CFB Bowl Preview 2025: Valero Alamo Bowl

By Simon Carroll

Bowl season is in full swing and we will be previewing some of the bigger matchups over the next couple of weeks. This year’s Valero Alamo Bowl will be contested between the USC Trojans and TCU Horned Frogs. Simon Carroll takes a look at the key matchups.

Where and When

The USC Trojans take on the TCU Horned Frogs in the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday 30th December at 9pm ET/2am (Weds) UK time. The game is being broadcast by ESPN, and in the UK you can watch on DAZN for free!

Story So Far...

Played annually since 1993, the Alamo Bowl is one of the longest-running bowl games on the postseason calendar. Since 2007 it has been sponsored by Valero, a transport energy company based in San Antonio known to tread a responsible line when it comes to non-renewable and sustainable fuel refinement.

This is one of the most well attended bowl games outside of the college football playoffs, with the Alamodome being fully sold out for six of the seventeen cotests to date. Home to a Big 12 team throughout it’s history, the Alamo Bowl has traditionally scheduled a Big Ten or Pac-12 opponent.

This year, that opponent will be USC, who has familiarity with both aforementioned conferences. Year two in the Big Ten was a much improved offering from the Trojans, with head coach Lincoln Riley leading his team to a 9-3 record. USC were playoff relevant until a shootout loss to Oregon effectively ended their season, but it feels like they’re back on the right trajectory in Southern California. Tuesday will be the first time in their history USC have participated in the Alamo Bowl.

It was a fairly similar story of the season in Fort Worth, Texas, with TCU in the mix for conference honors until back-to-back Big 12 losses in November ended hopes of a playoff spot. Nevertheless, the Horned Frogs have still had another strong season, and a win in the Alamo Bowl would mean that head coach Sonny Dykes would have hit nine wins or more in three of his four seasons in charge at Amon G. Carter Stadium. No strangers to this contest, Texas Christian will make their third appearance in the showcase game; former receiver Jalen Reagor holds the bowl record for longest receiving touchdown (93 yards, 2017).

The Quarterbacks

USC: Jayden Maiava

Maybe lost amidst all the noise of Fernando Mendoza and Diego Pavia in the Heisman race, Jayden Maiava has quietly had one of the best seasons of any quarterback in college football in 2025. Passing for 3,431 yards and 23 touchdowns against just eight interceptions, ESPN have Maiava ranked #1 in the nation with their ‘Total QBR Metric’ (91.2).

Maiava’s statistical output can be attributed to his development under ‘QB Whisperer’ Lincoln Riley, as well as having elite weapons like Makai Lemon to target. With it being confirmed he’ll be playing in the Alamo Bowl it would suggest he intends to return to Southern Cal in 2026 rather than head to the NFL early – giving the Trojans renewed hope of a serious assault on the Big Ten.

TCU: Ken Seals

The Horned Frogs were rocked earlier this month when star quarterback Josh Hoover signalled his intent to hit the transfer portal in January. A three-year starter in Fort Worth, Hoover leaves a gaping hole under center, having almost 10,000 yards and 71 touchdowns in his TCU career. He also confirmed he’ll be opting out of the Alamo Bowl too, leaving Dykes & his staff to turn to backup Ken Seals to finish the season.

Seals is not your average inexperienced QB2, having spent three seasons at Vanderbilt, where he played 27 games, threw for 4,300 yards and has 28 touchdowns on his resume. A Weatherford native just 30 minutes from TCU’s campus, Seals headed home in 2024 and has backed up Hoover for the past two years, throwing just 14 times in relief. An opportunity to start in what will be his last game of college football, is it all set up for a poetic ending?

Who to Watch

USC

King Miller, Running Back – With obvious choices Makai Lemon and Bishop Fitzgerald choosing to opt out ahead of likely declaring for the NFL Draft, we’ll look at the ground game for an explosive playmaker to keep an eye on. King Miller has been a very nice surprise in the backfield for the Trojans, deputising for the injured Waymond Jordan. Miller has averaged 6.7 yards a tote, racking up 873 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 2025.

Jordan is expected to return against TCU, but expect Lincoln to ride the hot hand in the backfield considering how many of Maiava’s targets have eschewed the opportunity to play. King is also a little more dangerous in the passing game than his running mate, and looks set for a big role on Tuesday.

TCU

Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Linebacker – Whilst USC have been plagued with opt-outs, it looks like TCU only have to worry about their quarterback’s omission with everyone else preparing to suit up for the bowl game. That’s encouraging news for a defense that has statistically been one of the best in the Big 12 this season, and will have their hands full againt Maiava and co.

The undisputed leader of the unit is linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr, who has been an unstoppable force in the front seven in 2025. A versatile piece who can line up anywhere on the second level as well as attack the pocket from the edge, Elarms-Orr has 119 total tackles, 9 TFL’s and four sacks on the year. A Caifornia native and one-time member of rivals Cal, Elarms-Orr will want to put on a show against the Trojans. He’ll need to be accounted for on every single snap.

Prediction

Considering how many opt outs USC are dealing with on both sides of the ball, it would be easy to assume that TCU have the edge here. It’s a defacto home game for the Horned Frogs compared to their opponents, and you get the feeling this exhibition game is more important to Sonny Dykes’ program than it is for the Trojans.

That being said, the loss of Josh Hoover balances the scales somewhat, making this a really intriguing contest. I’m convinced backup QB and hometown kid Ken Seals will take this opportunity to lead his beloved team out for both the first and last time, and walk off into the sunset with a win under one arm and the Alamo Bowl trophy under the other. Give me the Horned Frogs in a close and entertaining one in San Antonio.

USC 30-31 TCU

Mock Draft

SIMON CARROLL

LEAD WRITER, HEAD OF CONTENT

PREVIOUSLY THE FOUNDER OF NFL DRAFT UK, SIMON HAS BEEN COVERING COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND THE NFL DRAFT SINCE 2009. BASED IN MANCHESTER, SIMON IS ALSO CO-CREATOR & WEEKLY GUEST OF THE COLLAPSING POCKET PODCAST, COVERS COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOR DAZN AND THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS FOR SB NATION.

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