All Trojans

USC Football Highlights: Trojans Likely Eliminated From Playoff Contention With Crushing Loss vs Utah

This one stings.

Noah Camras

The USC Trojans are all but eliminated from College Football Playoff contention after their crushing 34-32 loss at the hands of the No. 14 Utah Utes.

The 18th-ranked Trojans came back from a 28-14 second-half deficit, but lost on a game-winning field goal by Cole Becker as the time expired. 

Both teams entered with one loss, needing a win to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive. The Trojans, however, weren't able to hang on, and are looking at their second consecutive disappointing season with Caleb Williams and Lincoln Riley.

The Trojans trailed for much of the game, going down 28-14 in the second half.

However, they fought their way back, thanks in large part to a massive pick six by Calen Bullock.

USC wasn't able to get the two-point conversion, but their defense held up, and the Trojans got the ball back needing a touchdown to take the lead.

True freshman standout Zachariah Branch got the punt return, and took it all the way back to the Utes' 11 yard-line, in one of the more impressive plays of the 2023 season.

The very next play, QB Caleb Williams ran the ball into the end zone on a quarterback draw, and the Trojans took a 32-31 lead. However, another missed two-point conversion gave Utah the ball needing just a field goal to win — and that ended up looming very large.

The drive saw a Bear Alexander roughing the passer/targeting penalty to get him ejected, and the Utes convert on a 4th down with 19 seconds left to extend the game.

But the biggest play of the game came courtesy of Utah QB Bryson Barnes, as he ran for 25 yards to set the Utes up in field goal range at USC's 20 yard-line. After centering the ball, Utah Kicker Cole Becker was set up for a 38-yard field goal to get the incredible road win for the Utes.

Becker nailed the field goal, and gone went USC's playoff chances for the second straight season at the hands of the Utah Utes.

This is USC's fourth straight loss to Utah, and each one has hurt more than the last.

Published
Noah Camras
NOAH CAMRAS

Noah graduated from USC in 2022 with a B.A. in Journalism and a minor in Sports Media Studies. He is the lead editor for All Trojans. He was born and raised in Los Angeles, and grew up a fan of all LA sports. 

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