptions Have USC in Huge Hole at Notre Dame

The Trojans star quarterback turned in a rough first half in South Bend.

Jelani Scott

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A disastrous first half for USC star quarterback Caleb Williams left many college football fans in shock on Saturday as the reigning Heisman winner takes on Notre Dame in South Bend.

Williams, a candidate for the coveted trophy again this season, and the No. 10 Trojans (6–0) entered the much-hyped contest looking to make a statement against the No. 21 Fighting Irish (5–2). But USC would, instead, find itself in a 24–6 halftime hole after Williams turned in the first three-interception outing of his standout career in just the first half.

After lofting his first pick under duress on the game’s opening drive, Williams threw two more into heavy coverage on two of the Trojans’ final three drives of the half. To makes matters worse for the junior standout, Notre Dame turned all three INTs into touchdowns on the offense’s subsequent drives.

Williams somewhat salvaged the awful start by leading USC to a second field goal to close the first half, but his stat line left fans with more questions than answers as he went 13-of-22 for 115 yards and the three aforementioned turnovers.

As Williams and the Trojans looked for answers in the locker room, fans and pundits took to social media to express their surprise in what couldn’t have been a worse start for coach Lincoln Riley & Co.:

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Jelani Scott
JELANI SCOTT

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