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Elijah Paige injury update: USC OL carted to locker room in 1Q of Las Vegas Bowl

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby:Grant Grubbs•12/27/24•

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USC Trojans offensive lineman Elijah Paige (72) during halftime against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium
USC Trojans offensive lineman Elijah Paige (72) during halftime against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. (Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports)

In the first quarter of the Las Vegas Bowl, USC offensive lineman Elijah Paige was carted to the locker room after suffering an apparent lower-body injury. If Paige’s injury is serious, it’ll be a massive loss for the Trojans, who are already lacking depth on the offensive line.

The ESPN broadcast reported that Paige had suffered a left ankle injury. This report would align with the fact that Paige had his left shoe and sock off when he was carted off the field.

Elijah Paige played in all 12 of USC’s regular-season games this season. With Paige sidelined, USC offensive line coach Zach Hanson delivered a motivational message to his front five.

“This USC offensive line is obviously shorthanded,” ESPN sideline reporter Stormy Buonantony said. “Their online coach Zach Hanson was really trying to breed some confidence into the group. Just reminding them, ‘You’ve got a lot of game left, calm down, be physical, remember your fundamentals.'”

USC’s offensive line had a strong season, only allowing 14 sacks, the fourth-least in the Big Ten. While Texas A&M isn’t one of the best pass-rushing teams in the country, USC will have to be on its A-game to protect quarterback Jayden Maiava.

Urban Meyer believes Lincoln Riley has lost momentum at USC

Since posting an 11-3 record in his debut campaign at the helm of USC, Lincoln Riley has finished each sequential season with fewer wins. Most recently, Riley and Co. went 6-6 in the regular season. Earlier this week, former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer questioned if Riley has lost the momentum he once had with the Trojans.

“I mean, they had it when they hired him, and a lot of energy, they officially have lost momentum in Southern California,” Meyer said. “What does that mean? Normally, it doesn’t end well. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt because it’s not his first rodeo. He did a really good job at Oklahoma. I think he’ll get it back, I really do. 

“But the minute you lose momentum, you got to really turn up the heat now to get that momentum back, and that’s got to be, you got to get some prized recruit. You got to win some games, because if you continue to lose momentum, this will end poorly.”