(BCSNN) - After finishing the regular season 9–3, No. 16 USC will make its first‑ever appearance in the Alamo Bowl when it faces TCU on Dec. 30 in San Antonio. The Trojans are seeking their third straight bowl victory and their second 10‑win season in four years under head coach Lincoln Riley.

Oddsmakers have USC as a 6.5‑point favorite, and ESPN’s matchup predictor projects a 37–30 Trojan win. But USC enters the postseason without its top two receivers - Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane - both of whom declared for the NFL Draft. Their absence shifts the spotlight to a younger group of playmakers tasked with carrying the offense.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava, who recently announced he will return for the 2026 season, will lead USC into the postseason. Maiava has been one of the Big Ten’s most efficient quarterbacks, throwing for 3,431 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while posting a conference‑best QBR of 91.2.

Running back King Miller has emerged as a stabilizing force after season‑ending injuries to Waymon Jordan and Eli Sanders. Miller has rushed for 873 yards and seven touchdowns on 131 carries and is expected to play a major role again in San Antonio. With both Miller and Jordan returning next season, USC’s backfield appears poised to be one of the program’s strengths moving forward.

Freshman wide receiver Tanook Hines becomes the focal point of USC’s passing attack with Lemon and Lane unavailable. Hines has flashed big‑play potential throughout the season, totaling 398 yards and two touchdowns on 28 receptions. His breakout performance - six catches for 141 yards and a score at Oregon - offers a blueprint for how USC may deploy him against TCU.

The Trojans will be thin at tight end, with Walker Lyons entering the transfer portal and Lake McRee declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft. That places even more responsibility on Hines and USC’s remaining receivers to stretch the field.

TCU arrives at 8–4 but will be without starting quarterback Josh Hoover, who entered the transfer portal after throwing for 3,472 yards and 29 touchdowns - the second‑highest passing total in the Big 12. Backup Ken Seals will start in his place, with wide receiver Eric McAlister serving as the Horned Frogs’ top offensive threat.

USC’s defense, which has struggled at times this season, gains a clear advantage with Hoover unavailable. The Trojans will look to pressure Seals early and force TCU into predictable passing situations.

The matchup marks USC’s first trip to the Alamo Bowl and an opportunity to close the season with a statement win before entering the 2026 campaign with a returning starting quarterback and a reshaped offensive core.

Kickoff from the Alamodome is set for 6 p.m. PT on Dec. 30, with the game airing on ESPN