Caleb Williams breaks down the monster Cotton Bowl performance from Brenden Rice

As USC prepares for life without Jordan Addison next season, Trojans fans got a glimpse into the future during the Cotton Bowl. Brenden Rice had a monster performance in the loss to Tulane, and Caleb Williams knew what the plan was going into the game.

Rice hauled in six receptions for 174 yards and two touchdowns as USC put up 45 points against the Green Wave. It was by far the biggest game of Rice’s short time in Los Angeles after transferring from Colorado, and Williams said it wasn’t a difficult decision to ride the hot hand.

“The big thing throughout the week — it’s every week, actually — get the ball into your playmaker’s hands,” Williams said. “Today, he was having a good game and I just kept getting the ball in his hands.”

Rice finished the season with 611 receiving yards, which ranked fourth on the Trojans’ roster. But as Addison heads to the 2023 NFL Draft, where he’s likely to be a first-round pick, Rice and others will have to step up to replace his production. Even despite missing three games with an injury, Addison still had a team-high 875 yards and eight touchdowns.

Considering he rose to the occasion in the Cotton Bowl, that could bode well for Rice’s future with the program next year. Williams said he made the most of the opportunity.

“When he got his shot, he made them and I kept giving him the ball,” Williams said. “He kept making them. … I’m proud of him.”

Caleb Williams: USC’s Cotton Bowl loss will linger, burn into the offseason

Tulane pulled off the thrilling victory in the final seconds of the Cotton Bowl, and it was not how any Trojans fan wanted to close out the year, especially Williams.

All is not lost for the Heisman Trophy winner, though, as he gets to return to Los Angeles for another season. Even so, dropping the final game of the year will leave a bad taste in his mouth for a long time. USC will not play again until late August and will not even get back onto the practice field for a couple of months.

“It’s going to linger,” Williams said. “Last game of the season. You lose the last game of the season going into the offseason, it burns. Don’t have a game after. It burns.”