USC will finish their tumultuous season exactly where they began: in Las Vegas, but this time they face Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 27 at Allegiant Stadium. The game, which will be broadcast on ESPN, hails a significant showdown between conferences, with USC coming off an arduous Big Ten debut, and Texas A&M making waves in the SEC. This return to Vegas for the Trojans is a full-circle moment, reminiscent of their season-opening victory against Louisiana State at the same location.
Following a strong start with a victory over LSU back in September, the expectations for USC’s postseason soared. However, the team struggled early in the season, experiencing four consecutive losses in heart-wrenching fashion, each underlined by squandered fourth-quarter leads. These setbacks initially appeared insurmountable, but USC bounced back, winning three of their final five games, thereby narrowly earning bowl eligibility after a last-minute triumph over UCLA, securing a third successive postseason appearance under head coach Lincoln Riley.
On the other side, Texas A&M, under the leadership of new coach Mike Elko, also faced a roller-coaster season. The Aggies began with a record of 7-1, including wins against LSU, but like USC, encountered a tough stretch in their schedule. Midseason changes were necessitated after star quarterback Conner Weigman was replaced by freshman Marcel Reed. The transition brought challenges, compounded by the loss of standout running back Le’Veon Moss due to injury, which significantly impacted their SEC performance, leading to three consecutive losses.
As both teams gear up for this end-of-season clash, they do so in the midst of roster shifts. For USC, entering the transfer portal were key figures such as wide receiver Kyron Hudson and edge rusher Sam Greene. Meanwhile, Texas A&M deals with the same transitional challenges. USC’s situation is further complicated by players like Woody Marks preparing for the NFL draft, abstaining from the bowl game. Coach Riley remains focused on maintaining stability amid these changes, particularly with staff adjustments ahead of the bowl.
This bowl appearance marks USC’s third time competing in the Las Vegas Bowl, their last visit occurring in 2013 under similarly turbulent conditions. In a narrative somewhat parallel to those past outings under coaches Lane Kiffin and, later, Pete Carroll, USC will hope to bring down the curtain on their season with a victorious flourish. In doing so, both USC and Texas A&M aim not only for a triumphant end to 2024 but also to lay a strong foundation for future success.
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