USC

We knew we were going to see points, touchdowns, long gainers, and plenty of highlight-reel plays in the 2023 Cotton Bowl between USC and Tulane.

Despite five touchdown passes by Caleb Williams, USC could not hold on as Tulane storms back for a 46-45 victory in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, ...

[USC’s Pac-12 title game heartbreak](https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2022-12-03/usc-vs-utah-takeaways), the pain in his left hamstring a lasting reminder of all that was lost that night in Las Vegas. Early bettors still appear to think the Trojans are the right side as 82% of the bets and 72% of the money was on USC at DraftKings as of Friday morning. [Justin Dedich](https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2020-11-12/usc-center-justin-dedich-brett-neilon-injury) hadn’t given much consideration to the fact that one day two staples of [USC](https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc)’s offensive line would be gone. [Alex Grinch](https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2022-09-02/lincoln-riley-alex-grinch-defensive-coordinator-usc-football) isn’t the kind to sugarcoat. [Notre Dame](https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2022-11-26/usc-defeats-notre-dame-lincoln-riley-recap), it was bothering. [Reggie Bush](https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2020-06-10/usc-reinstates-reggie-bush)? Meanwhile, the Cotton Bowl was the reasonable best-case scenario for Tulane as a Group of 5 program. Ever since, any finger-pointing from outside the program has trained on USC’s coordinator and the direction he’s taken [the Trojans](https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc) defense. The drive was set up after Solomon Byrd recovered a fumble by Tulane running back Tyjae Spears with 10:46 to go in the fourth quarter. (A two-point conversion pass failed.) Earlier in the drive, Spears had a 47-yard scamper. And after Tulane got the ball back on the ensuing free kick, the Green Wave went 66 yards in 12 plays to score the winning touchdown. The final blow was a six-yard touchdown pass by Michael Pratt to Alex Bauman with nine seconds to go.

Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt hit tight end Alex Bauman for a 6-yard TD and Valentino Ambrosio connected on the extra point to give the Green Wave (12-2) its ...

USC responded with its seventh touchdown of the game, Williams' fifth passing TD, when the sophomore hit Kyron Hudson for a 4-yard score with 12:09 to play. Following a Green Wave punt, USC added to its lead with 12 seconds remaining in the half when Williams hit Rice for a 4-yard TD. USC retook the lead with 2:21 to play in the first half on a 39-yard touchdown run from Raleek Brown. With 9:30 to play in the second half, Tulane got on the board courtesy of a 3-yard touchdown run from Spears. On the Trojans' next drive, Williams orchestrated a 95-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Bynum, which put USC up 14-0. USC received the opening kick in the Cotton Bowl and marched 75 yards down the field in 17 plays to go up 7-0 on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Michael Jackson.