McCaffrey states Heisman case, Stanford bulldozes USC for Pac-12 title

75 plays for 65 yards was all it took for the Trojans to become more competitive in the third.

“What doesn’t he do?”

“I think 99 percent of the matchups he has out the back field on the one-on-one, he’s going to win it”, linebacker Su’a Cravens said.

In doubt, that is, to everyone but Martinez and Stanford head coach David Shaw. Rodgers plays Knoxville Catholic High School, and won the Class 4A Tennessee Titan Mr. Football Award for best back.

“I don’t know if there is any question”, Shaw said. “If the worst thing we do is go to the Rose Bowl, that’s pretty cool”, said Shaw, who is likely to hear today that Stanford is No. 5 and will play No. 6 Ohio State in Pasadena. The Trojans’ chief problem was that they could not control McCaffrey.

The record of 3,250 all-purpose yards in a single season was set by Sanders in 1988 – after a two-yard run during the second quarter, McCaffrey became the new owner of the record many thought could never be eclipsed. But even on a record-breaking night, he rushed to compliment the guy who’s kept the Cardinal on track. “I didn’t know until five minutes before I walked up here”.

USC took the lead in the third quarter, but could not hang on.

One day after the Trojans lost to Stanford in the Pac-12 Conference championship game, Helton on Sunday immediately fired four of USC’s nine assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox.

McCaffrey proved to be too much for the Trojans, accounting for 207 rushing yards and 105 receiving.

“Each of these men are outstanding men and outstanding coaches”, Helton said.

“The guy I had posted on my wall growing up”, McCaffrey said.

After USC scored to make it a one-possession game, McCaffrey put the capper on another Stanford win with a 27-yard touchdown reception when he was left wide open in the middle of the field. First, Cody Kessler hit fullback Jahleel Pinner for a 1-yard touchdown. Oh, and what’s not factored in was the 11-yard touchdown pass he threw to quarterback Kevin Hogan in the second quarter. That setup a 7-yard touchdown by Hogan giving the Cardinals back the lead 20-16. Stanford’s Solomon Thomas scooped up the loose football and ran it back for 6 points.

“We just didn’t execute and made him look great”, defensive lineman Antwaun Woods said.

Stanford dominated the first half. Hogan found McCaffrey in an absurdly solitary place, right in the heart of USC’s defense, and he streaked 67 yards. “It’s not even a debate….What Christian has done is phenomenal…He could still play another quarter if we had to”.

Stanford had a small window of hope for being included in the College Football Playoffs.

Steve Sarkisian was the Trojans’ head coach then, and Clay Helton was USC’s head coach for Saturday’s game.

If McCaffrey is indeed bound for NY, his remarkable 2015 season will take him coast-to-coast to the nation’s two media hubs. What he’s been able to do here with his arm, with his legs, and to be honest, with his heart and his toughness, taking us to three straight Pac-12 Championship games in four years is unbelievable.