University Southern California Trojans
USC
TCU
No. 16 USC Football Seeking Third Straight Bowl Victory At Valero Alamo Bowl Versus TCU
December 26, 2025 | Football
REMEMBER THE ALAMO
*In 1925-26, tackle John Wayne (playing under his real name, Marion Morrison) suited up for the Trojans before going on to become one of Hollywood's most famous Golden Age actors.
*In one of Wayne's many films, he starred as Colonel Davy Crockett in the 1960 Western epic, "The Alamo", a project he also directed and produced.
*USC Football now comes full circle as the Trojans move from the silver screen to the Alamodome, making their first-ever appearance in the Alamo Bowl.
*USC (9-3) will face TCU (8-4) in the 33rd Valero Alamo Bowl in the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas at 6 p.m. PT ( 8 p.m. CT) on Tuesday, Dec. 30 on ESPN.
*USC is 2-3 all-time against TCU, most recently falling to the Horned Frogs 19-28 in the 1998 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
*USC has won 11 national championships, TCU claims 2.
*USC is 36-20 in bowl games (not including 1 win and 1 loss vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 37-21), while TCU has a 19-16 postseason record.
*The Trojans claim 177 All-American first teamers, while the Horned Frogs have 58.
*USC has 891 all-time wins with a .694 winning percentage, while TCU boasts 702 all-time wins with a .548 winning percentage (not including USC's 14 wins and 1 loss vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 905, .697).
*And much like the 26-year-old commander William B. Travis' famous 1836 line from the Alamo — "I shall never surrender or retreat" — our modern-day Trojans will embody the same historic message in their final game of the 2025 season with their modern battle cry of "Fight On!"
BOWL HISTORY
*USC is among the nation's premier bowl teams with an overall postseason record of 36-20 (not including 1 win and 1 loss later vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record 37-21).
*USC has a remarkable record in bowl games. The Trojans are tied for nation's sixth highest bowl winning percentage (.643) among the 105 schools that have made at least 10 bowl appearances (behind Army's .727, Marshall's .684, Utah's .680, South Florida's .667 and Wake Forest's.647 (not including 1 USC win and 1 USC loss vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: .638)
*USC's 36 bowl victories are second behind Alabama's 41 and tied with Georgia's 36 for the most in the nation (not including 1 win for both teams vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 37 for USC, 42 for Alabama).
*In the CFP era, USC is third in postseason victories (including playoff games that are not-bowl affiliated such as the first round and the national championship) with 36, behind Alabama's 44 and Georgia's 38.
*Troy's 56 bowl appearances are tied for fifth most with Tennessee, behind Alabama (70), Texas (61), Georgia (60), and Oklahoma (58) (not including 2 USC appearances and 1 Alabama appearance vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 58 for USC, 71 for Alabama).
*USC's 56 postseason appearances are tied for seventh most with LSU and Penn State, behind Alabama (76), Georgia (63), Texas (62), Ohio State (59), Oklahoma (58) and Tennessee (57); (not including 2 USC appearances, 1 Ohio State appearance and 1 Alabama appearance vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 58 for USC, 60 for Ohio State, 77 for Alabama).
*USC once won 9 consecutive bowl games (the 1923-30-32-33-39-40- 44-45 Rose Bowls and 1924 Christmas Festival); only Florida State has won more in a row (11).
*USC's overall post-season record is 36-20 (not including 1 win and 1 loss vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 37-21). The Trojans were a bowl participant each year they were eligible from 1972 to 1990.
*USC has appeared in an unprecedented 33 Rose Bowls, where it has a 25-8 mark (.758) (not including 1 appearance and 1 loss later vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 34 Rose Bowls, 25-9, .735).
*That is not only the most Rose Bowl wins of any team, but also the most wins by a school in a single bowl. USC has won 12 of its last 14 Rose Bowls (not including 1 appearance and 1 loss later vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 12 of its last 15).
*USC is the only team to win 3 consecutive Rose Bowls (2007- 08-09). USC twice played in 4 consecutive Rose Bowl games (1967 to 1970 and 2006 to 2009); Ohio State (1973 to 1976) is the only other team to have played in 4.
USC'S BOWL RECORD
*1923--USC 14, Penn State 3 (Rose Bowl)
*1924—USC 20, Missouri 7 (Christmas Festival)
*1930--USC 47, Pittsburgh 14 (Rose Bowl)
*1932--USC 21, Tulane 12 (Rose Bowl)
*1933--USC 35, Pittsburgh 0 (Rose Bowl)
*1939--USC 7, Duke 3 (Rose Bowl)
*1940--USC 14, Tennessee 0 (Rose Bowl)
*1944--USC 29, Washington 0 (Rose Bowl)
*1945--USC 25, Tennessee 0 (Rose Bowl)
*1946--Alabama 34, USC 14 (Rose Bowl)
*1948--Michigan 49, USC 0 (Rose Bowl)
*1953--USC 7, Wisconsin 0 (Rose Bowl)
*1955--Ohio State 20, USC 7 (Rose Bowl)
*1963--USC 42, Wisconsin 37 (Rose Bowl)
*1967--Purdue 14, USC 13 (Rose Bowl)
*1968--USC 14, Indiana 3 (Rose Bowl)
*1969--Ohio State 27, USC 16 (Rose Bowl)
*1970--USC 10, Michigan 3 (Rose Bowl)
*1973--USC 42, Ohio State 17 (Rose Bowl)
*1974--Ohio State 42, USC 21 (Rose Bowl)
*1975--USC 18, Ohio State 17 (Rose Bowl)
*1975—USC 20, Texas A&M 0 (Liberty Bowl)
*1977--USC 14, Michigan 6 (Rose Bowl)
*1977—USC 47, Texas A&M 28 (Bluebonnet Bowl)
*1979--USC 17, Michigan 10 (Rose Bowl)
*1980--USC 17, Ohio State 16 (Rose Bowl)
*1982—Penn State 26, USC 10 (Fiesta Bowl)
*1985--USC 20, Ohio State 17 (Rose Bowl)
*1985—Alabama 24, USC 3 (Aloha Bowl)
*1987—Auburn 16, USC 7 (Florida Citrus Bowl)
*1988--Michigan State 20, USC 17 (Rose Bowl)
*1989--Michigan 22, USC 14 (Rose Bowl)
*1990--USC 17, Michigan 10 (Rose Bowl)
*1990—Michigan State 17, USC 16 (John Hancock Bowl)
*1992—Fresno State 24, USC 7 (Freedom Bowl)
*1993—USC 28, Utah 21 (Freedom Bowl)
*1996--USC 41, Northwestern 32 (Rose Bowl)
*1998—TCU 28, USC 19 (Sun Bowl)
*2001—Utah 10, USC 6 (Las Vegas Bowl)
*2003—USC 38, Iowa 17 (Orange Bowl)
*2004--USC 28, Michigan 14 (Rose Bowl)
*2005—USC 55, Oklahoma 19 (Orange Bowl, BCS Championship)
*2006--Texas 41, USC 38 (BCS Champ. Game) (Rose Bowl)
*2007--USC 32, Michigan 18 (Rose Bowl)
*2008—USC 49, Illinois 17 (Rose Bowl)
*2009—USC 38, Penn State 24 (Rose Bowl)
*2009—USC 24, Boston College 13 (Emerald Bowl)
*2012—Georgia Tech 21, USC 7 (Sun Bowl)
*2013—USC 45, Fresno State 20 (Las Vegas Bowl)
*2014—USC 45, Nebraska 42 (Holiday Bowl)
*2015 —Wisconsin 23, USC 21 (Holiday Bowl)
*2016—USC 52, Penn State 49 (Rose Bowl)
*2017—Ohio State24, USC 7 (Cotton Bowl)
*2019—Iowa 49, USC 24 (Holiday Bowl)
*2022—Tulane 46, USC 45 (Cotton Bowl)
*2023—USC 42, Louisville 28 (Holiday Bowl)
*2024—USC 35, Texas A&M 31 (Las Vegas Bowl)
MAKAI LEMON • 2025 BILETNIKOFF WINNER
*USC WR Makai Lemon was named a 2025 unanimous First Team All-American.
*He is USC's first unanimous selection since QB Caleb Williams and DT Tuli Tuipulotu were unanimous selections in 2022.
*Former USC WR Marqise Lee was USC's last unanimous All-American wide receiver in 2012.
*Additionally, Lemon was named the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner and the 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year.
*Lemon also earned honors as a On3 First Team All-American, Sports Illustrated First Team All-American, The Athletic First Team All-American, a PFF All-American and a Pro Football Sports Network Third Team All-American. In addition to earning All-Conference honors by the Big Ten, Lemon was also named to the AP All-Big Ten First Team and the Sports Info Solution All-Big Ten First Team.
*Lemon showcased himself as the nation's best receiver. Per PFF, Lemon is the highest graded wide receiver in college football holding an overall grade of 90.4 and the nation's top receiving grade of 91.3. The First Team All-American and Biletnikoff winner finished the regular season leading the Power Four in receiving yards (1,156) and receiving yards per game (96.3). He also led the Big Ten in receptions per game (6.6), yards after catch (502) and is tied for most receiving TDs (11). Lemon finished the regular season third in the Power Four with 19 receptions of 20+ yards, and he was tied for first nationally with 50 catches for first downs. In 2025, Lemon scored 11 receiving TDs, 2 rushing TDs and threw a passing TD. Lemon is the first Big Ten player to catch 2 TDs and throw a TD in a game (versus Oregon) since Minnesota's Eric Decker versus Cal on Sept. 19, 2009. He recorded five 100-yard receiving games this season and seven in his career. He has been in double digits in receptions 3 times in 2025. In his career, he's recorded 137 receptions for 2,008 yards (14.7 avg.) with 14 TDs, and he currently ranks 22nd on USC's career receptions list.
BISHOP FITZGERALD • CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICAN
*USC S Bishop Fitzgerald was named a 2025 consensus First Team All-American (FWAA, Walter Camp and AP).
*USC's last consensus All-American defensive back was S Talanoa Hufanga in 2020.
*Fitzgerald was also PFF All-America Team, AFCA All-America Second Team, Sporting News All-America Second Team, On3 All-America Second Team, Sports Illustrated All-America Second Team, and The Athletic All America Second Team. He was additionally honored as an AP All-Big Ten First Team member.
*Fitzgerald was one of the country's best defenders and finished the regular season leading the Big Ten (and No. 2 nationally) in interceptions. His 5 interceptions are the most by a Trojan since Calen Bullock in 2022, with 3 of them occurring within USC's red zone. Even after missing two games due to injury late in the season, the All-American candidate still ranked fourth on USC's defense with 51 total tackles (34 of them solo stops), including 2.5 for loss of 18 yards (with 1 sack for minus 11 yards) and 3 PBUs. He was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Additionally, Fitzgerald was named the Bronko Nagurski Player of the Week after his performance against Michigan when he hauled in 2 picks (his second game of the season with 2 interceptions) to help USC win 31-13 in one of USC's biggest victories since moving to the Big Ten.
ALL-BIG TEN SELECTIONS
*Sixteen Trojan football players earned All-Big Ten Conference honors.
*WR Makai Lemon and S Bishop Fitzgerald both earned First Team honors by the coaches and the media.
*Both the coaches and media also selected TE Lake McRee to the Second Team.
*All-Big Ten Third Team honors were presented to WR Ja'Kobi Lane, QB Jayden Maiava and K Ryon Sayeri.
*LB Eric Gentry, DE Anthony Lucas, TE Walker Lyons, RB King Miller, OL Alani Noa, SNP Hank Pepper, S Kamari Ramsey, OL Tobias Raymond, OL Justin Tauanuu and DT Devan Thompkins each earned Big Ten Honorable Mention.
*OL Tobias Raymond was bestowed with the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, an honor that recognizes student-athletes from each member school who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship, ethical behavior and good citizenship.
BOWL GAME AVAILABILITY UPDATE
*On Dec. 15, USC head coach Lincoln Riley announced that the following Trojans would not be participating in the Alamo Bowl: LB Eric Gentry, WR Ja'Kobi Lane, WR Makai Lemon, TE Lake McRee, S Kamari Ramsey.
*He also noted that S Bishop Fitzgerald and DE Anthony Lucas were dealing with injuries and would like to play.
*Finally, he shared that OL Kilian O'Connor, OL Elijah Paige and DT Jahkeem Stewart were shut down for the season due to surgery.
MAIAVA MAGIC
*QB Jayden Maiava has recorded 247-of-373 (.662) for 3,431 yards with 23 TDs throughout the 2025 regular season.
*Maiava is No. 1 in the nation with a 91.2 QBR.
*He finished the regular season leading the Big Ten in passing yards (3,431), passing yards per game (285.9), passing yards per completion (13.89) and total offense (298.4).
*Great throws beat great coverages, and Maiava's precision and athleticism display just that. His accuracy is showcased through his excellent ball placement and timing in his high-value and highdifficulty passes as he finished the regular season No. 2 in the nation with 26 big time throws, per PFF.
KING MILLER • AMERICA'S BEST WALK ON
*RB King Miller, the nation's most exciting and well-known walk-on and bulldozing RB Bryan Jackson are a dynamic duo.
*After RBs Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders went down against Michigan, Miller immediately stepped up and never missed a beat.
*Miller has recorded 749 yards on 114 carries (6.60 avg.) with 5 TDs.
*Miller is No. 3 in the Power Four and second in the Big Ten in rush yards per carry (6.57).
RESHUFFLED AND RELENTLESS
*USC has showcased seven different starting offensive line combinations throughout 12 games.
*The USC offensive line has helped the Trojans average 297.3 passing yards per game (first in the Big Ten), while averaging 174.3 yards on the ground (sixth in the Big Ten). USC is second in the Big Ten in total offense (471.6).
*The line has protected Maiava well considering he has only been sacked 11 times all season. He has the second fewest sacks in the Big Ten and has the ninth fewest in the Power Four.
*The line's run blocking has allowed seven different Trojans to score a total of 28 rushing touchdowns so far this season.
D'ANTON'S DEFENSE
*Defensively, USC's 22.4 ppg allowed is the best for a USC team since allowing 22.2 ppg in 2016.
*The Trojans had 9 games holding opponents under 400 yards, which is the most in a season since 2013.
*USC had an opponent red zone TD percentage of just 73.3% which is the 10th best in the FBS.
*LB Desman Stephens II leads the Trojans with 83 tackles, including 1 for loss of 4 yards.
*The Trojans have tallied 11 INTs: S Bishop Fitzgerald with 5, and CB DeCarlos Nicholson, DE Braylan Shelby, S Kennedy Urlacher, DT Jahkeem Stewart, DT Jamaal Jarrett and DE Garrett Pomerantz each with 1.
*Shelby is USC's leading sack man with 4.5 on the season for minus 17 yards.
KICKIN' IT WITH SAYERI
*Walk-on K Ryon Sayeri had an incredible season for the Trojans. Sayeri, who was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, has an 81.0% accuracy rating on field goals, going 17-of-21.
*He is closing in on USC's record for most field goals in a single season (19).
*He is 6-of-7 in field goals versus ranked AP or CFP opponents, and he's 6-of-6 over 40+ yards. He's recorded 83 kickoffs for 5,404 yards (both No. 2 in the Power Four and first in the Big Ten).
*His 58 touchbacks are 10th most in the Power Four and first in the Big Ten.
RANKINGS
*USC is ranked No. 16 in the CFP, Poll, the AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches' Poll. TCU is not ranked in the CFP Poll, the AP Poll or the USA Today Coaches' Poll.
VERSUS THE BIG 12
*USC is 107*-42-0 (.718) all-time against Big 12 schools (2 overall wins vacated due to NCAA penalty, including 1 win vs. Arizona and 1 win vs. ASU (original overall record: 109-42-0, .722).
*The last time USC played a team from the Big 12 was in the 2023 season when USC fell 32-34 to Utah in the Coliseum, when they were previously members of the Pac-12 Conference.
IN DOMES
*USC is 5-4 in domed (or closed roof) stadiums, beating Washington State in the Kingdome in 1976, Texas A&M in the 1977 Bluebonnet Bowl in the Astrodome, Houston in the Astrodome in 1996, LSU at Allegiant Stadium in 2024 and Texas A&M in the 2024 Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium, but losing in AT&T Stadium to Alabama in 2016, Ohio State in the 2017 Cotton Bowl and Tulane in the 2023 Cotton Bowl and in Allegiant Stadium to Utah in the 2022 Pac-12 Championship.
IN THE STATE OF TEXAS
*USC is 9-8 in games played in Texas: 2-1 at Texas, 2-0 against Texas Tech (1 game in Lubbock and 1 in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas), 1-1 at Baylor, 1-0 each versus Texas A&M (in the Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston), Rice, SMU and Houston, 0-1 each versus Michigan State in the John Hancock Bowl, TCU in the Sun Bowl, Georgia Tech in the Sun Bowl and 0-3 in AT&T Stadium against Alabama, Ohio State (2017 Cotton Bowl) and Tulane (2023 Cotton Bowl).
IN DECEMBER
*USC has a 46-32-7 (.582) all-time record while playing in the month of December (not including 2 wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 48-32-7, .592).
SEASON ENDERS
*USC is 71-48-11 (.589) in all season finales (does not include 1 win and 1 loss vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 72- 49-11, .587).
AT NIGHT
*USC is 201-83-4 (.705) at night (5 p.m. or later), including 118-36-4 in the Coliseum, 66-38 on the road and 17-9 at neutral sites. (Does not include 5 wins and 1 loss vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 206-84-4, .708 overall, 121-35-4 in the Coliseum, 19-10 at neutral sites, USC had a school-record 32-game win streak at home at night from 1997 to 2010).
ARTIFICIAL TURF
*USC is 53-43-1 in its last 97 games on artificial turf (not including 3 wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 56-43-1).
TV OUTLETS
*USC has appeared live on 35 different television broadcasting outlets. The Trojans have won on the air on all but 3 of those outlets (KTLA, Innovative and a local Memphis station). USC has appeared on live national, regional or local telecasts 604 times.
*This is the first time USC has appeared on ESPN in 2025.
USC • TCU CONNECTIONS
*USC has 9 players from the state of Texas (WR Jay Fair, DE Braylan Shelby, WR Tanook Hines, RB Riley Wormley, QB Gage Roy, OL J'Onre Reed, SNP Luke Brown, TE Lake McRee and DE Jadyn Ramos) while TCU has 5 players from the state of California.
*USC Running Backs Coach / Run Game Coordinator Anthony Jones Jr. was the running backs coach at TCU from 2022-23. He helped to coach the Horned Frogs to the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship.
*TCU WR Joseph Manjack IV played his freshman season at USC in 2021.
*TCU Defensive Line Coach Jordan Iosefa was an inside linebacker at USC from 2018-2021.
*USC QB Sam Huard, USC OL Willi Wascher and TCU TE DJ Rogers are from Bellevue, Wash.
*USC DT Jahkeem Stewart and TCU E Jonathan Bax prepped together at Edna Karr High School in New Orleans, La.
*USC S Kennedy Urlacher and TCU WR Braylon James both previously played at Notre Dame.
*USC TE Lake McRee, TCU WR Ed Small and TCU LB Rhett Steppe are all from Austin, Texas.
*USC QB Sam Huard and TCU CB Elijah Jackson both previously played at Washington.
*USC WR Zacharyus Williams, USC WR Marcelles Williams, USC P Rey Sanchez and TCU CB Elijah Jackson are all from Carson, Calif.
*USC WR Corey Simms and TCU LB Michael Teason are both from Saint Louis, Mo. and previously prepped together at Christian Brothers College High School.
*USC RB Riley Wormley and TCU PK Kyle Lemmermann prepped together at Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas.
*USC WR Tanook Hines, USC OL J'Onre Reed, USC DE Jadyn Ramos, TCU S Joseph Albright, TCU OL Samir Camacho and TCU E Paul Oyewale are all from Houston, Texas.
*USC DE Anthony Lucas, USC CB Kevin Longstreet and TCU OL Remington Strickland all previously played at Texas A&M.
*USC DE Anthony Lucas and TCU OL Cade Bennett are both from Scottsdale, Ariz.
*USC WR Jay Fair, USC QB Gage Roy and TCU OL Gannon Gaubert are all from Dallas, Texas.
*USC OL Elijah Paige and TCU SN Cal Keeler are both from Phoenix, Ariz.
*USC Director of Recruiting Weston Zernechel was a recruiting assistant for Houston in 2016, the same time that TCU Co-Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line Coach A.J. Ricker was an offensive analyst for the Cougars.
*USC Assistant Director of Football Equipment Nate Simon served as the director of equipment operations at Georgia State in 2019, while TCU Running Backs Coach Jimmy Smith served in a similar position for the Panthers.
*USC Offensive Analyst Spencer Jones played at Liberty in 2016-17, while TCU Linebackers Coach Josh Bookbinder served in a variety of positions for the Flames at the same time.
*USC Director of Recruiting Strategy Skyler Phan served as director of on-campus recruiting at Houston from 2022-23, while TCU Defensive Line Coach Sedrick Williams was a defensive lineman for the Cougars. During this same time, TCU General Manager Ryan Dorchester served in a similar role at Houston.
*USC Athletic Trainer Bronson Sagon previously worked as an assistant athletic trainer at TCU with the track and field and cross-country teams.
*USC Swim and Dive Assistant Coach Keith Dawley previously was on staff at TCU from 2017-18 where he held the title of Associate Head Coach/Interim Head Coach.
*USC Assistant Coach of Jumps & Multi-Events for Track and Field Jeff Petersmeyer was an assistant coach at TCU from 2006-09.
TCU SCOUTING REPORT
*TCU Head coach Sonny Dykes leads the Horned Frogs with an 8-4 record, most recently defeating Cincinnati 45-23. Through his three seasons at TCU, he holds a 27-13 record and a College Football Playoff National Championship appearance in 2022.
*TCU QB Josh Hoover, who led the Horned Frogs this season, announced he will be entering the transfer portal and opting out of the bowl game. This season, he ranked among the program's all-time leaders with a .659 percent completion rate. He went 272-of-413 for 3,472 yards with 29 TDs and 13 INTs.
*The Horned Frogs are likely to turn to backup QB Ken Seals. Seals previously started 23 games at Vanderbilt. In three seasons with the Commodores, Seals went 418-of-691 (.605) for 4,292 yards and 28 TD with 22 INTs. He's served as the backup quarterback at TCU the past two years and has tallied 14-of-19 for 121 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT.
*Freshman QB Adam Schobel is another quarterback option. He has not yet played as a Horned Frog.
*WR Eric McAlister, an All-Big 12 First Team selection, has had one of the best regular seasons in TCU receiver history in 2025 as he has tallied 64 receptions for 1,121 yards, which places him in second on TCU's single-season receiving yard chart. He recorded 10 TDs and also eclipsed the 100-yard mark six times this season.
*The rushing game is led by RB Jeremy Payne who has tallied 550 rushing yards on 97 attempts (5.7 avg.) with 4 TDs.
*Defensively, the Horned Frogs are anchored by LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr, another All-Conference First Team selection. He has recorded 119 tackles, including 9.5 for loss of 45 yards (with 4 sacks for minus 31 yards) and 2 PBUs.
*On special teams, K Nate McCashland has made 9-of-12 field goals (.750) with a long of 41.
NATIONAL SIGNING DAY
*Thirty-five high school football players have signed with USC during the December early signing period, Trojan head coach Lincoln Riley announced.
*The 2026 signees are, alphabetically: RB Shahn Alston, WR Tron Baker, TE Mark Bowman, DT Malik Brooks, CB Jayden Crowder, OL Chase Deniz, WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, OL Vlad Dyakonov, S Peyton "Man Man" Dyer, WR Ethan "Boobie" Feaster, OL John Fifita, CB Elbert "Rock" Hill IV, CB Joshua Holland II, LB Talanoa Ili, TE Josiah Jefferson, DT Jake Johnson, LB Taylor "Taybo" Johnson, DE Braeden Jones, DE Simote Katoanga, OL Breck Kolojay, CB Brandon Lockhart, WR Trent Mosley, OL Keenyi Pepe, RB Deshonne Redeaux, S Madden Riordan, LB Shaun Scott, OL Kannon Smith, OL Esun Tafa, WR Roderick Tezeno Jr., DT Tomuhini "Tom Tom" Topui, DE Luke Wafle, WR Luc Weaver, DE Andrew Williams, QB Jonas Williams and DT Jaimeon Winfield.
*Alston, Baker, Bowman, Crowder, Deniz, Dixon-Wyatt, Dyakonov, Dyer, Fifita, Hill, Holland, Ili, Jefferson, J. Johnson, T. Johnson, Jones, Katoanga, Kolojay, Lockhart, Mosley, Pepe, Redeaux, Riordan, Scott, Smith, Tafa, Topui, Wafle, Weaver, A. Williams, J. Williams and Winfield will enroll at USC in January and participate in 2026 spring practice. The other three signees will join the Trojan program in the fall. Among the 35 players added during the early signing period are:
*Four five-star athletes as ranked by at least one of the following: 247Sports, Rivals.com and/or ESPN. com
*Nineteen four-star athletes
*Nineteen newcomers ranked in the ESPN 300 List: Shahn Alston, Mark Bowman, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Vlad Dyakonov, Ethan "Boobie" Feaster, Elbert "Rock" Hill IV, Talanoa Ili, Simote Katoanga, Breck Kolojay, Brandon Lockhart, Trent Mosley, Keenyi Pepe, Deshonne Redeaux, Shaun Scott, Esun Tafa, Tomuhini "Tom Tom" Topui, Luke Wafle, Jonas Williams and Jamieon Winfield.
*Fourteen players in the Rivals 300 List: Shahn Alston, Mark Bowman, Vlad Dyakonov, Peyton "Man Man" Dyer, Ethan "Boobie" Feaster, Elbert "Rock" Hill IV, Talanoa Ili, Brandon Lockhart, Keenyi Pepe, Deshonne Redeaux, Luke Wafle, Luc Weaver, Jonas Williams and Jamieon Winfield.
*Sixteen newcomers listed in the Top 247 List: Shahn Alston, Mark Bowman, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Vlad Dyakonov, Ethan "Boobie" Feaster, Elbert "Rock" Hill IV, Talanoa Ili, Simote Katoanga, Brandon Lockhart, Keenyi Pepe, Deshonne Redeaux, Esun Tafa, Tomuhini "Tom Tom" Topui, Luke Wafle, Jonas Williams and Jamieon Winfield.
*Seven Polynesian Bowl All-Stars: Ethan "Boobie" Feaster, Talanoa Ili, Simote Katoanga, Keenyi Pepe, Deshonne Redeaux, Esun Tafa and Tomuhini "Tom Tom" Topui.
*Ten Navy All-Americans: Shahn Alston, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Vlad Dyakonov, Brandon Lockhart, Trent Mosley, Deshonne Redeaux, Shaun Scott, Tomuhini "Tom Tom" Topui, Luke Wafle and Jonas Williams.
RE-SIGNINGS
*As many have seen on social media, USC has blazed the trail, announcing the re-signing of Trojans, like USC QB Jayden Maiava and RB Waymond Jordan, among many others.
*These announcements have received viral attention as the Trojans have embraced the modern moment of college football.
*As many coaches have publicly stated, retention is just as critical a piece of roster maintenance as is recruiting.
*The USC Football program is openly celebrating returning players to build fan connection, showcasing that continuity still matters in this era of college football.
LAST BOWL GAME
*Under the sparkling lights of the Las Vegas Strip, USC concluded the 2024 season with a dramatic 17-point comeback victory defeating Texas A&M 35-31 in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl.
*The win marked the biggest comeback victory in Las Vegas Bowl history.
*Additionally, it was the largest deficit that USC has ever overcome in a bowl game win, with the previous being a 15-point deficit against Penn State in the 2017 Rose Bowl.
*WR Ja'Kobi Lane was named the bowl MVP after recording 7 receptions for 127 yards and a Las Vegas Bowl record 3 TDs. Lane has 5 career receiving TDs in bowl games (3 in the 2024 Las Vegas Bowl and 2 in the 2023 Holiday Bowl versus Louisville).
*WR Makai Lemon added 6 receptions for 99 yards and an electric 46-yard kick off return.
*QB Jayden Maiava went 22-of-39 for 295 yards and 4 TDs with 3 INTs. Maiava tied the Las Vegas Bowl record with 4 passing TDs, joining fellow Trojan Cody Kessler, who tossed 4 in USC's win over Fresno State in 2013.
*Freshman RB Bryan Jackson led the ground attack for the Trojans notching 66 yards on 16 attempts with 1 TD.
*USC improved to 4-0 all-time versus Texas A&M, including the last three meetings happening in bowl games. USC improved to 2-0 at Allegiant Stadium this season as the Trojans downed another SEC opponent, LSU, in the Vegas Kickoff Classic on September 1. Finally, the Trojans improved to 2-1 all-time in the Las Vegas Bowl, having defeated Fresno State in 2013 and lost to Utah in 2001. USC ended the season on a high note going 7-6 to mark the third winning season in a row for the Trojans.
*Texas A&M got on the board first with an early TD score. Trojan S Kamari Ramsey, who returned for the Trojans in 2025, attempted to shift the momentum back in favor of USC. Ramsey read Aggie QB Marcell's eyes perfectly and intercepted the pass.
*The Trojans didn't capitalize on their next series, but when it appeared that the Aggies would score again, Marcell's ball was tipped off his receiver's hands and then into the hands of Trojan S Akili Arnold who returned it 26 yards. This set up a USC score as Lane scored a 30-yard TD to tie up the game at 7-7.
*The game featured many young players for the Trojans stepping up in key moments, both planned and unplanned. OL Elijah Paige went down early causing freshman OL Justin Tauanuu to replace him.
*After halftime, Texas A&M scored 17 points to take a 24-7 lead. At the end of the third quarter, Lane scored his second TD of the night on a 17-yard pass from Maiava to swing the momentum back in favor of the Trojans. Shortly thereafter, Jackson rushed for another Trojan TD to close the gap to 21-24.
*Lane collected his third TD of the night with 4:30 left on the clock to give USC a 28-24 lead. Texas A&M got the ball back, marched down the field and score a TD with 1:49 left on the clock.
*Embodying the Trojan battle cry of "Fight On!", USC drove down the field with Maiava leading the charge. WR Kyle Ford, playing in his last game as a Trojan, scored the game winning TD with 8 seconds left on the clock -- eerily similar to RB Woody Marks' TD score with 8 seconds left on the clock to defeat LSU in Allegiant Stadium to open the season. Ford fell to his knees overcome with emotion after a unconventional athletic journey, with this game-winning TD to put a bow on his Trojan career.
