USC Football: Heisman Hopeful Caleb Williams Dominates with 6 Touchdowns in Thriller Victory

USC's star QB looks even better than last year.

Five games into his second season in cardinal and gold, USC quarterback Caleb Williams is outpacing his Heisman-winning 2022 campaign.

In Saturday's win 48-41 win over Colorado, which was perhaps a bit too close for comfort for Trojan fans, Williams popped off for six touchdowns and 403 yards in the air, completing 75% of his passing attempts. He threw his first interception of the year after rolling out to the right and launching an off-balanced 40-yard bomb to Mario Williams that a Colorado defender snagged.

Nevertheless, Williams is still outpacing his 2022 season. 

Five games into the 2022 campaign, Williams had led USC to a 5-0 start and had thrown for 12 touchdowns and an interception, adding three scores on the ground. He accounted for just over 1,400 passing yards.

Williams has accounted for 24 total touchdowns (21 passing, three rushing), the lone interception, and 1,600 yards through the air in the same time span. USC has yet to score below 40 points, averaging almost 54 points per game.

CALEB WILLIAMS TIES HIS SINGLE GAME CAREER-HIGH WITH 6 PASSING TD AGAINST COLORADO 😳 pic.twitter.com/I4hX55qmvf

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 30, 2023

Caleb Williams is the 1st FBS player in the last 25 years to throw for 6 passing touchdowns in a game for multiple schools.

He had 6 pass TD for Oklahoma against Texas Tech in 2021. pic.twitter.com/gkCmwoeo6p

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 30, 2023

The quality of competition Williams and the talented USC offense have faced can be rightfully called into question. Even the Buffaloes defensive backfield was missing star cornerback Travis Hunter and safety Shilo Sanders, son of Head Coach Deion Sanders.

Williams will face more demanding challenges when USC travels to Notre Dame in two weeks, playing in a hostile environment against a team with a proven defense. He will go head-to-head with a pair of Heisman candidates when USC hosts quarterback Michael Penix and Washington before traveling to Eugene to face Bo Nix and the Oregon Ducks late in the season.

The Heisman is Williams' to lose. However, head-to-head losses against a Heisman candidate certainly wouldn't help his case. Unfortunately, Williams has no effect on the Trojan defense, which continues to allow big plays against each opponent USC has faced.

Williams will have to respond with some big plays of his own.