The Texas A&M Aggies (8-4) and the USC Trojans (6-6) are set to collide in the Las Vegas Bowl on Friday night at Allegiant Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET, and ESPN will have the action covered as these two storied programs aim to end their seasons on a high note.
Photo by Melinda Meijer/ISI Photos/Getty Images
How to Watch Texas A&M vs USC in the Las Vegas Bowl:
- Date: Friday, December 27, 2024
- Time: 10:30 PM ET
- Channel: ESPN
- Stream: Fubo
The Aggies came out of the gates strong, racing to a 7-1 record and climbing as high as No. 11 in the country. But the wheels came off down the stretch as they lost three of their final four games, including a deflating 17-7 home defeat to No. 3 Texas. That loss dashed any hopes of a College Football Playoff berth and knocked them out of the top 25.
While their late-season fade is disappointing, the Aggies still boast a talented roster. Redshirt freshman QB Marcel Reed has provided a spark with his mobility, stepping in midseason to rejuvenate an offense that struggled with consistency.
However, the absence of star DE Nic Scourton, who is skipping the bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft, will be a significant blow to A&M’s defense. Scourton’s pass-rushing prowess has been a cornerstone of the Aggies’ success.
The Trojans’ first year in the Big Ten didn’t exactly go as planned. While they salvaged some dignity with wins in three of their last five games, their defense was consistently a liability. USC ended the regular season with a 49-35 loss to then-No. 5 Notre Dame, capping off a 6-6 campaign that left fans yearning for more.
Sophomore QB Jayden Maiava took the reins midway through the season and brought a dynamic edge with his legs, giving the Trojans a glimpse of their future. Like A&M, USC will be shorthanded due to player opt-outs, but their offensive firepower remains intact.
The big question: Can USC’s porous defense hold up against an Aggies squad eager to exploit mismatches?