LAS VEGAS BOWL: USC (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten) vs. TEXAS A&M (8-4, 5-3 SEC)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
TV/radio: ESPN/710 AM
Line: Texas A&M by 4 points
Key injuries
USC: OUT: DE Anthony Lucas (leg)
Texas A&M: OUT: RB Le’Veon Moss (knee); QUESTIONABLE: CB Jaydon Hill (undisclosed),
Key absences (known or likely)
USC: RB Quinten Joyner (transfer), WR Duce Robinson (transfer), CB Jaylin Smith (NFL draft), RB Woody Marks (NFL draft), QB Miller Moss (transfer), S Zion Branch (transfer), WR Zachariah Branch (transfer), LB Raesjon Davis (transfer), WR Kyron Hudson (transfer), DL Sam Greene (transfer), RT Mason Murphy (transfer), C Jonah Monheim (NFL draft), DT Bear Alexander (transfer)
Texas A&M: WR Cyrus Allen (transfer), OL Kam Dewberry (transfer), QB Connor Weigman (transfer), OL TJ Shanahan (transfer), DL Nic Scourton (NFL draft), DL Shemar Stewart (NFL draft), DL Shemar Turner (NFL draft)
What’s at stake? Well, not much, as appears to increasingly be the case in this modern era of mid-level bowl games in college football. Cosmetically, this USC program will be much different than the version fans saw for the majority of 2024. Six starters from the Trojans’ final regular-season game against Notre Dame won’t play, either gone to the NFL draft or the transfer portal. Gone, too, are key offensive contributors like Robinson and Joyner; in the midst of widespread offseason overhaul, it will be notable to watch which Trojans put themselves in positions for larger roles in 2025. Big-picture, though, USC needs a win. Transfer portal departures – Robinson and Joyner included – have cast a damper on the program’s development in another middling season, mitigated slightly by the recent arrivals of some big-bodied defensive linemen. A return to Las Vegas and Allegiant Stadium, where USC knocked off LSU four long months ago, could provide a much-needed bookend to 2024 against another SEC foe.
Who’s better? Even with widespread postseason changes to these rosters, these programs still bear striking similarities in identity. USC and Texas A&M made a midseason change to a more mobile quarterback, with mixed results. The Trojans are 2-1 since Jayden Maiava took over for Miller Moss, averaging 27.3 points per game. The Aggies are 1-3 since Marcel Reed took over for Connor Weigman, averaging 26.5 points. Both teams are missing significant talent at running back, with Marks gone to the draft for USC and Le’Veon Moss out for the season for A&M. Both teams are missing starters at the line of scrimmage, with the Trojans’ offensive line depth thinned and Texas A&M’s defensive line depth thinned with the absences of graduating seniors. This one’s a toss-up.
Matchup to watch: USC’s RBs against Texas A&M’s defensive front. Marks is gone. Joyner is gone. By sheer rushing yards, USC is down exactly 90% of its total 2024 production on the ground in Vegas. True freshman third-string back Bryan Jackson, in their stead, is set to shoulder heavy volume. A&M, meanwhile, is down three starters – Scourton, Stewart and Turner – to the draft. There’s an opportunity for the 230-pound Jackson to bruise the Aggies up front, and earn himself a long look in USC’s 2025 backfield in the process.
USC wins if: Jackson breaks off early-down chunk yardage and doesn’t miss blocks … linebacker Eric Gentry picks up right where he left off in a brilliant start to 2024 before redshirting due to concussions … and Maiava plays clean and doesn’t have to throw the ball 50 times in a shootout.
Prediction: Texas A&M 27, USC 24. The Aggies’ defense has stepped up to the task against some of the top programs in the country this year, and USC’s offense is down some key talent. It’s unlikely the Trojans will have quite enough pop to emerge on top against a rugged SEC team.