Caleb Williams should sit out rest of 2023 season, argues CFB analyst
Caleb Williams and the Trojans lost their second game of the season Saturday night to Utah, 34-32. In the aftermath of that loss, FOX Sports analyst Emmanuel Acho that it would be “fiscally irresponsible” for Williams to continue playing this season. Acho argued Williams should sit out the remainder of the year and prepare for the NFL Draft.
Williams is the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. But he and the Trojans saw their College Football Playoff hopes dashed Saturday night by the Utes. A second loss in as many weeks figures to knock the Trojans out of CFP contention; no team has ever made the field with multiple losses.
And Williams might also be out of the running for the Heisman Trophy.
As such, Acho tweeted that Williams needs to make a business decision and sit out the rest of the season because the risk of playing outweighs the reward at this point.
With National Championship hopes gone, Caleb Williams should consider sitting out the rest of the season.
The Heisman is a long shot, CFB Playoffs are even less likely, and he won’t play in the bowl game.
The risk of playing FAR outweighs the reward. Business decision. pic.twitter.com/VUpSBfbnCF
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 22, 2023
Acho then hit back at a commenter and said if we don’t judge players for skipping a bowl game (which some people still absolutely do) then sitting the last four games in a regular season shouldn’t be viewed any differently.
It would be fiscally irresponsible for him to keep playing.
Winning another Heisman/ a Natty is priceless and worth the risk.
But what is he playing for at this point? If we’re not going to judge him when he sits the bowl game, why have an issue now?
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 22, 2023
Williams completed 24 of his 34 passes for 256 yards against the Utes. He added 27 rushing yards and a touchdown. Though Williams is still second in the country in passing touchdowns this season (23), he seems to be fading in the Heisman Trophy conversation.
USC has lost back-to-back games, but it still has only one conference loss and with games against Oregon and Washington left on the schedule, the Trojans can still theoretically get to the Pac-12 title game. You have to think NFL personnel would have concerns if Williams pulled the plug now.