Caleb Williams Explains Why Disappointing USC Season Was ‘Important’ Year for Him

The Trojans finished 7–5, which was the worst record the quarterback has had in his college career.

USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, suffered the worst college football season he’s been involved in this year as the Trojans went 7–5.

Williams won 11 games in his previous two seasons with Oklahoma in 2021 and USC last year. So, only winning seven games is uncharted territory for the junior.

Despite the hardships this season brought, Williams is choosing to look on the bright side of this year and use it to help him grow in the future as a quarterback.

Despite the USC Trojans’ disappointing 7–5 record, quarterback Caleb Williams called this year one of the “most important” years he’s had in football :: Troy Wayrynen/USA TODAY Sports

“This was one of my most important years of playing football so far,” Williams said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “I’ve never been in this situation, where I’m 7–5 and there are no playoff hopes at the end of the season. I’m dealing with it emotionally, dealing with it spiritually and physically. It’s been one of the most important years I think I’ve had. It’s tricky. 

“I’ve had to have talks with [coach] Lincoln [Riley]—because obviously I haven’t been through it—or with my family members or people like that, just how to deal with this and lead, how to stay the same person I was before the season or after our first loss or second loss. So it was different. It was a learning process.”

Williams caught some heat when he didn’t speak to media after what was expected to be his last game with USC in the 38–20 loss to UCLA on Nov. 18. This happened two weeks after the quarterback was seen being emotional in the stands following the team’s 52–42 loss to Washington.