LOS ANGELES–The Victory Bell belongs to UCLA after a 38-20 drubbing of USC in the 93rd installment of their Crosstown rivalry, as the Bruins defense and Quarterback Ethan Garbers put the final nail in the Trojans disappointing season at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, November 18.

UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers threw three touchdown passes and running back TJ Harden rushed for a career-high 142 yards and two touchdowns in a convincing win after two consecutive disheartening losses to Arizona and Arizona State.

“Today was one of the better days of my life,” Garbers said. “I’ve had some dreams like this as a little kid. Great to see, great to get the win and great to get home.”

USC turned the ball over on downs on its first possession after failing to convert a fourth-and-one. On the ensuing drive, UCLA drove down the field and scored on a one-yard run from TJ Harden to take an early 7-0 lead.

USC is reeling, finishing the 2023 campaign at a mark of (7-5) dropping five of their final six games. Trojans QB Caleb Williams most likely played his final game as a Trojan, going 31-of-42 for 384 yards with a TD throw to a name you might have heard before.

Williams threw an incredible 74-yard touchdown pass to Brenden Rice, son of legend Jerry Rice, in the first half. But UCLA went into halftime with a 14-10 lead.

UCLA mauled USC on the ground, controlling the line of scrimmage from the kickoff. Rumbling and gashing holes with 199 total rushing yards, making it the eighth time the USC defense has allowed at least 190 rushing yards this season.

Even by PAC-12 standards USC was historically awful on defense. Saturday’s loss capped off what has been a brutal second half of the season for Lincoln Riley’s Trojans.

“Very, very disappointing, no other way to put it,” USC coach Lincoln Riley said. “I told the guys in the locker room. I’ve clearly not done a good enough job here in the second half of the season getting this team ready to go.”

As for Bruins Head Coach Chip Kelly, he tuned out all of the rumors and speculation about his future in Westwood. Kelly remained professional, rather than addressing the inane chatter he prepared his players to go out and win. And boy did they respond.

UCLA improves to (7-4) on the season, the second half was dominated by the Bruins, who scored two touchdowns in the span of 16 seconds to see that lead grow from 14-10 to 28-10 midway through the third quarter.

USC’s offense was shut down the rest of the way as the ferocious UCLA pass rush teed off on Williams and his overmatched offensive line.

For last years Heisman Trophy winner, it was a bittersweet way for his college career to most likely come to an end. Caleb Williams will undoubtedly be the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

USC will await its fate and see which bowl game they will play in. UCLA will host California on Saturday, November 25 at the Rose Bowl to conclude their season.

UCLA will love the ringing sound of the Victory Bell in their ear until November 2024.