USC rues sloppy loss to UCLA as 'epitome' of failed season - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — As UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond and Bruins players dragged the Victory Bell through the Los Angeles Coliseum tunnel following a dominant 38-20 victory over their crosstown rivals Saturday, USC and head coach Lincoln Riley found themselves staring at a bitter end to their disappointing season.

The Trojans losing five of their final six regular-season games would have appeared unfathomable when they began the year as the sixth-ranked team in the country. But now, as they searched for answers following a 7-5 campaign, there was plenty of blame to go around.

«I've clearly not done a good enough job in the second half of the season to get this team ready,» Riley said. «I've got to do a much better job.»

In their regular-season finale, USC's performance was emblematic of its season-long struggles. With nothing on the line but the pride of beating their rivals, the Trojans once again displayed poor defensive play, sloppy mistakes and an inconsistent offense that couldn't be saved, not even by reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams.

«We just didn't execute. We're just leaving a lot out there,» wide receiver Tahj Washington said. «That's just been an epitome of what it's been lately.»

Williams, a junior who is likely headed to the NFL as the presumptive No. 1 overall pick, elected not to speak to the media Saturday.

«He came here and took a chance on this place and took a chance on being a part of restarting this program and getting it going,» Riley said. «He's a special player, special competitor, and obviously we'll see what goes on from there.»

Williams, who threw for 386 yards, one touchdown and one interception on Saturday, said earlier this week that he would take the Thanksgiving break to think about