PAC-12 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: USC V UTAH

December 2, 2022

Cameron Rising

Ja'Quinden Jackson

Allegiant Stadium

Utah Utes

Postgame Press Conference

Utah - 47, USC - 24

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. That hit that you had, what did that do to the rest of the team, kind of the offense after that happened?

CAMERON RISING: What play did you say?

Q. When you got hit and your helmet popped off. What did that hit do for the rest of the offense? Was it even something that affected you?

CAMERON RISING: Nope.

JA'QUINDEN JACKSON: It affected me.

CAMERON RISING: J.J. wanted it more than me out there. And the next play he showed it.

JA'QUINDEN JACKSON: I was pissed. Because I felt like it was my fault. I should have looked in, tried to block him as least. Yeah, I was pissed about that.

CAMERON RISING: It is what it is, Scooby snacks.

Q. Cam, J.J., how good does this one feel?

JA'QUINDEN JACKSON: Man, unbelievable. I don't even know how to describe it, man. Like I've been saying it all year, we're doing this for '22. I even got it on my wrist. Year 2022, doing it for '22, so it was definitely our year.

CAMERON RISING: It was destined. That's what it felt like.

JA'QUINDEN JACKSON: It was destiny.

Q. Can you talk about the momentum shift. You guys were down in the first quarter, but yet you turned it around. What was the key?

CAMERON RISING: Unwavering belief. We have a game plan. We have players that are great players, that get the job done. We just can't stop believing in that. That's what we did. That's why the game ended the way it ended.

Q. Ja'Quinden, what has the experience been like for you to switch to running back, then run for 105 yards and two touchdowns in the Pac-12 championship?

JA'QUINDEN JACKSON: It's a blessing, man. It was real natural because all through middle school, a little bit in high school, I played running back. It was natural ability to me.

But like I said, it's a blessing doing it. I'm glad I made it happen. I did it for the team. They needed it, so I just made it happen.

CAMERON RISING: You can cut the tape off of him in high school back in Duncanville, him getting loose. You get an idea of it (smiling).

Q. Cam, you've been talking about unwavering belief for a few weeks. Down two scores, they had the momentum, you're in the huddle, what was your message?

CAMERON RISING: Let's go. We knew what we had to go out and do. Just wanted to go execute it.

Everybody was on page. Just had to get them a little fired up, get their piss blowing pretty much (laughter).

Q. Cameron, can you describe what it's like in a game like tonight where all of a sudden one guy after another is busting through tackles at different points in the game, where maybe the sense that you get of how you are asserting yourself physically?

CAMERON RISING: Yeah, we talked about imposing our will tonight. That's really what we wanted to go out and do. Yeah, throwing those guys the ball there, they're going to break the tackle, along with J.J. and Miki taking the load right there, running it. Did a great job breaking tackles, taking advantage of those missed opportunities that they had.

Q. I don't know if you were able to see it, but Caleb Williams paints his nails before every game. Today he had (expletive) Utah on his nails.

JA'QUINDEN JACKSON: He had what?

Q. A swear word on one hand and then Utah on the other. Do you have any response to that?

CAMERON RISING: It said (expletive) Utah on there? Don't give (expletive). It is what it is, you know. You can do whatever you want. Put whatever you want on your nails. I'm not going to judge you for whatever you do.

Yeah... Hope he liked it.

Q. When a season starts and you talk about college football, you talk about coaches, the greats, rarely do we hear Kyle Whittingham's name be brought up. Do we need to hear he's one of the best if not the best coach in college football?

JA'QUINDEN JACKSON: Yes, yes, most definitely. I don't know why it's not. Like, back to back Pac-12 championships? C'mon now. He been here too long for people not to be talking about him. One of the best coaches that I've ever been around. Like, it's time.

CAMERON RISING: Yeah, he's one of the most winning coaches in the Pac-12. The most winning coach at Utah. He's been doing something right. He's been tenured there for so long that you're going to be doing something right if you're there for that long.

He's just a great coach. Going back to back, I think he's moving up on that list for sure.

Q. Defending Pac-12 champions, yet you come into this game cast as the underdog. Can you talk about being in that role and the emotion you fed off of.

JA'QUINDEN JACKSON: We already knew what we had to do. It was just a regular game to us. Like, we knew we had to play physical. We knew that we had to stick together as one.

It was just regular game to us.

CAMERON RISING: I felt we took it a little personal, kind of saw all that. Just disrespect. Just wanted to go out and prove a point.

JA'QUINDEN JACKSON: That, too.

Q. I'm sure you noticed there was a lot of attention paid to USC this week in terms of both their Playoff chances, Caleb Williams' Heisman chances. Did you feel you needed to prove a point this week not to crown them just yet?

JA'QUINDEN JACKSON: Most definitely, and we did.

CAMERON RISING: Yep, exactly.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, guys.