If you've been following the NFL or college ball over the last couple of years, you already know Caleb Williams is a name that carries a lot of weight. But for a lot of people, there’s still a bit of a mix-up about where he actually cut his teeth. Maybe you saw him in those crimson and cream colors, or perhaps you only remember the cardinal and gold of Los Angeles.
So, what college did Caleb Williams go to?
Technically, he went to two. He started his journey at the University of Oklahoma and finished it at the University of Southern California (USC). It wasn’t just a simple transfer; it was a move that shifted the entire landscape of college football and basically served as his audition for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Norman Days: How it Started at Oklahoma
Honestly, the way Caleb Williams took over at Oklahoma was like something out of a movie. He arrived in Norman in 2021 as a five-star recruit from Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. At the time, he wasn't even the starter. Spencer Rattler, who was a Heisman favorite at the time, held the job.
Everything changed on October 9, 2021.
Oklahoma was getting absolutely handled by Texas in the Red River Showdown. They were down 35-17. Lincoln Riley, the head coach at the time, made the gutsiest call of his career and benched Rattler for the freshman.
The Red River Turnaround
Williams didn't just play; he took over. He led the Sooners to a massive 55-48 comeback win. He finished that game with 212 passing yards and two touchdowns, plus 88 yards on the ground. From that moment on, the job was his. He ended his freshman season at OU with 1,912 passing yards and 21 touchdowns in just seven starts.
The Transfer Portal and the USC Shift
Then things got weird.
In late 2021, Lincoln Riley dropped a bombshell: he was leaving Oklahoma to take the head coaching job at USC. This sent shockwaves through the sport. For a few weeks, everyone was asking the same thing: will Caleb stay or go?
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On February 1, 2022, he gave his answer. He was heading to sunny California to reunite with Riley. Interestingly, Williams later mentioned on the St. Brown Podcast that he was actually pretty mad at Riley at first. He even considered going to UCLA just so he could play against his former coach and beat him.
Ultimately, the bond between the QB and the coach was too strong. He chose USC, and the rest is history.
Becoming a Legend: Caleb Williams at USC
If his time at Oklahoma was the "coming out party," his time at USC was the "coronation."
In 2022, his first year in Los Angeles, Williams was virtually unstoppable. He looked like a human highlight reel, spinning out of sacks and throwing cross-body lasers that made NFL scouts drool.
The 2022 Heisman Season
That season, Williams threw for 4,537 yards and a staggering 42 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He also added 10 rushing touchdowns. It was a statistical masterclass. Because of that performance, he won the 2022 Heisman Trophy, becoming the eighth player in USC history to take home the award.
He followed that up in 2023 with another solid year, throwing for 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns. While the team struggled more in his final year, finishing 7-5, his individual talent was never in question. By the time he declared for the draft, USC had already decided to retire his No. 13 jersey—a tradition they hold for all their Heisman winners.
Why the Move Mattered
It’s easy to look back now and say it was an obvious choice, but at the time, it was a huge gamble. Williams was the face of the first real era of the "one-time transfer" rule combined with NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities.
- Coaching Continuity: He knew Riley’s system inside and out.
- Market Size: Moving from Norman, Oklahoma, to Los Angeles, California, put him in the media capital of the world.
- Draft Stock: The move proved he could perform under the brightest lights in a major market.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Students
If you're looking into Caleb Williams' path because you're interested in how the modern college football system works, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- The Portal is King: Williams is the poster child for how a player can use the transfer portal to align their career with a specific coach.
- Recruiting Matters: Even though he’s known as a USC legend, his development started way back in D.C. and Norman.
- Check the Stats: If you're comparing QBs, look at his "TD-to-INT" ratio at both schools. It’s remarkably consistent, which is why the Chicago Bears felt so comfortable taking him first overall.
Caleb Williams' college journey is a roadmap of how the game has changed. He navigated two major programs, a coaching scandal, and a cross-country move, all while maintaining the status of the best player in the country. Whether you consider him a Sooner or a Trojan, there's no denying the impact he left on both campuses.
To get a better feel for his style, look up his 2021 Red River Showdown highlights—that's the exact moment the "Caleb Williams Era" truly began.