Tag: usc trojans football

USC hire of new general manager offers the potential for a true reset

Maybe USC football can finally get unstuck after making a clear-cut hire of a general manager with credibility and proven results.

A fascinating conversation had continued over the past 12 months among USC football fans. Dave Emerick was not universally viewed as the general manager of USC football. His title: senior associate athletic director for football / general manager. Why all the window dressing instead of simply being GM? Plenty of people weren’t convinced USC was operating with a “true” general manager and believed the Trojans needed to hire one. Now they have. Chad Bowden of Notre Dame was brought aboard on Friday. Adam Bradford of Trojans Wire offered some details:

The son of former MLB executive Jim Bowden, Chad Bowden came to Notre Dame in January of 2021 along with defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman. When Freeman was promoted to head coach following the 2021 season, he put Bowden in charge of the Irish’s recruiting. This past season, he served as Notre Dame’s assistant athletics director and general manager.

Prior to the Bowden hire, USC had been operating without a clear general manager. Dave Emerick had been acting as a de facto GM of sorts, but the Trojans’ recruiting and NIL operations seemed to lack a clear and unified direction.

USC football has finally done something tangible and specific to improve its football operations, chiefly its player acquistion methods. If USC football can better align and use its resources to compete at a higher level with Oregon and Dan Lanning in the transfer portal and recruiting, the Trojans could achieve the reset and revival they — and their fans — are hoping for. Let’s see what happens in 2025, especially the spring transfer portal window.

Early look at UCLA football’s 2025 schedule reveals path to bowl bid

The Bruins have an easier road in 2025. How much easier? That will determine if UCLA gets a bowl bid.

As the 2024 college football season draws to an end, the UCLA Bruins are building toward the 2025 season. With major coaching changes and transfer portal additions, the Bruins are poised to hit the ground running next season.

In 2024, the Bruins struggled to find their footing against one of the hardest schedules in college football. In 2025, however, UCLA has an easier path to bowl eligibility and success given its schedule.

In 2025, the Bruins take on Utah, UNLV, New Mexico, Northwestern, Penn State, Michigan State, Maryland, Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio State, Washington, and USC.

Though the Bruins still have heavy hitters on their schedule, the majority of their opponents hovered around the .500 mark in 2024.

With a relatively easy start to their season (UNLV, New Mexico, Northwestern), the Bruins have a chance to build confidence and momentum early in head coach DeShaun Foster’s second season.

The Bruins still have many months to put the finishing touches on their coaching staff and roster, but based on their schedule, UCLA should see an improvement in their record in 2025.

If UNLV does not improve — and the Rebels are in the midst of a coaching change — UCLA has a real opportunity to then beat New Mexico and Northwestern and pick up a number of early-season wins. How the Utah game shapes up might be the variable which determines whether the Bruins go bowling in 2025.

‘that SEC podcast’ compares Texas A&M coach Mike Elko to a poor magician after loss to USC

“Elko is like that guy that has got that magic trick, but he’s done it so many times you kinda catch on to what he’s doing.”

After the Texas A&M football team lost a 17-point lead in the Las Vegas Bowl against USC, everyone had something to say about head coach Mike Elko, including the hosts of ‘that SEC podcast.’

“I thought one thing about Elko coming over here was we would have that tough, tenacious defense again, which we did up front. They did create mistakes, they had three picks in this game. It’s like if they didn’t get those, what would’ve happened? This could’ve been a blowout,” Cousin Shane said. “It was a close game and came down to the wire.”

“Elko is like that guy that has got that magic trick, but he’s done it so many times you kinda catch on to what he’s doing.”

The program’s other host tried to spin it forward in a positive manner, but that didn’t last long.

“They’re adding all these guys in the portal, they’re bringing back the quarterback, maybe five starting offensive linemen. They need the running backs to be healthy and could have a really dynamic offense,” Michael Bratton foretold. “I’m tired of it, i’m not doing it anymore, I’m not hyping them up if they win a damn game. They fooled us this year, 7-1, we have the coach of the year here. Biggest dud coach of the year.

“Watch Conner Weigman become a Heisman winner at Houston, how awful would that be?”

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Coach Mike Elko proclaims that the loss against USC summarizes the ‘story of our season’

“The story of the game is the story of our season. We can’t cover the forward pass well enough to be a good football team, that’s my fault.”

Head coach Mike Elko did not hold back after the Texas A&M football team fumbled a 17-point second half advantage against USC in the Las Vegas Bowl.

The Aggies lost to the Trojans 35-31 on Friday night at Allegiant Stadium in Sin City. After the game, Elko spoke to the media.

“I think the story of the game is the story of our season. We can’t cover the forward pass well enough to be a good football team, and so that’s my fault,” Elko proclaimed. “We’ve got to be able to stop the run and pressure the quarterback. We didn’t do that.”

“I won’t watch the defense play like this ever again.”

Ja’Kobi Lane exposed Texas A&M’s defensive flaws in a big way. The USC sophomore wide receiver tallied seven receptions for 127 yards and three touchdowns.

A season that once started with so much hope concludes with a three-game losing streak.

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Here are the best photos from Texas A&M’s 35-31 loss to USC in the Las Vegas Bowl

Here are some of the best photos from Texas A&M’s 35-31 loss to USC

Friday night was an exhilarating experience for Texas A&M and USC fans at the Las Vegas Bowl held in Allegiant Stadium. Despite being slight underdogs, the Trojans managed to secure a 35-31 victory over an Aggie team that had faced difficulties in the last month of the regular season.

The game’s most frustrating moment was the final drive, during which the A&M defense, after pressuring the USC offense throughout the first half, couldn’t manage to stop them. Additionally, several critical penalties across all three phases allowed USC too many opportunities to escape trouble.

A forgettable game evolved into an exciting yet chaotic back-and-forth contest between two teams seeking momentum as they head into the 2025 season.

Here are the best photos from Texas A&M’s 35-31 loss to USC.

 

 

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Instant reactions to the Texas A&M football team’s loss against USC in the Las Vegas Bowl

Following Friday’s matchup between the Aggies and Trojans, we break down our instant reaction

Despite being in command with a 17-point second half lead, the Texas A&M football team was unable to finish the job against USC in the Las Vegas Bowl.

The Aggies (8-5) lost to the Trojans (7-6) by a final score of 35-31 on Friday night at Allegiant Stadium in Sin City. USC won the contest with eight seconds left on a 10-play drive over 75 yards that took 101 seconds.

Ja’Kobi Lane led the way for the Trojans. The sophomore wide receiver tallied seven receptions for 127 yards and three touchdowns.

Texas A&M starting quarterback Marcel Reed completed 25-of-41 pass attempts for 257 yards, three TD and two interceptions. The redshirt freshman rushed nine times for 46 yards and a tuddy.

The Aggies conclude Mike Elko‘s first season as head coach on a three-game losing streak.

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Texas A&M football coach Mike Elko is ‘ready to adapt’ during Las Vegas Bowl against USC

“Really, it plays like an opener. You have a general idea, but you really don’t know how they will utilize the new faces,” he said Thursday.

While Friday night’s matchup against USC in the Las Vegas Bowl is technically the last game of Mike Elko’s first season in College Station, the Texas A&M head coach is using the matchup as a fresh beginning for his squad.

“It’s kind of the start to the new season,” Elko said Thursday afternoon. “Really, it plays like an opener. You have a general idea, but you really don’t know how they will utilize the new faces.

“You go in with a plan around your team, but you have to be ready to adapt.”

Aggies redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed used the 2023 bowl game against Oklahoma State to make an impression on Elko.

“Last year, I was still running in circles when he was playing in the Texas Bowl. I knew him vaguely from recruiting. He was a young kid that flashed and popped,” Elko explained. “Win or lose, this lasts for six months. That is the nature of bowl games.

“For our entire team, this is a potential launching point.”

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

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Texas A&M’s uniform vs. USC in the Las Vegas Bowl has been revealed

Here is the uniform combination the Aggies will go with vs. USC

Texas A&M (8-4) will take on USC (6-6) in the annual Las Vegas Bowl on Friday night as the Aggies look to cap off the 2024 season with nine wins for the first time since the 2020 campaign.

In coach Mike Elko’s first season, this matchup offers a chance for growth on both offense and defense as the Trojans adapt to the departure of several key players via the transfer portal. However, this game marks the end of the season for both teams, so anticipate surprises.

On Thursday, both Elko and USC coach Lincoln Riley highlighted the significance of bowl games that might otherwise be considered “meaningless.” They emphasized how such games can influence offseason momentum, particularly in recruiting and acquiring players from the transfer portal.

Outside of the critical core issues, what uniform the Aggies will wear is equally intriguing, as Texas A&M’s media team revealed the final helmet, jersey, and pants combination for the 2024 season.

The Aggies will go with the always-fresh white helmet, standard maroon jersey, and white pants, and so far, Texas A&M fans are delighted with the final uniform choice.

Texas A&M vs. USC in the Las Vegas Bowl will occur on Friday, Dec. 27, at 9:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ESPN.

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USC coach Lincoln Riley describes Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed as a ‘dangerous player’

“He has been impressive to watch. He has made the most of his opportunities… Definitely one of the top young players in college football.”

Ahead of the Las Vegas Bowl on Friday night between the Texas A&M football team and USC, Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley offered high praise about Aggies redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed on Thursday afternoon.

“He has been impressive to watch. He has made the most of his opportunities. A very talented guy,” Riley said of Reed. “Dangerous player.

“Definitely one of the top young players in college football.”

This season, Reed has completed 121 of 198 pass attempts for 1,572 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has rushed 107 times for 501 yards and six touchdowns as well, displaying his versatility.

This weekend will be Reed’s second bowl game appearance. Last year, with starter Conner Weigman already out with a season-ending injury, Reed took over for Jaylen Henderson after he suffered an injury against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Texas A&M (8-4) will play USC (6-6) at Allegiant Stadium on Friday evening at 9:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

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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.

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