USC Trojans Fall to TCU Horned Frogs 30-27 in Overtime in Alamo Bowl

The TCU Horned Frogs scored 10 points in the final minutes to tie the game at 24-24 and send into the overtime, where Jeremy Payne's 35-yard touchdown gave them a 30-27 win over the USC Trojans.

Jayden Maiava was picked off twice, including once in the end zone. Tanook Hines had career-day with 163 receiving yards. Defensively, the Trojans struggled with tackling and ultimately hurt them in the end.

USC Trojans Alamo Bowl Jayden Maiava Sonny Dykes Live Score Updates Touchdown Lincoln Riley Big Ten San Antonio King Miller — Oct 11, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) warms up prior to the game against the Michigan Wolverines at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Overtime

TCU 3rd and 25 - Ken Seals swings to Jeremy Payne who breaks multiple tackles and takes it in for a 35-yard touchdown. TCU wins 30-27.

Jeremy Payne to the end zone for the WIN! pic.twitter.com/NVgXeK02yV
— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) December 31, 2025

TCU 2nd and 10 - Ken Seals is sacked by Kameryn Crawford for a loss of 10.

4th and goal - FIELD GOAL. USC settles for a Ryon Sayeri 22-yard field goal after having a 1st and goal on the 2. USC leads 27-24.

1st and 10 - Jayden Maiava swings it out King Miller for 15 yards

Fourth Quarter

0:03 - FIELD GOAL. TCU ties the game at 24 and sends it into overtime.

1:18 - Timeout TCU. They burn their first timeout of the half.

2:00 - Two-minute timeout. TCU will face a 1st and 10 on their own 41-yard line.

2:44 - USC punts after going 3-and-out. TCU takes over on their own 31-yard line.

4:24 - TOUCHDOWN TCU. Jeremy Payne 5-yard rushing touchdown to cap off an 11-play, 75-yard drive. TCU trails 24-21.

5:00 - Injury timeout. Marcelles Williams was injured on the previous play. TCU has a 1st and goal on the 8.

5:20 - Jeremy Payne runs for 22 yards and TCU is in the red zone.

7:46 - Keeshawn Silver comes up with his 1st sack of the season.

9:40 - Ryon Sayeri's 41-yard field goal is GOOD. USC leads 24-14.

13:38 - Jayden Maiava goes deep to Tanook Hines for 35 yards and USC is in TCU territory.

14:30 - TCU punts after going 3-and-out. USC takes over at their own 30-yard line.

Third Quarter

0:49 - TOUCHDWON USC. Jaden Richardson with a spectacular catch for 21-yard touchdown to cap off a 5-play, 73-yard drive. USC leads 21-14 after the 2-point conversion.

We have a No. 1 play on SportsCenter tonight.

WHAT A CATCH BY JADEN RICHARDSON. pic.twitter.com/Chgh8yz1bu
— Kendell Hollowell (@KHollowell_) December 31, 2025

3:07 - Jayden Maiava goes deep to Tanook Hines for 46 yards.

3:51 - TCU punts after picking up a couple of first downs. USC takes over on their own 27-yard line.

8:02 - USC punts after going 3-and-out. TCU takes over on their own 9-yard line.

9:27 - TCU punts after going 3-and-out. USC takes over on their own 35-yard line.

11:11 - INTERCEPTION. Jayden Maiava is picked off by Channing Canada in the end zone.

14:08 - INTERCEPTION. Christian Pierce comes up with his 1st career interception off the deflection by Jadyn Walker.

Second Quarter

0:18 - FIELD GOAL. Ryon Sayeri's 28-yard field goal is GOOD. USC trails 14-13.

0:25 - Timeout TCU. They burn their 1st timeout of the half. USC will face a 3rd and 4 on the 11.

3:49 - King Miller runs for 10 yards and USC is in TCU territory.

4:58 - TOUCHDOWN TCU. Ken Seals 1-yard rushing touchdown to cap off a 14-play, 75-yard drive. TCU leads 14-10.

8:29 - Ken Seals to Terry Shelton for 22 yards and TCU is in USC territory.

9:57 - TOUCHDOWN USC. King Miller 2-yard rushing touchdown to cap off a 7-play, 75-yard drive. USC leads 10-7.

King Miller muscled it in for the score 💪

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/xxloAkMs99
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) December 31, 2025

11:15 - Jayden Maiava to Tanook Hines for 36 yards and USC has the ball on the 1-yard line.

12:08 - King Miller runs for 24 yards and USC is in TCU territory.

13:36 - TOUCHDOWN TCU. Jon Denman 5-yard rushing touchdown to cap off a 9-play, 69-yard drive. TCU leads 7-3

First Quarter

1:08 - Jon Denman runs for 16 yards and TCU is in USC territory.

2:31 - Jayden Maiava is INTERCEPTED by Jamel Johnson and TCU will take over on their own 31-yard line.

3:28 - Jayden Maiava completes short to Carson Tabaracci for a 21-yard catch-and-run. USC is in TCU territory.

5:25 - TCU punts after going 3-and-out. USC will take over on their own 19-yard line.

7:01 - Injury timeout. A TCU player is down on the field. They will face a 2nd and 10.

7:06 - USC FIELD GOAL. Ryon Sayeri's 40-yard field goal is GOOD. USC leads 3-0.

10:20 - Jayden Maiava to Tanook Hines for 23 yards and USC is at midfield.

10:52 - TCU punts after going 3-and-out-. USC takes over on their own 27-yard line.

12:16 - USC punts after picking up one 1st down. TCU will take over on their own 15-yard line.

15:00 - USC will receive the opening kickoff.

Game Preview

This will be the sixth all-time meeting between these two programs and the first since the 1998, with the Horned Frogs leading the series 3-2. However, USC coach Lincoln Riley was a perfect 6-0 against TCU when he was the head coach at Oklahoma.

“It's always been a program and a place that I've admired for a long time,” Riley said. “It's been a great run of success that coach Dykes has continued and even taken to another level. So Fort Worth is a tremendous city. It's a great place. Texas as a whole is very just near and dear to me. To be back here at Texas playing to play against that program is is tremendous. It's one I have a lot of respect for, and should be another great battle.”

Riley and TCU head coach Sonny Dykes are very familiar with each other. Dykes was the wide receivers coach at Texas Tech in the early 2000s when Riley joined the program as a walk-on quarterback and then began his coaching career as a student assistant under the late great Mike Leach.

“You kind of saw it early on,” Dykes said. “I think one of the Lincoln strengths is a really good communicator. I think that's what coaching is, teaching, and that's what we do, is we teach young people, and we teach them how to play football and a lot of other stuff. But yeah, he was always good at communicating. He had a really clear sense of how to talk to players and how to be able to make a point with somebody, it was really bright, hard working guy.”

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MORE: USC Trojans Breakout Candidates Following NFL Draft, Transfer Portal Departures

With several opt-outs, headlined by star receivers Makai Lemon, Ja’Kobi Lane, tight end Lake McRee and safety Kamari Ramsey and other players deciding to enter the transfer portal, a number of young players will be able to showcase themselves and build some momentum heading into next season.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava made the decision to bypass the 2026 NFL Draft and return to the school for another year. He will lead the Trojans offense in the bowl game, but how much will we see of five-star freshman Husan Longstreet under center.

With Maiava returning to USC, what does the future hold for the local product with the transfer portal period fast approaching. Longstreet will not return to Los Angeles to hold a clipboard for another season.

Does Riley use Longstreet in specific packages to give him a preview of what his role would look like in 2026 or does he play long stretches of the game.

TCU will be without starting quarterback Josh Hoover, who entered the transfer portal and star receiver Jordan Dwyer. They could also be without running back Kevorian Barnes.

Can the Trojans end the 2025 season on a high note?