Martin Rogers
FOX Sports activities Insider
A significant check is coming for USC and its star quarterback Caleb Williams, a bona fide, real, mettle-stretching examination of the Heisman Trophy candidate and his No. 8-ranked program.
The bizarre half? Regardless of the outcomes of the check, we’re not going to know find out how to precisely interpret them, not less than not absolutely.
That is as a result of the trial by hearth comes towards Colorado, Deion Sanders’ hyped-up whirlwind of fireworks and dramatics, the place quasi-reality and unceasing hyperbole make for uneasy and massively entertaining bedfellows.
If Williams and his Trojans can march into Boulder on Saturday (midday ET on FOX and the FOX Sports activities app, with protection starting at 10 a.m. ET) and depart that night with a victory, it is going to say a lot about their capacity to deal with the eye and noise, even when it does not reveal a complete lot about their true potential as a soccer group.
Simply as we do not know for positive if USC is the true deal behind the electrical arm and clean ft of Williams, neither do we all know what to make of Sanders’ Buffaloes, nonetheless unknown in so some ways.
Is Coach Prime’s crew as unhealthy because it appeared in getting thumped 40-6 by Oregon final week? Virtually actually not. Are they nearly as good because the hoopla demanded and the proof recommended within the thrilling 3-0 begin to the season? Additionally, most likely not.
[Deion Sanders faces his greatest coaching challenge yet at Colorado]
No matter whether or not Lincoln Riley’s USC receives full credit score for it, it’s vital that issues progress as deliberate this weekend for the Trojans, if the early season pleasure is to show into one thing extra significant, corresponding to a shot on the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
USC, within the final season of the Pac 12 as we all know it, has hardly ever been extra intriguing in current occasions, largely as a result of Williams, whose capacity has him located as one of many main candidates to be the No. 1 choose within the 2024 NFL Draft.
Having the ability to address the most important of events, the highlight, the depth of the main target, the scrutiny, all the things, that is all a part of staying resolute by means of the method. And there is not any query that this season, nothing feels greater than a recreation towards Colorado, regardless of the Buffaloes’ final end result.
Information convention: Deion Sanders gives updates throughout USC week and responds to haters after loss
Furthering the mystique is whether or not Williams will really soar for the NFL after his junior season, as anticipated, or pull off what would immediately be a plot twist of unimaginable gall.
Sure, actually. It’s attainable that Williams opts for an additional 12 months of school, not less than in line with his father, Carl Williams, and make no mistake, the goalposts on such issues have shifted markedly now.
Excessive prospects have semi-bluffed at returning to highschool up to now, but it surely has hardly ever shaken out that means, with the professional cash on provide proving means too tempting to rebuff.
Now, nevertheless, Williams would not be saying no to an NFL contract and swapping it out free of charge lessons and a university meal card. He makes hundreds of thousands of {dollars} already from endorsements. A mightily tempting bundle may very well be on provide have been he to stay an additional 12 months at USC.
The first cause for doing so can be to keep away from an unfavorable NFL touchdown spot.
“He is received two photographs on the apple,” Carl Williams instructed GQ. “So if there’s not an excellent state of affairs, the reality is, he can come again to highschool.”
Carl Williams spoke to Archie Manning, patriarch of soccer’s final signal-calling dynasty, who has all the time felt his profession was drastically squeezed as a result of he received picked by the then-miserable New Orleans Saints with the No. 2 choose in 1971.
Riley is not shy about discussing Kyler Murray and the way the previous No. 1 choose is mired in a poor spot, together with his Arizona Cardinals among the many favorites to complete with the worst document and one other No. 1 choice, even after upsetting the Dallas Cowboys final weekend.
[Travis Hunter lobbies Deion Sanders to play vs. USC: ‘Not taking no for an answer’]
Williams is averaging 292.7 passing yards and has thrown for 15 touchdowns up to now, though USC was not solely convincing in seeing off Arizona State final weekend and dropped within the rankings due to it.
USC drops 3 spots in AP Prime 25, RJ’s thought on the rating, the Trojan protection & extra
Following his father’s GQ interview, Williams is not biting on questions on what’s subsequent.
“I’ve received eight video games,” he instructed reporters. “These are the eight assured that I’ve after which we’re engaged on the subsequent three. We received a troublesome opponent first, in Colorado.”
Whether or not Williams is on the clock or not, USC undoubtedly is. This season marks the chance to capitalize on Williams’ particular talent set and present categorically that issues are trending in the fitting path underneath Riley, earlier than your complete panorama of USC sports activities modifications with a transfer to the Huge Ten.
Some huge challenges await, and a giant alternative. Time to show it this Saturday, within the largest, brightest, noisiest check up to now.
Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports activities and the writer of the FOX Sports activities Insider e-newsletter. Comply with him on Twitter @MRogersFOX and subscribe to the day by day e-newsletter.
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