USC’s Caleb Williams to Sit Out of Holiday Bowl
USC’s star quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams will not be playing in the upcoming Holiday Bowl, USC coach Lincoln Riley announced on Monday. The Trojans are set to face off against Louisville in the game on December 27th.
Williams, who had an impressive season with 3,633 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, is widely expected to forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL draft, where he is projected to be the No. 1 pick. His absence from the Holiday Bowl will likely leave a significant void in the Trojan’s lineup, as Williams played a crucial role in USC’s performance this season.
With Williams sitting out, the starting quarterback duties are expected to fall on sophomore backup Miller Moss. Moss has had limited appearances in his three seasons at USC, with 542 passing yards and three touchdowns to his name. Coach Riley expressed his regret at not being able to give Moss more playing time this season but also showed confidence in his abilities, stating that he expects Moss to be “fully in the mix” for USC’s starting job next season.
Riley also mentioned that the program will look to the transfer portal to potentially add more quarterbacks, indicating that USC is exploring all options to strengthen their lineup for the future.
In addition to Moss, USC also has freshman and former five-star recruit Malachi Nelson on its roster. However, Riley noted that Nelson faced some “physical hurdles” this past season, suggesting that his playing time may be limited due to health concerns.
Despite the absence of Williams, USC remains focused on their upcoming matchup against Louisville in the Holiday Bowl, with a confident and determined roster ready to take on the challenge.