{"id":175649,"date":"2023-01-03T04:43:17","date_gmt":"2023-01-03T04:43:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/usc-haunted-by-cotton-bowl-loss-to-tulane-its-gonna-linger\/"},"modified":"2023-01-03T04:43:17","modified_gmt":"2023-01-03T04:43:17","slug":"usc-haunted-by-cotton-bowl-loss-to-tulane-its-gonna-linger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/usc-haunted-by-cotton-bowl-loss-to-tulane-its-gonna-linger\/","title":{"rendered":"USC haunted by Cotton Bowl loss to Tulane: ‘It’s gonna linger’"},"content":{"rendered":"
ARLINGTON, Texas \u2014 <\/span> <\/p>\n
Caleb Williams stood in the deepest recesses of Tulane territory, his back suddenly, inexplicably against the wall, his team suddenly, inexplicably unraveling before our eyes.<\/p>\n
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Not after USC had vowed to finish its terrific turnaround season on a high note. Not after USC led by 15 in the final minutes. Not after its Heisman-winning quarterback pushed through a hamstring injury, throwing for 462 yards and five touchdowns to finish just shy of several career highs.<\/p>\n
The fact that the Trojans found themselves in such a precarious position at all defied any sense of logic, and yet, USC’s nightmarish finish only grew more demented from there, a comedy of late-game errors that culminated in a last-second, 46- 45 Cotton Bowl loss to Tulane, a team that hadn’t prevailed in a major bowl since the days of the Great Depression.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s gonna linger,\u201d Williams said. \u201cYou lose the last game of the season, going into the offseason, it burns.\u201d<\/p>\n
For USC, a program long known for its late-season letdowns, you’d be hard-pressed to find a bowl defeat more depressing in the nearly century of postseason games the Trojans have played. Its defense gave up more than 10 yards per play and allowed 305 yards on the ground, both far and away the worst marks of its season. Its offense controlled the ball for nearly double the time Tulane did \u2014 39:49 to 20:11 \u2014 and converted 11 of 15 third downs, but somehow still let a win slip away.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe put ourselves in phenomenal position to get it done,\u201d USC coach Lincoln Riley said, \u201cthen all three sides there at the end \u2026 all three sides contributed to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
With 4:30 remaining, the Trojans pushed their lead to two scores, seemingly putting the game out of reach. But every step from that moment would go horribly wrong for USC, every issue during the course of an otherwise charmed season rearing its head all at once.<\/p>\n
The Tulane scoring drive that followed took all of two plays and 16 seconds, as running back Tyjae Spears capped his 205-yard performance with a fourth touchdown that cut the Trojans lead to eight. Even still, USC had breathing room, assuming it could avoid complete disaster.<\/p>\n