Tulane comes back to win Cotton Bowl as USC wastes historic outing by QB Caleb Williams

Tulane pulled off a last-minute comeback to overcome a huge day from USC quarterback Caleb Williams and win the 2023 Cotton Bowl 46-45. Here’s what you need to know:

  • The Green Wave scored 32 second-half points and took their first lead of the game with nine seconds remaining.
  • Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt went 8-of-17 passing for 234 yards and two touchdowns — an 87-yard reception by Jha’Quan Jackson and the game-tying 6-yard pass to Alex Bauman late in the fourth. Green Wave running back Tyjae Spears put up 205 yards and four touchdowns.
  • Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams went 37-of-52 passing for 462 yards and five touchdowns, a Cotton Bowl record. The 2022 Heisman winner connected with wide receiver Brenden Rice, who had 174 yards on the day, for two touchdowns.
  • The win was No. 16 Tulane’s first against an AP top-10 team since Sept. 17, 1983, and its first major bowl win since the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 1935.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

A meltdown for the ages

USC led by 15 points with a little more than four minutes left and then staged a meltdown of epic proportions. The Trojans wasted a magnificent performance from Williams and committed self-inflected errors and on offense, defense and special teams. It was a thorough collapse that will send USC to the offseason on an extremely embarrassing note. — Morales

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USC’s defense was the difference

Tulane has been great story all season, but largely flew under the national radar. The Green Wave got their moment in the sun in Monday’s Cotton Bowl, and boy did they deliver. What an epic comeback in the last four minutes to stun USC and Williams.

Neither team could stop the other’s offense most of the game — Williams still threw for 462 yards and five TDs — but Tulane’s speed proved particularly problematic for the Trojans’ hapless defense. The Green Wave only ran 52 plays but averaged a ridiculous 10.4 yards per play. Spears, their star running back, ran for 205 yards and four TDs on just 17 carries.

But there wasn’t enough time left to utilize him with the game on the line. All credit to Pratt, who, despite getting sacked twice, led a 12-play, 3:04 game-winning drive.

With that, coach Willie Fritz’s team completed the biggest turnaround in FBS history, from 2-10 in 2021 to 12-2 in 2022. What an absolutely incredible performance. — Mandel

Highlights of the game

The most exciting play you'll see today 😳

Caleb Williams to Brenden Rice. INSANE.

🎥 @ESPNCFBpic.twitter.com/U4lxmp9Aus

— The Athletic CFB (@TheAthleticCFB) January 2, 2023

What a grab with 0:09 remaining 🌊

The Green Wave cap off an incredible season with a NY6 bowl win! pic.twitter.com/pgRWy4tsv1

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 2, 2023

Key stats

Tulane’s 87-yard touchdown was the longest play from scrimmage in the Cotton Bowl since 1960 when Syracuse’s Ernie Davis also caught an 87-yard touchdown pass. The only longer play from scrimmage in the Cotton Bowl came in 1954 when Rice’s Dicky Maegle scored on a 95-yard rush.

Maegle didn’t actually score, but was awarded the TD because Alabama’s Tommy Lewis came off the bench and tackled him.

Required reading

(Photo: Tim Heitman / USA Today)

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