No. 5 USC remains in race for playoff, throttles Notre Dame

LOS ANGELES — Caleb Willams polished his Heisman Trophy credentials with 232 yards passing and four total touchdowns, and No. 5 Southern California capped its outstanding regular season under new coach Lincoln Riley by staying in the College Football Playoff race with a 38-27 victory over No. 13 Notre Dame on Saturday.

Wide receiver Tahj Washington caught an early TD pass from Williams while the Trojans (11-1) snapped their four-game skid in their famed intersectional rivalry with the Fighting Irish (8-4).

Williams iced the win on his third rushing TD with 2:35 to play by sprinting 16 yards through the heart of the Notre Dame defense for the 44th total TD this season.

USC, which is headed to Pac-12 title game Friday at Allegiant Stadium, became the first team to gain 400 yards and to score more than 32 points this season against Notre Dame while completing its first 11-win regular season since 2008.

Drew Pyne passed for 318 yards and hit tight end Michael Mayer for two of his three TDS for the Irish, whose five-game win streak ended in their regular-season finale under new coach Marcus Freeman.

■ Texas A&M 38, No. 6 Louisiana State 23:

At College Station, Texas, Devon Achane ran for 215 yards and two TDS for the Aggies (5-7, 2-6 Southeastern), who scored 21 straight points after the game was tied at 17 in the third quarter.

John Emery Jr. ran for 55 yards and three TDS for the Tigers (9-3, 6-2), who already had secured a spot in this week’s league title game against No. 1 Georgia.

Mountain West

■ Air Force 13, San Diego State 3:

At San Diego, Brad Roberts ran for 187 yards and a TD for the Falcons (9-3, 5-3), who halted a three-game win streak by the Aztecs (7-5, 5-3).

Jayden Goodwin had an interception in the end zone with 3:36 left, and fellow Air Force safety Trey Taylor duplicated the feat with 1:40 to go.

Caleb Williams