Southern California started its season with a win over LSU at Allegiant Stadium, which put the Trojans in the early College Football Playoff race. However, they will now finish the season where it began.
Texas A&M also had playoff aspirations but saw their hopes fade after losing three of their last four games.
Both teams now face each other in the Las Vegas Bowl on Friday night, a matchup neither team expected, but a chance to end the season on a high note.
“We’re all still competitors at heart,” said USC coach Lincoln Riley. “Any chance you get to play a good program like this, you’ve got to relish that opportunity.”
The Trojans (6-6) are looking to avoid their first losing season since 2021 when they finished 4-8, leading to the firing of coach Clay Helton. Riley took over, leading USC to an 11-3 record in his first season, followed by an 8-5 record last year.
After a 27-20 victory over No. 13 LSU to start this season, USC seemed poised for success. But they lost five games where they had leads in the fourth quarter, which is why they’re now in Las Vegas instead of preparing for a playoff game.
“You’ve just got to stay consistent all the way through and focus on the small things,” said USC safety Bryson Shaw about the lessons from those close losses. “We learned a lot this year. It’s been great for us in bowl preparation.”
Texas A&M (8-4) was also riding high after a 38-23 win over LSU, with hopes of a national title. At 7-1, the Aggies were the only undefeated team in the Southeastern Conference.
But their season ended with a disappointing slide.
“It obviously hurt,” said Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York. “Obviously, we wanted to be in the playoffs, but it’s not how our story ended this year. So, hopefully, it ends the right way with a win over USC.”
The Aggies will be without several key players for the game: defensive ends Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart, defensive tackle Shemar Turner, and backup wide receiver Moose Muhammad III, all of whom opted out to prepare for the NFL draft.
“I think it was the right decision for each one of them, and the rest of our roster is here, so we’re excited,” said Aggies coach Mike Elko. “I think we’re in a really good place, and I’m happy with where we are moving forward.”
