The Horned Frogs ended the year on a three-game winning streak to finish 9-4, including wins at Houston (No. 22 in the final poll) and No. 20 USC in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 30.
It’s the first time TCU has been ranked in the final AP poll since the 2022 season when head coach Sonny Dykes led the Horned Frogs to a 13-2 record and an appearance in the national championship game.
Even without Hoover, expectations will still be high next season as TCU retained most of its core from this season’s team and added some key additions in the transfer portal like Harvard quarterback Jaden Craig.
Indiana claimed the College Football Playoff national championship with a 27-21 victory over Miami on Monday.
The Hoosiers are of course No. 1 in the final AP poll, followed by Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon and Ohio State.
Besides TCU and Houston, other Big 12 teams in the final poll are No. 7 Texas Tech, No. 11 BYU and No. 14 Utah.
TCU’s highly anticipated matchup with No. 16 USC in the Alamo Bowl is nearly here.
The Horned Frogs (8-4) will take on the Trojans (9-3) at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The game will be televised on ESPN.
It’ll be a pivotal final game for both teams as they try to establish momentum for the offseason and the 2026 campaign. Much has changed on both rosters since they wrapped up the regular season, with opt-outs and the transfer portal taking a toll on both rosters.
TCU will be without quarterback Josh Hoover, while USC is missing at least seven starters, including some of its best playmakers.
Even so, the matchup still offers a lot of intrigue, and head coaches Sonny Dykes and Lincoln Riley will be tested as they game-plan around the absences.
Here’s four things to know about the Trojans:
QB1 remains
One of the few stars who hasn’t opted out of the bowl game for the Trojans is quarterback Jayden Maiava.
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava throws a pass against Notre Dame on Oct. 18 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. Justin Casterline Getty Images
The re-signing of Maiava by the Trojans already counts for one of the biggest wins of the offseason, as the junior could be a dark horse Heisman Trophy contender next year.
Maiava has had the best season of his career with 3,431 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions while leading the nation in ESPN’s QBR metric. Another capable dual-threat quarterback, Maiava also rushed for six touchdowns this season.
Typically, Maiava used his mobility to create more time for his receivers, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if USC uses him more in the run game with all the absences on offense.
Maiava may be the best quarterback TCU has faced this season.
Formidable rushing attack
USC’s run game is led by a familiar name, as former TCU running backs coach Anthony Jones oversees a deep stable of running backs. USC has one of the better rushing attacks in the country, averaging 174.2 yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry.
USC running back Riley Wormley, a freshman from Southlake Carroll, gets hit by UCLA cornerback Andre Jordan Jr. during the second quarter Nov. 29 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Harry How Getty Images
Jones always maintained a strong running back rotation in Fort Worth, and that has continued with USC. There’s no true star, but the Trojans have plenty of capable backs, led by freshman King Miller, who tops the team with 873 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
Waymond Jordan, USC’s leading rusher before he suffered an ankle injury, is likely to return for the bowl game. The junior has 576 yards and five touchdowns in six games.
Riley Wormley, a freshman from Southlake Carroll, could also get touches after USC lost reserve running backs Eli Sanders to an injury and Bryan Jackson to the transfer portal. Wormley has two carries for seven yards in two games this season.
Who’s going to play receiver?
The Trojans will be without their three leading pass catchers in wide receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane and tight end Lake McRee.
Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best wide receiver with 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lane is a likely NFL draft selection who had 745 yards and four touchdowns, and McRee finished with 450 yards and four TDs.
USC wide receiver Tanook Hines attempts to make a catch while defended by Notre Dame cornerback Dallas Golden during the third quarter Oct. 18 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. Justin Casterline Getty Images
How will USC replace more than 2,000 receiving yards in a matter of weeks? One answer is freshman Tanook Hines. The four-star recruit has already made an early impact with 398 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Jaden Richardson and freshman Corey Simms appeared in nearly every regular season game as reserves, but they combined for less than 200 yards.
USC’s passing game will certainly take a step back for the bowl game, but will TCU be able to take advantage?
What about the defense?
Riley had the best defense of his head coaching career this season, as USC ranked 47th in scoring defense, allowing 22.4 points per game. That’s a credit to Riley’s hiring of defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn.
USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn reacts during a game against Michigan State on Sept. 20 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Luke Hales Getty Images
However, just like the offense, the Trojans will be without many of their key difference-makers on defense. Safety Kamari Ramsey and linebacker Eric Gentry opted out to focus on the NFL draft. The Trojans will also be without former five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart due to injury.
Two more names to watch are All-American safety Bishop Fitzgerald and edge rusher Anthony Lucas. In a recent press conference, Riley said neither had opted out, but they are dealing with injuries that could keep them out of the game.
The Trojans will still have plenty of talent and will be fundamentally sound, but it’ll be a much different defense than the one USC leaned on in the regular season.
Game schedule dates, times, locations
Dec. 29 at Portland, 9:30 p.m., NBC
Jan. 1 vs. Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m., KFAA, MavsTV
Jan. 3 vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m., KFAA, MavsTV
Jan. 6 at Sacramento, 10 p.m., NBC, KFAA, MavsTV
Jan. 8 at Utah, 8 p.m., KFAA, MavsTV
Dec. 29 vs. Jackson State, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Jan. 3 vs. Baylor, 1 p.m., TNT
Jan. 6 at Kansas, 8 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
Jan. 10 vs. Arizona, 3 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
Jan. 14 at BYU, 10 p.m., ESPN2
Dec. 31 at BYU, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Jan. 3 at Utah, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Jan. 7 vs. Oklahoma State, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+
Jan. 11 vs. Arizona State, 4 p.m., ESPN+
Jan. 14 at West Virginia, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Dec. 27 vs. Chicago, 7 p.m., Victory+
Dec. 31 vs. Buffalo, 7 p.m., Victory+
Jan. 1 at Chicago, 7:30 p.m., Victory+
Jan. 4 vs. Montreal, 1 p.m., Victory+
Jan. 6 at Carolina, 6 p.m., Victory+
Alamo Bowl
Dec. 30 vs. USC (at San Antonio), 8 p.m., ESPN
New Mexico Bowl
North Texas 49, San Diego State 47
Jan. 4 at N.Y. Giants, noon, Fox
End of season
May 1 NASCAR Truck Series: SpeedyCash.com 250
May 2 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series: Andy’s Frozen Custard 340
