It has been a miserable season for Washington State, but one of the few bright spots has been quarterback Connor Halliday's record-setting pace as a passer in Mike Leach's offense.
Unfortunately for Cougars fans, that has come to an end as well this year.
Halliday was carted off the field Saturday early in the first quarter against USC after Trojans defensive end Leonard Williams rolled into his leg. An air cast was placed on Halliday's leg before he was put on a stretcher, ending his senior season with what was later reported to be a fibula fracture.
Leach confirmed the injury in his postgame news conference.
Coming into Week 10, Halliday led the FBS in a handful of statistical categories, including passing yards, total offense, points, and attempts. Halliday will finish with 3,833 yards on 67 percent passing with 32 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His numbers will place him fourth on the Pac-12's career passing list and allow him to own just about every school record through the air.
That wasn't the only major injury news to come out of USC's runaway win. The Trojans lost sophomore safety/linebacker Su'a Cravens to a knee injury late in the second quarter. Cravens, who had been a defensive bright spot for the team, was helped off by trainers and didn't return. School officials later said he suffered a sprained knee, but the severity of the injury probably will not be known until the team is back in Los Angeles.
While it didn't seem to hamper the team against an overmatched Washington State squad, his health will be a major storyline for a Trojans team that is still trying to stay afloat in the tough Pac-12 South.
Aside from the injuries, Saturday did present a chance for USC's stars to get back on track with quality performances. Williams made a number of tackles and racked up several quarterback pressures and tackles for loss, and he also nearly came away with an interception off a batted ball.
Receiver Nelson Agholor set a school-record -- and that's saying something at a place like USC -- with his fourth career punt return for a touchdown and had 220 yards receiving.
The biggest news to come out of Pullman on Saturday, however, was the injury to Halliday, an all-time great at Washington State whose next snaps might just come in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine if he's invited.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
