Caleb Williams' 3 INTs help send USC to loss vs. Notre Dame - ESPN

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — By now, USC quarterback Caleb Williams is used to owning every stage he steps on. But as Notre Dame fans jumped over walls and sprinted onto the field in celebration following the Fighting Irish's 48-20 win over their longtime rivals Saturday night, Williams put his head down and made a beeline for the visiting tunnel. Fans shouted at him, others gleefully recorded videos of his exit. Some even tried to approach him. Williams barely flinched. After one of the worst games of his college career, all the reigning Heisman Trophy winner wanted to do was exit.

No. 10 USC had started the season 6-0 despite struggling to hold on against Arizona and Colorado the last two weeks, but the bill came due for the Trojans against No. 21 Notre Dame on Saturday night — although its contents were unexpected. While the defense that had struggled all season did its best to hold its own and show improvement, Williams appeared to be a shell of his usual self and the offense he usually leads to high scores appeared to hit a wall.

«I made mistakes tonight that I usually don't make,» Williams said postgame. «I've been in college for three years now and don't think I've ever had a season or game or anything like that.»

Williams admitted he might have forced a few throws, but he wasn't the lone culprit. USC's shaky offensive line turned into a sieve that put Williams on his back foot from the get-go. When made uncomfortable in the past, Williams thrived by scrambling, turning dead plays into highlights. That was not the case Saturday night.

«Games like this happen in careers,» Williams said. «You got to get through it. You got to keep fighting, you got to be a leader. It starts with the head of the snake, and I'll be better.»

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