Chip Kelly after UCLA beat USC, Caleb Williams: 'Glad we don't have to play against him again'

UCLA won The Battle for the Victory Bell on Saturday, thumping USC, 38-20, in what is likely the final collegiate football game for star Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams. And the victorious coach, Chip Kelly, said after the game he’s glad to be done facing such an elite opposing quarterback as most expect Williams to enter the 2024 NFL Draft.

Williams won the 2022 Heisman Trophy and USC was widely expected to be a contender for the College Football Playoff in 2023. Though those goals didn’t pan, Kelly knew as well as anybody that Williams and USC were still as dangerous an offensive team as ever.

“Afternoon football, it’s a novel concept at UCLA. We don’t get to play many in the afternoon, so this is fun,” Kelly said, opening with a tongue-in-cheek line about TV entities forcing UCLA into night games. “It’s just such a great rivalry. And that quarterback, he’s a special, special player. I’m glad we don’t have to play against him again. He’s going to have a great career.”

Williams finished 31-of-42 for 384 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The issue, ultimately, for Williams and USC was a lack of ability to pass protect. UCLA’s pass rush won the day, finishing with four sacks and nine tackles for loss, stymying any ability USC had to run consistent offense.

And Kelly was happy to see his team come out on the ball for all 60 minutes after a disappointing loss the week prior.

“They were dialed in from the jump. Football’s an unbelievable sport. You’ve got highs, you’ve got lows — but the way they responded was unbelievable and I was really, really proud of them,” Kelly said.

Opposite Williams, UCLA got solid play from quarterback Ethan Garbers. He finished 18-of-31 for 155 yards and three touchdowns. It wasn’t a certainty he would play, as he’s been dealing with an injury during the latter portions of the season. It was revealed he would be the starter on Saturday morning, hours prior to kickoff.

The quarterback position has been an adventure at times this year, but when UCLA needed someone to grab the reins on Saturday, Garbers rose to the challenge and provided much-needed consistency.

“Especially that last touchdown — he got to his fourth in progression, he through everything. And to hit it. I’m really proud of him. He just keeps getting better and better. And we have depth at quarterback, all those guys are getting better and better,” Kelly said.