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USC Trojans to play Texas A&M in SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl

Erik-McKinneyby:Erik McKinney12/08/24

ErikTMcKinney

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava prepares to take a snap during a game between the Trojans and UCLA Bruins
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava prepares to take a snap during a game between the Trojans and UCLA Bruins (acscottphotography/WeAreSC)

The 2024 college football season for the USC Trojans will end where it began as Lincoln Riley’s program is headed to Allegiant Stadium once again.

The Trojans will face Texas A&M in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl. USC opened the season at Allegiant Stadium in a neutral site game vs SEC team LSU.

USC beat LSU 27-20 and opened the year with a significant momentum boost. Though, the Trojans would lose that several weeks later with four losses in a five-game stretch, including bad road losses to Minnesota and Maryland.

This will be USC’s third trip to the Las Vegas Bowl and first since 2013 when the Trojans beat Fresno State 45-20. The first trip was not kind to the Trojans, when USC lost 10-6 to Utah in Pete Carroll’s first season as head coach.

This is also the third time USC and Texas A&M square off. The Trojans are 3-0 all-time against the Aggies, though it’s been a while since the programs have played. USC won games in 1964, 1975 and 1977.

As always with bowl games, it will be interesting to see which players elect to opt out of games, whether it’s to begin preparations for the NFL Draft or to enter the transfer portal and begin looking for their next school. But it will provide USC quarterback Jayden Maiava another opportunity to showcase himself in this offense against a good opponent as he looks to hold onto his advantage in the race to become the Trojans’ starting quarterback for the 2025 season.

USC finished the regular season 6-6, going 2-1 over its final three games to lock up bowl eligibility. Texas A&M went 8-4 during the regular season and lost to Texas 17-7 to end the year. Both USC and Texas A&M beat LSU and lost to Notre Dame this year.

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