From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.
Team stats
Tulane
USC
539
Total yards
592
234
Passing yards
460
305
Rushing yards
132
13.0
Yards per pass
9.0
9.0
Yards per rush
4.1
16
First downs
29
3–8
Third downs
11–15
2–2
Fourth downs
2–2
1
Turnovers
1
4–30
Penalties
5–37
20:11
Possession
39:47
0
Sacks (by defense)
4
Efficiency
Tulane
USC
48%
Success rate
47%
0.73
EPA per play
0.44
2.13
Explosiveness
1.61
0.97
Rushing EPA
0.01
0.40
Passing EPA
0.74
53%
Passing-down success
42%
0.30
First-down EPA
−0.12
1.12
Second-down EPA
0.39
0.56
Third-down EPA
1.69
4%
Havoc by its defense
10%
From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.
Before kickoff
Our ratings and the line, going in
Our ratings (scores only)
USC 50% to win. Tulane pulled the upset.
The line
USC −1.5, over/under 66.5.
The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.
Before kickoff, the win chances were USC 54%, Tulane 46%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.
The money
The Cotton Bowl was put on by the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, a nonprofit. Its IRS Form 990 for the year to April 2023, which takes in this game, reports $16.8 million in revenue, $11.4 million of it from game related income, and $14.4 million in expenses. Its best-paid, president / CEO Rick Baker, was paid $1.1 million. The largest payments it lists that year:
College Football Playoff Administration LLC
college football
$2.8 million
Cotton Bowl Foundation
advance cb fndt’s mission
$1.1 million
From the organization’s IRS Form 990, via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and the IRS’s e-file data. Payments are the grants it lists on Schedule I of that return. See every filing at ProPublica (EIN 75-0863843).
Every drive
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. USC drives left to right, Tulane right to left.
Q1 USCTouchdown, 17 plays, 75 yards
Q1 TulanePunt, 5 plays, 21 yards
Q1 USCTouchdown, 12 plays, 95 yards
Q2 TulaneTouchdown, 8 plays, 75 yards
Q2 USCInterception, 6 plays, 45 yards
Q2 TulaneTouchdown, 2 plays, 92 yards
Q2 USCTouchdown, 6 plays, 75 yards
Q2 TulanePunt, 3 plays, 7 yards
Q2 USCTouchdown, 6 plays, 68 yards
Q2 TulaneResult not recorded, 1 play, 2 yards
Q3 TulaneTouchdown, 7 plays, 76 yards
Q3 USCMissed FG, 12 plays, 45 yards
Q3 TulaneField goal, 7 plays, 40 yards
Q3 USCTouchdown, 5 plays, 97 yards
Q3 TulaneTouchdown, 3 plays, 65 yards
Q3 USCTouchdown, 7 plays, 47 yards
Q4 TulaneFumble, 3 plays, 34 yards
Q4 USCField goal, 11 plays, 46 yards
Q4 TulaneTouchdown, 2 plays, 63 yards
Q4 USCSafety, 2 plays (Tulane scores), 0 yards
Q4 TulaneTouchdown, 12 plays, 66 yards
Q4 USCResult not recorded, 1 play, 0 yards
Play by play
1st quarter3 drives, then USC 7, Tulane 0
USC Touchdown, 17 plays
15:00
1st & 10 at own 35
Casey Glover kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
14:45
1st & 10 at own 25
Austin Jones run for 2 yds to the USC 27
14:12
2nd & 8 at own 27
Austin Jones run for 10 yds to the USC 37 for a 1ST down
13:40
1st & 10 at own 37
Caleb Williams pass incomplete to Terrell Bynum
13:15
2nd & 10 at own 37
Caleb Williams pass complete to Mario Williams for 8 yds to the USC 45
12:45
3rd & 2 at own 45
Caleb Williams pass complete to Mario Williams for 11 yds to the Tulan 44 for a 1ST down
12:25
1st & 10 at opp 44
Caleb Williams run for 4 yds to the Tulan 40
11:36
2nd & 6 at opp 40
Caleb Williams run for 4 yds to the Tulan 36
10:56
3rd & 2 at opp 36
Austin Jones run for 2 yds to the Tulan 34 for a 1ST down
10:14
1st & 10 at opp 34
Austin Jones run for 4 yds to the Tulan 30
9:34
2nd & 6 at opp 30
Caleb Williams pass incomplete to Tahj Washington
9:13
3rd & 6 at opp 30
Caleb Williams pass complete to Raleek Brown for 5 yds to the Tulan 25
8:46
4th & 1 at opp 25
Timeout USC, clock 08:46
8:41
4th & 1 at opp 25
Caleb Williams run for 2 yds to the Tulan 23 for a 1ST down
8:14
1st & 10 at opp 23
Caleb Williams pass incomplete to Lake McRee
8:00
2nd & 10 at opp 23
Raleek Brown run for a loss of 1 yard to the Tulan 24
7:30
3rd & 11 at opp 24
Caleb Williams pass complete to Brenden Rice for 12 yds to the Tulan 12 for a 1ST down
6:37
1st & 10 at opp 12
Austin Jones run for 3 yds to the Tulan 9
5:58
2nd & 7 at opp 9
Caleb Williams pass complete to Michael Jackson III for 9 yds for a TD (Denis Lynch KICK)USC 7, Tulane 0
Tulane Punt, 5 plays
5:58
2nd & 7 at own 35
Alex Stadthaus kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
5:37
1st & 10 at own 25
Tyjae Spears run for 6 yds to the Tulan 31
5:13
2nd & 4 at own 31
Tyjae Spears run for 8 yds to the Tulan 39 for a 1ST down
5:00
1st & 10 at own 39
Michael Pratt sacked by Shane Lee for a loss of 1 yard to the Tulan 38
4:15
2nd & 11 at own 38
Tyjae Spears run for no gain to the Tulan 38
3:18
3rd & 11 at own 38
Michael Pratt run for 8 yds to the Tulan 46
2:46
4th & 3 at own 46
Casey Glover punt for 49 yds, downed at the USC 5
USC Touchdown, 12 plays
2:39
1st & 10 at own 5
Caleb Williams pass incomplete to Kyle Ford
2:00
2nd & 10 at own 5
Caleb Williams pass complete to Austin Jones for 6 yds to the USC 11
1:30
3rd & 4 at own 11
Caleb Williams pass complete to Tahj Washington for 59 yds to the Tulan 30 for a 1ST down
1:20
1st & 10 at opp 30
Caleb Williams pass complete to Kyron Hudson for a loss of 2 yards to the Tulan 32
0:42
2nd & 12 at opp 32
Caleb Williams pass incomplete to Mario Williams
0:30
3rd & 12 at opp 32
Caleb Williams pass complete to Raleek Brown for 13 yds to the Tulan 19 for a 1ST down
0:17
1st & 10 at opp 19
USC Penalty, Substitution Infraction (-5 Yards) to the Tulan 24
0:01
1st & 15 at opp 24
Caleb Williams pass incomplete to Mario Williams
Q2 14:38
2nd & 15 at opp 24
Austin Jones run for 3 yds to the Tulan 21
Q2 14:12
3rd & 12 at opp 21
USC Penalty, Offensive Holding (Courtland Ford) to the Tulan 31
Q2 14:00
3rd & 22 at opp 31
Caleb Williams pass complete to Brenden Rice for 30 yds to the Tulan 1 for a 1ST down
Q2 13:10
1st & goal at opp 1
Austin Jones run for a loss of 2 yards to the Tulan 3
Q2 12:37
2nd & goal at opp 3
Caleb Williams pass incomplete to Brenden Rice
Q2 12:33
3rd & goal at opp 3
Caleb Williams pass complete to Terrell Bynum for 3 yds for a TD (Denis Lynch KICK)USC 14, Tulane 0
2nd quarter7 drives, then USC 28, Tulane 14
Tulane Touchdown, 8 plays
12:33
3rd & 12 at own 35
Alex Stadthaus kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
12:15
1st & 10 at own 25
Tyjae Spears run for 2 yds to the Tulan 27
11:45
2nd & 8 at own 27
Michael Pratt run for 40 yds to the USC 33 for a 1ST down
11:13
1st & 10 at opp 33
Michael Pratt pass incomplete to Shae Wyatt
11:13
2nd & 10 at opp 33
TULANE Penalty, Substitution Infraction (-5 Yards) to the USC 38
11:00
2nd & 15 at opp 38
Shaadie Clayton-Johnson run for 19 yds to the USC 19 for a 1ST down
10:15
1st & 10 at opp 19
Michael Pratt run for 2 yds to the USC 17
10:03
2nd & 8 at opp 17
Michael Pratt pass incomplete to Duece Watts
9:40
3rd & 8 at opp 17
Michael Pratt pass complete to Tyjae Spears for 14 yds to the USC 3 for a 1ST down
9:30
1st & goal at opp 3
Tyjae Spears run for 3 yds for a TD (Valentino Ambrosio KICK)USC 14, Tulane 7
USC Interception, 6 plays
9:30
1st & 10 at own 35
Casey Glover kickoff for 62 yds , Raleek Brown return for 21 yds to the USC 24
9:16
1st & 10 at own 24
Caleb Williams pass complete to Terrell Bynum for 19 yds to the USC 43 for a 1ST down
8:30
1st & 10 at own 43
Austin Jones run for 6 yds to the USC 49
8:10
2nd & 4 at own 49
Caleb Williams pass incomplete to Mario Williams
8:10
3rd & 4 at own 49
Timeout USC, clock 08:10
8:00
3rd & 4 at own 49
Caleb Williams pass complete to Mario Williams for 6 yds to the Tulan 45 for a 1ST down
7:00
1st & 10 at opp 45
Caleb Williams pass complete to Mario Williams for a loss of 7 yards to the Tulan 46 lat. to Raleek Brown for 6 yds to the Tulan 46
6:41
2nd & 11 at opp 46
TULANE Penalty, Defensive Pass Interference (Jarius Monroe) to the Tulan 31 for a 1ST down
6:32
1st & 10 at opp 31
Caleb Williams pass intercepted Jarius Monroe return for no gain to the Tulan 8
Tulane Touchdown, 2 plays
6:01
1st & 10 at own 8
Tyjae Spears run for 5 yds to the Tulan 13
5:42
2nd & 5 at own 13
Michael Pratt pass complete to Jha’Quan Jackson for 87 yds for a TD (Valentino Ambrosio KICK)Tied at 14
USC Touchdown, 6 plays
5:42
2nd & 5 at own 35
Casey Glover kickoff for 65 yds , Raleek Brown return for 25 yds to the USC 25
5:15
1st & 10 at own 25
Austin Jones run for 6 yds to the USC 31
5:00
2nd & 4 at own 31
Caleb Williams pass complete to Michael Jackson III for 4 yds to the USC 35 for a 1ST down
4:45
1st & 10 at own 35
Caleb Williams pass complete to Kyle Ford for 8 yds to the USC 43
4:00
2nd & 2 at own 43
Austin Jones run for 4 yds to the USC 47 for a 1ST down
3:30
1st & 10 at own 47
Raleek Brown run for 14 yds to the Tulan 39 for a 1ST down
2:21
1st & 10 at opp 39
Raleek Brown run for 39 yds for a TD (Denis Lynch KICK)USC 21, Tulane 14
Tulane Punt, 3 plays
2:21
1st & 10 at own 35
Alex Stadthaus kickoff for 65 yds , Lawrence Keys III return for 25 yds to the Tulan 25
2:11
1st & 10 at own 25
Michael Pratt pass incomplete to Alex Bauman
1:57
2nd & 10 at own 25
Michael Pratt run for 7 yds to the Tulan 32
1:29
3rd & 3 at own 32
Michael Pratt pass incomplete to Jha’Quan Jackson
1:19
4th & 3 at own 32
Casey Glover punt for 37 yds , Michael Jackson III returns for 1 yd to the USC 32
USC Touchdown, 6 plays
1:12
1st & 10 at own 32
Caleb Williams pass complete to Tahj Washington for 15 yds to the USC 47 for a 1ST down
0:57
1st & 10 at own 47
Caleb Williams pass complete to Tahj Washington for 9 yds to the Tulan 44
0:45
2nd & 1 at opp 44
Caleb Williams pass complete to Brenden Rice for 35 yds to the Tulan 9 for a 1ST down
0:28
1st & goal at opp 9
Austin Jones run for 2 yds to the Tulan 7
0:20
2nd & goal at opp 7
Austin Jones run for 3 yds to the Tulan 4
0:20
3rd & 0 at opp 4
Timeout USC, clock 00:20
0:20
3rd & 0 at opp 4
Timeout TULANE, clock 00:20
0:12
3rd & goal at opp 4
Caleb Williams pass complete to Brenden Rice for 4 yds for a TD (Denis Lynch KICK)USC 28, Tulane 14
Tulane Result not recorded, 1 play
0:12
3rd & 5 at own 35
Alex Stadthaus kickoff for 65 yds , Lawrence Keys III return for 9 yds to the Tulan 9
0:01
1st & 10 at own 9
TEAM run for a loss of 2 yards to the Tulan 7
3rd quarter6 drives, then USC 35, Tulane 30
Tulane Touchdown, 7 plays
15:00
1st & 10 at own 35
Alex Stadthaus kickoff for 64 yds , Lawrence Keys III return for 23 yds to the Tulan 24
14:45
1st & 10 at own 24
Tyjae Spears run for 47 yds to the USC 29 for a 1ST down
14:15
1st & 10 at opp 29
Michael Pratt pass incomplete to Tyjae Spears
14:14
2nd & 10 at opp 29
TULANE Penalty, False Start (Josh Remetich) to the USC 34
13:55
2nd & 15 at opp 34
Michael Pratt pass complete to Alex Bauman for 16 yds to the USC 18 for a 1ST down
13:33
1st & 10 at opp 18
Michael Pratt run for 5 yds to the USC 13
12:56
2nd & 5 at opp 13
Tyjae Spears run for 3 yds to the USC 10
12:26
3rd & 2 at opp 10
Tyjae Spears run for 3 yds to the USC 7 for a 1ST down
11:55
1st & goal at opp 7
Tyjae Spears run for 7 yds for a TD (Valentino Ambrosio KICK)USC 28, Tulane 21
USC Missed FG, 12 plays
11:55
1st & 10 at own 35
Casey Glover kickoff for 64 yds , Raleek Brown return for 19 yds to the USC 20
11:40
1st & 10 at own 20
Austin Jones run for 4 yds to the USC 24
11:05
2nd & 6 at own 24
Caleb Williams pass complete to Kyron Hudson for 16 yds to the USC 40 for a 1ST down
10:41
1st & 10 at own 40
Caleb Williams pass complete to Kyron Hudson for 5 yds to the USC 45
10:00
2nd & 5 at own 45
Caleb Williams pass complete to Austin Jones for 5 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
9:43
1st & 10 at the 50
Caleb Williams pass incomplete to Austin Jones
9:15
2nd & 10 at the 50
Raleek Brown run for 4 yds to the Tulan 46
8:53
3rd & 6 at opp 46
Caleb Williams pass incomplete to Tahj Washington
8:45
4th & 6 at opp 46
Caleb Williams pass complete to Mario Williams for 12 yds to the Tulan 34 for a 1ST down
7:54
1st & 10 at opp 34
Austin Jones run for a loss of 1 yard to the Tulan 35
7:21
2nd & 11 at opp 35
Caleb Williams pass incomplete to Brenden Rice
7:13
3rd & 11 at opp 35
Caleb Williams pass incomplete
7:08
4th & 11 at opp 35
Denis Lynch 52 yd FG MISSED
Tulane Field goal, 7 plays
6:59
1st & 10 at own 35
Michael Pratt pass incomplete to Duece Watts
6:45
2nd & 10 at own 35
Tyjae Spears run for 3 yds to the Tulan 38
6:08
3rd & 7 at own 38
Michael Pratt run for 23 yds to the USC 39 for a 1ST down USC Penalty, Face Mask (15 yards) (15 Yards) to the USC 24 for a 1ST down
5:58
1st & 10 at opp 24
Michael Pratt run for 3 yds to the USC 21
5:00
2nd & 7 at opp 21
Michael Pratt sacked by Solomon Tuliaupupu for a loss of 4 yards to the USC 25
4:15
3rd & 11 at opp 25
Michael Pratt run for no gain to the USC 25
4:02
4th & 11 at opp 25
Valentino Ambrosio 42 yd FG GOODUSC 28, Tulane 24
USC Touchdown, 5 plays
4:02
4th & 11 at own 35
Casey Glover kickoff for 62 yds , Raleek Brown return for 2 yds to the USC 37 USC Penalty, Personal Foul (2 Yards) to the USC 3
3:45
1st & 10 at own 3
Austin Jones run for 4 yds to the USC 7
3:10
2nd & 6 at own 7
Caleb Williams pass complete to Brenden Rice for 74 yds to the Tulan 19 for a 1ST down
2:39
1st & 10 at opp 19
Caleb Williams run for no gain to the Tulan 19
1:55
2nd & 10 at opp 19
Caleb Williams pass incomplete to Brenden Rice
1:24
3rd & 10 at opp 19
Caleb Williams pass complete to Brenden Rice for 19 yds for a TD (Denis Lynch KICK)USC 35, Tulane 24
Tulane Touchdown, 3 plays
1:24
3rd & 10 at own 35
Alex Stadthaus kickoff for 55 yds
0:50
1st & 10 at own 35
Tyjae Spears run for 62 yds to the USC 3 for a 1ST down
0:44
1st & goal at opp 3
Michael Pratt pass incomplete to Duece Watts
0:40
2nd & goal at opp 3
Tyjae Spears run for 3 yds for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed )USC 35, Tulane 30
USC Touchdown, 7 plays
0:39
2nd & 10 at own 35
Casey Glover on-side kick recovered by USC at the Tulan 47
0:15
1st & 10 at opp 47
Caleb Williams pass complete to Michael Jackson III for 16 yds to the Tulan 31 for a 1ST down
0:01
1st & 10 at opp 31
TULANE Penalty, Defensive Offside (5 Yards) to the Tulan 26
0:01
1st & 5 at opp 26
Caleb Williams pass complete to Austin Jones for a loss of 3 yards to the Tulan 29
Q4 14:50
2nd & 8 at opp 29
Caleb Williams pass complete to Kyle Ford for 11 yds to the Tulan 18 for a 1ST down
Q4 14:10
1st & 10 at opp 18
Austin Jones run for 4 yds to the Tulan 14
Q4 13:15
2nd & 6 at opp 14
Caleb Williams pass complete to Austin Jones for 6 yds to the Tulan 8 for a 1ST down
Q4 12:45
1st & goal at opp 8
Austin Jones run for 4 yds to the Tulan 4
Q4 12:09
2nd & goal at opp 4
Caleb Williams pass complete to Kyron Hudson for 4 yds for a TD (Denis Lynch KICK)USC 42, Tulane 30
4th quarter6 drives, then Tulane 46, USC 45
Tulane Fumble, 3 plays
12:09
2nd & 6 at own 35
Alex Stadthaus kickoff for 65 yds , Lawrence Keys III return for 31 yds to the Tulan 31
11:45
1st & 10 at own 31
Tyjae Spears run for 32 yds to the USC 37 for a 1ST down
11:00
1st & 10 at opp 37
Michael Pratt run for 2 yds to the USC 35
10:46
2nd & 8 at opp 35
Tyjae Spears run for 7 yds to the USC 28 Tyjae Spears fumbled, forced by Mekhi Blackmon, recovered by USC
USC Field goal, 11 plays
10:34
1st & 10 at own 28
Raleek Brown run for 4 yds to the USC 32
9:40
2nd & 6 at own 32
Caleb Williams pass complete to Tahj Washington for 9 yds to the USC 41 for a 1ST down
9:00
1st & 10 at own 41
USC Penalty, False Start (Mason Murphy) to the USC 36
8:34
1st & 15 at own 36
Austin Jones run for 3 yds to the USC 39
8:00
2nd & 12 at own 39
Caleb Williams pass complete to Tahj Washington for 17 yds to the Tulan 44 for a 1ST down
7:09
1st & 10 at opp 44
Raleek Brown run for 1 yd to the Tulan 43
6:37
2nd & 9 at opp 43
Austin Jones run for 2 yds to the Tulan 41
6:01
3rd & 7 at opp 41
Caleb Williams pass complete to Terrell Bynum for 9 yds to the Tulan 32 for a 1ST down
5:24
1st & 10 at opp 32
Timeout USC, clock 05:24
5:19
1st & 10 at opp 32
Austin Jones run for a loss of 1 yard to the Tulan 33
5:19
2nd & 11 at opp 33
Timeout TULANE, clock 05:19
5:14
2nd & 11 at opp 33
Caleb Williams pass complete to Michael Jackson III for 2 yds to the Tulan 31
5:14
3rd & 9 at opp 31
Timeout TULANE, clock 05:14
4:45
3rd & 9 at opp 31
Caleb Williams pass complete to Mario Williams for 5 yds to the Tulan 26
4:30
4th & 4 at opp 26
Denis Lynch 43 yd FG GOODUSC 45, Tulane 30
Tulane Touchdown, 2 plays
4:30
4th & 4 at own 35
Alex Stadthaus kickoff for 65 yds , Lawrence Keys III return for 37 yds to the Tulan 37
4:15
1st & 10 at own 37
Michael Pratt pass complete to Duece Watts for 59 yds to the USC 4 for a 1ST down
4:07
1st & goal at opp 4
Tyjae Spears run for 4 yds for a TD (Valentino Ambrosio KICK)USC 45, Tulane 37
USC Safety, 2 plays (Tulane scores)
4:07
1st & 10 at own 35
Casey Glover kickoff for 64 yds , Mario Williams return for no gain to the USC 1 Mario Williams fumbled, recovered by USC
4:00
1st & 10 at own 1
Austin Jones run for no gain to the USC 1
3:20
2nd & 10 at own 20
Alex Stadthaus kickoff for 67 yds , Lawrence Keys III return for 21 yds to the Tulan 34
3:20
2nd & 10 at own 1
Austin Jones run for a loss of 1 yard for a SAFETYUSC 45, Tulane 39
Tulane Touchdown, 12 plays
3:00
1st & 10 at own 34
Michael Pratt sacked by Tuli Tuipulotu for a loss of 11 yards to the Tulan 23
2:45
2nd & 21 at own 23
Tyjae Spears run for 10 yds to the Tulan 33
2:00
3rd & 11 at own 33
Michael Pratt run for 5 yds to the Tulan 38
1:17
4th & 6 at own 38
Michael Pratt run for 8 yds to the Tulan 46 for a 1ST down
1:08
1st & 10 at own 46
Timeout TULANE, clock 01:08
1:00
1st & 10 at own 46
Michael Pratt sacked by Nick Figueroa for a loss of 4 yards to the Tulan 42
0:50
2nd & 14 at own 42
Michael Pratt pass complete to Reggie Brown for 4 yds to the Tulan 46
0:31
3rd & 10 at own 46
Michael Pratt pass incomplete
0:25
4th & 10 at own 46
Michael Pratt pass complete to Alex Bauman for 24 yds to the USC 30 for a 1ST down
0:22
1st & 10 at opp 30
TEAM pass incomplete
0:18
2nd & 10 at opp 30
Michael Pratt pass complete to Duece Watts for 24 yds to the USC 6 for a 1ST down
0:12
1st & goal at opp 6
Michael Pratt pass incomplete to Alex Bauman
0:09
2nd & goal at opp 6
Michael Pratt pass complete to Alex Bauman for 6 yds for a TD (Valentino Ambrosio KICK)Tulane 46, USC 45
USC Result not recorded, 1 play
0:09
2nd & 10 at own 35
Casey Glover kickoff for 54 yds , Mekhi Blackmon return for no gain to the USC 11
0:02
1st & 10 at own 11
Caleb Williams pass incomplete to Mario Williams
Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.
PassingCaleb Williams36 of 51, 460 yards, 5 TD, 1 INTUSC3rd-best passing day of the bowls and playoff
RushingTyjae Spears17 carries, 205 yards, 4 TDTulane2nd-best rushing day of the bowls and playoff
Tulane
USC