In the end, Caleb Williams stood idle without his helmet on the sideline.
As has been the case for much of this season, he could only watch as things fell apart. With UCLA comfortably in front and the clock bleeding out, Williams, one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in recent memory, watched his college career slowly tick away.
Symbolically, it never should have ended like this. After making magic for two years, seeing Williams go out quietly seemed almost unfair. In a way, however, USC's latest loss is a perfect encapsulation of the Trojans' current state and the unknown still to come.