USC Head Coach Clay Helton Fires DC Justin Wilcox, Other Staff Members

On this Saturday night in Santa Clara, he set a new mark for all-purpose yards in a single season, surpassing Barry Sanders’ old mark (3,250 yards) from 1988.

McCaffrey ran, caught and threw for a touchdown as he amassed 461 all-purpose yards.

“I was just praying I’d get it to him”, McCaffrey said. On that play, in sweet family symbolism, Hogan pitched the football to Sanders’ son, Barry Jr., who gave it to McCaffrey as he crossed from left end. Oregon State fans know this is an excellent bowl destination, one of the best beyond the NY6 bowls, but had what would have been the winning touchdown toss in the Oregon-Michigan State game not been dropped, Stanford would have been in the CFP, and Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

“I mean what doesn’t he do is what you could ask me”, OLB Su’a Cravens said about McCaffrey. I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you how much I loved those guys.

Helping the Cardinal clinch their 15th Rose Bowl berth, McCaffrey tarnished the USC defense to the tune of 207 rushing yards and a touchdown on 32 carries, 105 receiving yards and a touchdown on four receptions, 11 passing yards and a touchdown on one attempt, 120 yards on five separate kick returns and 29 yards on two punt returns, setting Levi’s Stadium ablaze with his dynamic performance.

He’s a top candidate for the Heisman Trophy and will definitely head to NY.

The prize for the Cardinal is an appearance in the Rose Bowl. Running back Christian McCaffrey leads the FBS with 252.92 all-purpose yards per game while linebacker Blake Martinez has a team-high 121 tackles to lead the defense, which has allowed an average of 478 yards over the last three games without cornerback Ronnie Harris, who could return from an ankle injury to face the Trojans.

Helton did say he will not retain play-calling duties next season, an indication that he will hire an offensive coordinator to essentially replace him.

“If they invite us, great”, Cardinal coach David Shaw said.

USC took the lead in the third quarter, but could not hang on. When USC is the underdog, he loses.

“Very proud of our kids and the season that they’ve had”, said Trojans head coach Clay Helton. OU doesn’t have to play another game, so if Stanford wins their championship game, despite having one more loss, will it leapfrog the Sooners simply because they didn’t have a title game to play?

The Trojans (8-5) need an offseason to try and get as physical as Stanford.

“It’s not even a debate”, Shaw said. McCaffrey escaped his coverage for a 67-yard catch, and Hogan scored on a 7-yard keeper on the next play to put the Cardinal back in front, 20-16.

Generally speaking, other than McCaffrey’s lower body, there is very little that’s shifty about the Stanford offense.

Shaw, the son of longtime college football and NFL assistant coach Willie Shaw, has won three Pac-12 titles in his five years.

“We could see them as a coaching staff. Then we started making our plays and doing things right”.

“My job was easy”, McCaffrey said. The Cardinal finished with 417 total yards, and Christian McCaffrey was a one-man wrecking crew.