It’s bowl season, which means we have a lot of football to watch between Dec. 13 and Jan. 19! Ohio State, Utah, Georgia Southern, Army, Texas A&M — and just about everyone in between — will take part in a total of 47 games that will ultimately conclude with the 2026 CFP National Championship.
NESN has you covered with previews for each and every game — with our next contest sending us down south:
2025 Valero Alamo Bowl
Matchup: USC Trojans vs. TCU Horned Frogs
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
Stadium: Alamodome — San Antonio, Texas
TV: ESPN
Game Overview
The Alamo Bowl typically features highly ranked teams who just missed out on playing on New Year’s Day, with the last unranked matchup to take place in this game coming back when Texas Tech edged out Michigan State in 2010.
Drew Brees (1998), LaVarr Arrington (1999), Bijan Robinson (2020) and Michael Penix Jr. (2022) are just a few of the notable names who have taken home the game’s MVP.
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USC and TCU will look to add someone to that list on Tuesday.
Team Overviews
USC Trojans
Conference: Big Ten
Head Coach: Lincoln Riley
Record: 9–3
USC should be heavily favored in this game, but they’ve been hit as hard as anyone with opt outs…
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The Trojans will be without star wide receivers Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon, linebacker Eric Gentry, and defensive back Kamari Ramsey and Bishop Fitzgerald in this one, which accounts for more than half of their receiving production and the majority of their overall defensive production.
Yikes!
Lincoln Riley will have his starting quarterback Jayden Maiava, however.
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TCU Horned Frogs
Conference: Big 12
Head Coach: Sonny Dykes
Record: 8–4
Sonny Dykes will not have his starting quarterback.
Josh Hoover has already announced his intent to enter the transfer portal. The Horned Frogs will also be without offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, meaning they’ll be on the struggle bus offensively.
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TCU does expect everyone else to play.
Players to Watch
USC
QB Jayden Maiava
RB King Miller
RB Waymond Jordan
TE Lake McRee
DL Braylan Shelby
DB DeCarlos Nicholson
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TCU
QB Ken Seals
RB Jeremy Payne
RB Trent Battle
WR Eric McAlister
WR Jordan Dwyer
LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr
LB Devean Deal
LB Namdi Obiazor
Key Notes
USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn didn’t speak to the media this week after previously being scheduled to — whatever that means.
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Betting Lines
DraftKings Sportsbook: USC -6.5 | O/U 55.5
FanDuel Sportsbook: USC -6.5 | O/U 55.5
BetMGM Sportsbook: USC -6.5 | O/U 55.5
The Pick: Under 55.5
Featured image via Kirby Lee/Imagn Images
