Tag: usc trojans football

Coach Lincoln Riley addresses USC players transferring before bowl game versus Texas A&M

“Every school has a budget, this is what we got to spend and you’ve gotta decide. It’s tough because we’re not completely professional.”

Due to the NCAA Transfer Portal, Texas A&M will be playing an undermanned USC football team in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley was asked by the media on Thursday about if he felt a lot of those recent decisions had been influenced by NIL money.

“Yeah, they have on both sides. Every school, you have a budget, this is what we got to spend and you’ve gotta decide. It’s tough because we’re not completely professional,” Riley explained. “When a lot of these guys were signed, it wasn’t in a professional manner. It was sitting in their living rooms, relationships, program, academics, the development, all those things. Now, all of a sudden, it’s shifted midstream.

“That’s what’s made it tough on everybody involved right now. Players, coaches, schools, everybody, because a lot of these guys were brought in under a different system. Now that’s changed. Now there’s a financial component to every decision that we make and every decision that a player makes.”

The Aggies (8-4) will play USC (6-6) at Allegiant Stadium on Dec. 27 at 9:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Johnny Manziel thinks Texas A&M freshman QB Marcel Reed ‘needs to give the fans some hope’

“He needs to continue to take the next step and give the fans some hope going into next season. This is gonna be the guy and his team.”

Ahead of the Texas A&M football team’s game against USC in the Las Vegas Bowl, Johnny Manziel shared his thoughts on the upcoming matchup.

Johnny Football provided his analysis and opinion regarding the play of redshirt freshman QB Marcel Reed during the Aggies’ 2024 season and Conner Weigman’s departure on the Action Network’s Big Bets On Campus podcast.

“I think this is another chance for Marcel Reed to be able to go out and showcase his ability,” Manziel said. “He needs to continue to take the next step and give the fans some hope of going into next season – this is gonna be the guy, and this is gonna be his team. With Conner Weigman going into the portal, it very much is that.

“I think we need to see a little bit more offensive fireworks, and I think this is another chance for Collin Klein to go out and showcase his ability of being the play caller for this team moving forward.”

Texas A&M (8-4) battles the Trojans (6-6) on Dec. 27 at 9:30 p.m. CT at Allegiant Stadium on ESPN.

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Washington State running back to visit UCLA, USC, and Utah

The Bruins pick up a visit from a talented tailback.

The UCLA Bruins lost running back T.J. Harden to the transfer portal this week but already have their sights set on their next potential tailback.

Washington State freshman Wayshawn Parker entered the transfer portal this week after a breakout season with the Cougars. Parker rushed for 735 yards and four touchdowns in 2024, averaging an impressive 5.4 yards per carry.

According to Pete Nakos of On3 (subscription required), the former Washington State tailback is set to visit UCLA, USC, and Utah.

In 2024, the Bruins averaged a Big Ten-worst 86.6 yards per game behind a questionable offensive line. With lots of room for improvement and a wide-open depth chart, UCLA offers a lot of playing potential for a running back like Parker.

Under new offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri, who helped the Indiana Hoosiers rush for over 2,000 yards and a whopping 37 rushing touchdowns this season, the Bruins should see a massive improvement in the running game, with Parker potentially playing a big role if he transfers to Westwood.

Texas A&M’s bowl game destination/opponent has been announced

Texas A&M will take on USC in the Las Vegas Bowl on Friday, Dec. 27

It’s official: Texas A&M (8-4, 5-3 SEC) will take on the USC Trojans (6-6,4-5 Big Ten) in the Las Vegas Bowl. That means the Aggies will open and close coach Mike Elko’s first season with premier matchups.

Texas A&M’s 2024 season didn’t end the way many of us expected when the Aggies were 7-1 and undefeated in SEC play. After the season-ending loss of star running back Le’Veon Moss, the Aggie offense grew stale and ended the year with losses to South Carolina and Auburn and a 17-7 loss to rival Texas in the season finale.

Despite the poor finish, the future is bright under Elko’s guidance. The Aggies signed 25 commitments in the 2025 class, including five-star offensive tackle Lamont Rogers and five-star wide receiver Jerome Myles.

For USC, “QB guru” Lincoln Riley might be on the hot seat going into the 2025 season if the Trojans can’t adapt to the Big Ten. They ended the year 6-6 and with a losing record in conference play. However, some drama exists between both programs on the recruiting trail.

For the Aggies, Jerome Myles was once a USC commit before committing to Texas A&M. The Trojans flipped longtime 2025 QB commit Husan Longstreet late last month.

The SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl will be held on Friday, Dec. 27, and will air on ESPN at 9:30 p.m. CT.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

Georgia senior WR entering transfer portal after SEC championship

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver, kickoff return specialist plans to enter the transfer portal on Monday

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Michael Jackson announced via social media that he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal. Jackson, who is a senior, recorded one catch for 10 yards this season with Georgia.

Jackson spent one season at Georgia after transferring from the USC Trojans. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound receiver never established a large role within the Georgia offense.

Jackson primarily played special teams for Georgia. He served as a kickoff returner against Tennessee and Georgia Tech. Jackson, who appeared in  three games with Georgia this season, has 47 career receptions for 508 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

Jackson was unable to crack Georgia’s wide receiver rotation and put up career-low numbers with the Bulldogs. The senior should be able to redshirt since he played in only three games in 2024.

The transfer portal opens on Dec. 9 and will remain open through Dec. 28. Jackson joins cornerback Julian Humphrey as the first two Georgia players to announce their intentions to transfer.

Colorado watches four-star safety flip commitment to USC

Colorado watched a prized commitment flip to USC

Four-star safety Alex Graham is no longer riding with head coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes.

During the first day of the early signing period, Graham flipped his commitment from Colorado to the USC Trojans. The class of 2025 prospect had been committed to the Buffs since April 26 before signing with head coach Lincoln Riley’s Trojans.

Graham’s flip was largely expected heading into Wednesday. Earlier this week, 247Sports national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu predicted the 6-foot-1, 186-pound defensive back to have a late change of heart.

The 247Sports composite ranked Graham as the No. 4 class of 2025 prospect in Michigan.

After losing Graham, Colorado now boasts 14 class of 2025 commitments, including signed safety Antonio Branch Jr. However, with Shilo Sanders and Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig moving on after this season, expect Coach Prime to sign another safety, possibly through the transfer portal.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Woody Marks’ excellence was fun to watch, but it was the exception for USC

USC running back Woody Marks eclipsed stats that had not been seen by a Trojan running back for 10 years. Yet, Lincoln Riley didn’t use him enough.

The USC Trojans finished their season with a 49-35 loss against Notre Dame to finish with a 6-6 record, concluding a lackluster performance from head coach Lincoln Riley and company. In a season that looked promising after a major early win against LSU but then quickly fell apart, Riley made a quarterback change and earned continued outrage from fans. There were few major bright spots, but those bright spots should not be overlooked. Start with running back Woody Marks.

In his lone season as a Trojan, after spending four years at Mississippi State, Marks set career highs across the board. He finished the season with 198 carries for 1,133 yards and nine touchdowns while also hauling in 47 receptions for 321 yards.

Marks became the first Trojans running back to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards since 2017 when Ronald Jones II went for 1,550. He also became the Trojans’ first running back to have more than 40 receptions since Javorious Allen in 2014.

His early exit in Saturday’s game, due to a head injury, snapped his 56-game reception streak, which was the longest in the nation.

In a season with many ups and downs, Woody Marks was a constant workhorse for the Trojans and in one season put his name in the school’s history.

One can only imagine how high he could have climbed if he played for the Trojans his entire career. One also has to note that Lincoln Riley did not build the offense around Marks to the extent he should have. That will be a lingering point of regret and frustration for USC fans.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, Ducks Wire, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

UCLA drops again in USA TODAY Sports college football re-rank

The Bruins drop yet again in the USA TODAY Sports ranking.

The UCLA Bruins are riding a two-game losing streak after falling to the USC Trojans at home last weekend. Now no longer eligible for a bowl in their first season in the Big Ten, the Bruins’ season is virtually over.

But the hits kept coming this week, as Paul Myerburg of USA TODAY Sports revealed his college football re-ranking. In Myerburg’s re-rank, the Bruins fell four spots from 89th to 93rd, just behind Wake Forrest, Houston, and Oregon State.

Now 4-7 on the season, the Bruins hope to win their final game against Fresno State at home. In head coach DeShaun Foster’s first season with the program, the Bruins are firmly where many predicted them to be in the Big Ten.

Though closer to the bottom than the top in the Big Ten standing, the Bruins did make strides in their first season in the conference. Their defense adapted to the run-first mentality of their Big Ten opponents, and their offense slowly but surely improved.

With things to build on in 2025, UCLA looks to hit the ground running with a talented recruiting class joining the program.

How to buy USC Trojans vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish football tickets

Want to watch the USC Trojans vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish in person on Saturday, Nov. 30? Tickets still remain for as little as $95.

One of college football’s most storied rivalries will kick off in Los Angeles this Saturday when the USC Trojans and Notre Dame Fighting Irish collide for the 95th time. If you are looking for tickets to one of the weekend’s greatest sports spectacles, you have come to the right place.

The Trojans are just 6-5 overall in their first season as members of the Big Ten, putting up a disappointing 4-5 mark in conference play. Truly, their signature win came in Week 1 against the LSU Tigers, who they beat 27-20 in Las Vegas.

The Fighting Irish enter the matchup ranked fifth in the US LBM Coaches Poll thanks to a 10-1 total tally this fall. Their lone loss came in upset fashion at home against the Northern Illinois Huskies in Week 2.

The USC Trojans will host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Trojans vs Fighting Irish tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1101l3wQsP/pubref:SMGNCAAFUSCvsND112524/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fusc-trojans-football-los-angeles-tickets-11-30-2024%2Fevent%2F152755295%2F”]

How to buy USC vs Notre Dame football tickets

Notre Dame leads the all-time series with a 51-38-5 record dating back to 1926 and is looking to pad its stats this Saturday against an over-matched USC squad. However, as this college football season has shown us, an upset lurks around every corner.

At the time of publication, the cheapest available tickets for the USC Trojans vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish are $95.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop USC vs Notre Dame tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1101l3wQsP/pubref:SMGNCAAFUSCvsND112524/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fusc-trojans-football-los-angeles-tickets-11-30-2024%2Fevent%2F152755295%2F”]

How to buy USC Trojans vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish football tickets

Want to watch the USC Trojans vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish in person on Saturday, Nov. 30? Tickets still remain for as little as $95.

One of college football’s most storied rivalries will kick off in Los Angeles this Saturday when the USC Trojans and Notre Dame Fighting Irish collide for the 95th time. If you are looking for tickets to one of the weekend’s greatest sports spectacles, you have come to the right place.

The Trojans are just 6-5 overall in their first season as members of the Big Ten, putting up a disappointing 4-5 mark in conference play. Truly, their signature win came in Week 1 against the LSU Tigers, who they beat 27-20 in Las Vegas.

The Fighting Irish enter the matchup ranked fifth in the US LBM Coaches Poll thanks to a 10-1 total tally this fall. Their lone loss came in upset fashion at home against the Northern Illinois Huskies in Week 2.

The USC Trojans will host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Trojans vs Fighting Irish tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1101l3wQsP/pubref:SMGNCAAFUSCvsND112524/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fusc-trojans-football-los-angeles-tickets-11-30-2024%2Fevent%2F152755295%2F”]

How to buy USC vs Notre Dame football tickets

Notre Dame leads the all-time series with a 51-38-5 record dating back to 1926 and is looking to pad its stats this Saturday against an over-matched USC squad. However, as this college football season has shown us, an upset lurks around every corner.

At the time of publication, the cheapest available tickets for the USC Trojans vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish are $95.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop USC vs Notre Dame tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1101l3wQsP/pubref:SMGNCAAFUSCvsND112524/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fusc-trojans-football-los-angeles-tickets-11-30-2024%2Fevent%2F152755295%2F”]