Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and USC quarterback Caleb Williams meet after the game in Boulder. Sep 30, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) meets with USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) after the game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: John Leyba-USA TODAY Sports
College FootballNFLBy Matt Clapp on

Caleb Williams won the Heisman Trophy in the 2022 college football season, and he’s topping that performance so far in 2023.

The No. 8 USC Trojans took down Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes 48-41 on Saturday in Boulder. It was a blowout for much of the game; USC led 48-21 late into the third quarter.

Williams led the way, completing 30-of-40 passes for 403 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception.

Through five games this season, Williams has thrown for 21 touchdowns and one interception (last season, he threw for 42 touchdowns and five interceptions over 14 games).

It’s not just the numbers- it’s passing the eye test with flying colors. Williams has shown off the entire package as a passer with his arm talent, accuracy, decision-making, mobility, creativity, and general play-making. He’s the runaway favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Williams’ performance had both college football fans and NFL fans buzzing.

On the Fox broadcast of Saturday’s game, color commentator Joel Klatt said that he thinks Williams “would probably upgrade 18 NFL teams next week.”

Klatt added, “There’s about five areas that a quarterback has to be really good. You’ve got to be great with your mind, you’ve got to have arm talent, (be) good in the pocket, got to be a threat with your legs, and you have to be able to create. He’s the only guy I’ve ever evaluated that is great to elite in all five categories. Everybody else has had a hole in that wheel somewhere.”

 

Mike Florio tweeted from the Pro Football Talk account, “How many NFL teams are going to realize after Halloween that their best play is to tank the rest of the season? If you get Caleb Williams, the meaningless losses will be immediately forgotten.”

Fox Sports’ Emmanuel Acho tweeted, “The dude is UNREAL!”

On the other hand, Fox Sports’ Skip Bayless came away from the game praising the opposing quarterback. Bayless tweeted, “I can see [Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders] being even better than Caleb Williams in the NFL.”

And ESPN’s Kevin Negandhi shared a graphic that shows Williams’ 2023 numbers compared to the Heisman-winning 2022 stats.

Williams will look to keep the incredible play going when the Trojans host the Arizona Wildcats next Saturday night.

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor at The Comeback. He attended Colorado State University, wishes he was Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris, and idolizes Larry David. And loves pizza and dogs because obviously.

He can be followed on Twitter at @Matt2Clapp (also @TheBlogfines for Cubs/MLB tweets and @DaBearNecess for Bears/NFL tweets), and can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.

View all posts by Matt Clapp