The TCU Horned Frogs (8-4; 5-4 Big 12) will stay in Texas this postseason, traveling down to San Antonio for the Valero Alamo Bowl to face off with the No. 16 USC Trojans (9-3; 7-2 Big Ten). The game is scheduled
for Tuesday, December 30 at 8:00 PM at the Alamodome, broadcast on ESPN.
This is TCU’s third trip to the Alamo Bowl, looking to maintain a perfect unbeaten record in the bowl game that has been played since 1993. When the Horned Frogs arrive in San Antonio, they tend to bring some magic with them. TCU went to the Alamo Bowl following the 2015 season, with the No. 11 Horned Frogs taking on the No. 15 Oregon Ducks. Bram Kohlhausen stepped in at quarterback due to a suspension to Trevone Boykin and led one of the most incredible comebacks in college football history. Trailing 31-0 at halftime Gary Patterson famously changed his shirt and the Horned Frogs changed the game, eventually prevailing 47-41 in 3OT. TCU would again get the invitation to San Antonio following the 2017 season, going into the game ranked No. 15 and taking on No. 13 Stanford Cardinal. Again the Frogs found something special in San Antonio, erasing a big second half deficit thanks to a 93-yard Jalen Reagor touchdown catch and a Des White punt return score as QB Kenny Hill would throw two TDs, run for a TD and catch a TD to rally to a 39-37 victory.
The contest will be the sixth meeting between the Trojans and Horned Frogs, with TCU holding a 3-2 advantage in the series thanks to a 28-19 victory in the 1998 Sun Bowl, considered one of the turning point moments that propelled TCU into the decades of success that would follow. The 2025 Trojans finished just outside of the 12-team playoff field, landing at No. 16 on the final Committee ranking, the fourth-highest Big Ten team, earning notable wins over Michigan and Iowa. USC head coach Lincoln Riley experienced much success against TCU during his time as Oklahoma head coach, defeating the Frogs in all six meetings including the 2017 Big 12 Championship Game.
