Rivalry week was here. Laiatu Latu’s focus did not waver when the UCLA edge rusher’s coach told him he was a finalist for the Lombardi Award, one of the most prestigious honors in college football and one that a Bruin had never won.
“I just want to win the game this week,” Latu told Chip Kelly, convincing his coach not to share the news with the team.
Later that week at the Coliseum, Latu sacked USC quarterback Caleb Williams on back-to-back plays in the third quarter, knocking the Trojans back from UCLA’s five-yard line to the 17.