FINAL STATS
No. 16 USC was unable to convert from five yards out on its overtime possession and settled for a field goal while TCU made a miracle reality on its sole possession, scoring from 35 yards out on a catch and run by running back Jeremy Payne on third-and-20 to stun the Trojans 30-27 and win the Valero Alamo Bowl Tuesday evening.
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava completed 18 of 30 passes for 280 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, running back King Miller ran for 99 yards and a score on 25 attempts, and freshman receiver Tanook Hines had a career-high 163 receiving yards on six catches. TCU quarterback Ken Seals completed 29 of 40 passes for 258 yards, a touchdown and a pick, receiver Eric McAlister caught eight passes for 69 yards, and Payne had 123 yards from scrimmage and two scores on the day – 73 rushing yards and a touchdown and 50 receiving yards and the game-winning touchdown.
Trojans kicker Ryon Sayeri hit four field goals, including a 22-yard kick in overtime, and broke the program's single-season record but it was spoiled by the Horned Frogs.
Here are the final stats from the Alamodome:
OVERTIME
Jeremy Payne catches the ball at the line of scrimmage, broke three tackles and scores a 35-yard touchdown to win the game for TCU.
After King Miller ran for 15 yard on the first play of the drive, USC was 10 yards out. A defensive pass interference on the second pass attempt put the ball on the 2 yard line, but King Miller's back-to-back rush attempts go nowhere then Jayden Maiava's pass attempt went incomplete. Ryon Sayeri knocks in a 22-yard field goal to put USC up 27-24. TCU has a chance to win the game with a touchdown.
TCU wins the toss and defers. USC will start the overtime period first at the TCU 25 yard line.
FOURTH QUARTER
We're headed to overtime!
USC's defense allows TCU to march down the field and into the red zone but gets a stop on third-and-5 from 10 yards out with 19 seconds left. The Horned Frogs called a timeout with three seconds left, sent out their kicker Kyle Lemmermann, gets iced by USC head coach Lincoln Riley and ties the game at 24 with 27-yard field goal.
At the 2-minute timeout, TCU has a first down after a 6-yard completion to Jeremy Payne on third-and-6 moves the chains.
The Horned Frogs defense forces a three-and-out and get the ball back on its 31 yard line with 2:44 left in the game. A lot of time to go down and win it.
TCU convert two straight third downs and get in the end zone with a 5-yard run from running back Jeremy Payne. Horned Frogs trail 24-21 with 4:24 left in the game.
Tanook Hines kickstarted another drive with a 35-yard reception on third-and-14 but USC was unable to convert the third-and-15 play. Ryon Sayeri kicked a 41-yard field goal to put the Trojans up 24-14 with 9:37 left in the game. He came into the game in the hunt for the program's single-season field goal record and breaks it with that kick.
TCU is unable to overcome the holding penalty on first down and convert the third-and-19 play. Horned Frogs punt it away and a personal foul penalty on Elijah Newby pushes USC back to its 30 yard line with 14:42 left in the game.
THIRD QUARTER
After two plays by TCU, the third quarter clock expires.
There's no stopping USC, and it was a well-executed drive. Tanook Hines' 46-yard reception from Jayden Maiava set up the 21-yard touchdown reception by Jaden Richardson three plays later. USC leads 21-14 with 49 seconds left after the two-point conversion pass to Taniela Tupou is successful.
Here's the TD:
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/nPaPnZ0QTK
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) December 31, 2025
Here's the catch by Hines:
how about the tanook catch to set up the TD 💣
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/vJIaLTZnM7
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) December 31, 2025
TCU showed some good offense, including a 14-yard completion on third-and-11, but the Trojans defense stepped up with a pass breakup, a stop on the ground and a stop on a pass play to force a punt. USC gets the ball back on its 27 yard line with 3:51 left in the third quarter.
USC's offense does nothing with its chance and goes three-and-out. TCU gets the ball back on its own 9 yard line with 8:02 left in the third quarter after an illegal block in the back penalty on the punt return.
USC's defense gets two tackles for a loss and forces another TCU three-and-out. Trojans offense looks to overcome some struggles with the ball on its 35 yard line and 9:27 on the clock.
Jayden Maiava underthrows a ball to the end zone and it's intercepted by Channing Canada. TCU takes over on its 20 yard line with 11:11 on the clock.
USC's defense begins the second half with a bang! Desman Stephens II lays a big hit on TCU QB Ken Seals that forced a fumble that was recovered by the Horned Frogs, then Trojans linebacker Jadyn Walker tipped the pass into the air and safety Christian Pierce came up with the interception. USC gets the ball on the TCU 29 yard line with 14:08 on the clock.
TCU receives to start the second half.
HALFTIME STATS
SECOND QUARTER
TCU ran just one play after receiving the kick. That's halftime. The Horned Frogs receive to start the second half.
USC bled 95 seconds off the clock with two running play, took a shot at the end zone that was broken up and had to settle for a field goal. Ryon Sayeri hits the 28-yard kick, and TCU's lead is 14-13 with 18 seconds left in the first half.
At the 2-minute timeout, USC is driving down the field and into the red zone on the TCU 17 yard line.
TCU responds with a 13-play, 75-yard methodical drive to take back the lead. Quarterback Ken Seals keeps it and runs it in from a yard out to give the Horned Frogs a 14-10 with 4:58 left in the first half.
USC has showed its ability to be a balanced offense today, running it a lot and completing a few passes, including the 36-yard bomb from Jayden Maiava to Tanook Hines. It set up a 2-yard touchdown run for King Miller to put USC up 10-7 with 9:57 left in the first half.
Here's the TD:
King Miller would not be denied 😤 pic.twitter.com/A9bMtyLjSl
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) December 31, 2025
TCU needs just three plays to get into the end zone and the Horned Frogs lead 7-3 with 13:36 left in the first half.
FIRST QUARTER
TCU's offense woke up and is driving down the field as the first quarter clock expires. The Horned Frogs are in the red zone.
After getting one first down on third-and-3, USC is unable to get another. Jayden Maiava instead throws an interception, and TCU takes the field with the ball on its 31 yard line and 2:31 left in the first quarter.
Another three-and-out for USC's defense in the first quarter. Trojans offense takes the field again after the punt is downed at their 24 yard line. 5:25 on the clock.
Jayden Maiava finds Tanook Hines for a 23-yard reception to kickstart the drive, but King Miller was unable to continue moving the chains with his dynamic running. The 50-yard drive was stalled, and Ryon Sayeri comes on to hit the 40-yard field goal to put USC up 3-0 with 7:06 left in the first quarter.
USC's run defense holds up, forcing a three-and-out after TCU runs three straight plays on the ground. Trojans offense takes the field again on their 27 yard line. 10:52 on the clock.
USC gets one first down on third-and-6 but are unable to get another. Sam Johnson punts it away to TCU, and its offense takes the field with the ball on the 15 yard line. 12:16 on the clock.
TCU wins the toss and defers to the second half. USC will receive the kickoff.
PREGAME
USC will be without several notable players in today's game, but running back Waymond Jordan is warming up and listed as questionable despite not being listed on the Trojans' depth chart. Offensive lineman Alani Noa is not with the team and is listed as out for the game. The offensive line, from left to right, will be: Tobias Raymond, Hayden Treter, J'Onre Reed, Kaylon Miller and Justin Tauanuu.
Today's captains are safety Christian Pierce, wide receiver Jaden Richardson, left tackle Tobias Raymond, defensive tackles Keeshawn Silver and Jide Abasiri.
PREVIEW
USC is set to play its final game of the 2025 season in the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. The No. 16 Trojans play TCU on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 6 p.m. PST in the Alamodome, and the sixth-ever meeting between the teams will be televised on ESPN. USC has remained a 6.5-point favorite for much of the week but entered the game as a 5.5-point favorite.
The Trojans (9-3) are coming off a strong five-game stretch to end of their regular season where they won four games and lost their matchup with Oregon in Eugene to officially get knocked out of playoff contention. Quarterback Jayden Maiava completed 247 of 373 passes for 3,431 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 12 games. Running back King Miller showed bright spots to start the year and became the workhorse after USC's top two backs went down, and he rushed for 873 yards and 7 touchdowns on 131 attempts. The cardinal and gold will be without their top two receivers as Makai Lemon, this year's Biletnikoff Award winner, and Ja'Kobi Lane finished their junior seasons strong and declared for the NFL Draft. Freshman receiver Tanook Hines is expected to be the No. 1 option in the bowl game after catching 28 passes for 398 yards and two touchdowns during the regular season. USC will also be playing with a third string tight end Carson Tabaracci after Lake McRee finished his Trojans career and declared for the draft while Walker Lyons left to enter the portal. On the defensive end, the Trojans will be without starting defensive tackle Devan Thompkins, who will be entering the portal, as well as starting defensive end Anthony Lucas, starting linebacker Eric Gentry and starting safeties Kamari Ramsey and Bishop Fitzgerald, who are all entering the draft. But many of the starters of the last few games remain, including the defensive line core of Kameryn Crawford and Braylan Shelby on the ends and Jide Abasiri and Keeshawn Silver on the inside. Crawford finished the year with a team-high eight tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks while Shelby had seven tackles for a loss and a team-high 4.5 sacks, plus an interception. Linebacker Desman Stephens II, who had 83 tackles this season, will remain in the middle with freshman Jadyn Walker next to him. Cornerback DeCarlos Nicholson will be riding with his teammates for one last game before preparing for the draft. The Trojans are searching for their first 10-win season since 2022.
The Horned Frogs (8-4) are coming off back-to-back wins after two straight losses, beating then-No. 24 Houston on the road and beating Cincinnati at home to end the regular season. Quarterback Josh Hoover led them all season long, completing 272 of 413 passes for 3,472 yards, 29 touchdowns and 13 picks in 12 games, but he intends to enter the transfer portal and won't play in the bowl game. Backup quarterback Ken Seals played in just three games this season, completing 4 of 6 passes for 24 yards and an interception. Running backs Jeremy Payne and Kevorian Barnes are expected to share the load in the ground game for TCU, and they've both been solid. Payne ran for 550 yards and four touchdowns on 97 attempts in 10 games and Barnes ran for 443 yards and three touchdowns on 97 attempts in seven games. All-American wide receiver Eric McAlister, who caught 64 passes for 1,121 yards and 10 touchdowns, chose not to opt out of the game and will get a majority of the load in the passing game. Jordan Dwyer went down with an injury, so former Trojan receiver Joseph Manjack IV will need to step up against his former squad. Tight end DJ Rogers, who caught 32 passes for 300 yards and two scores, will be someone that the defense will need to look out for as well. On defense, the Horned Frogs have a handful of All-Big 12 players. Defensive tackle Markis Deal is a big guy on the inside that can reek havoc, and defensive end Devean Deal, who had 8.5 tackles for a loss this season, will surely create problems for the Trojans on the edge. Linebackers Kaleb Elarms-Orr and Namdi Obiazor have been solid for them this season with Elarms-Orr notching 119 tackles and a team-high 9.5 tackles for a loss and Obiazor finishing the year with 81 tackles, two picks and a forced fumble. TCU's secondary is strong as well with cornerback Vernon Glover and safeties Bud Clark and Jamel Johnson.
RELATED: Quick Look at TCU
The stats are deceiving with the Trojans' passing offense looking different than the top-20 ranking it held for much of the year and the Horned Frogs' offense going in a different direction without their offensive coordinator. USC's offense averaged 471.6 yards per game of total offense in the regular season with 297.3 yards per game in the air and 174.2 yards per game on the ground. TCU's offense averaged 425.3 yards per game of total offense with 292.8 yards per game in the air and 132.6 yards per game on the ground. Both teams will have their defensive coordinators, but Trojans' D'Anton Lynn will be leading the group for the final time Tuesday. USC's defense allowed 348.8 yards per game this season with 203.3 yards per game in the air and 145.4 yards per game on the ground while Andy Avalos' defense allowed 377.6 yards per game during the regular season with 242.8 yards per game in the air and 134.8 yards per game on the ground. Both teams have been called for penalties quite often with TCU averaging 6.5 penalties a game and USC averaging 5.9 penalties per game.
USC will be without five starters due to draft opt-outs, will be without starting offensive linemen Elijah Paige and Kilian O'Connor due to injuries, and will be without top freshman defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart due to injury. A few top names from the Trojans' two-deep this season won't be with the team to enter the portal, including offensive lineman Micah Banuelos, cornerback Braylon Conley and running back Bryan Jackson and offensive lineman Alani Noa is absent from today's two-deep but on the gameday roster. For TCU, on top of being without Dwyer and Hoover, it will be without starting defensive end Paul Oyewale, who will enter the portal.
For more on the matchup, there are tons of reading material on USCFootball.com. Check out our extensive game preview, five predictions for the game, this week's Know Your Foe, the staff's picks against the spread and so much more.