Trojans Make Epic Comeback in Las Vegas Bowl
In the season opener on September 1 at Allegiant Stadium, the Trojans overcame a third-quarter deficit, scoring a game-winning touchdown with just eight seconds left to beat LSU 27-20. Fast forward to the Las Vegas Bowl, and USC did it again, erasing a 17-point third-quarter deficit to defeat Texas A&M 35-31.
Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
USC capped off its football season the same way it started it—dramatically.
In the season opener on September 1 at Allegiant Stadium, the Trojans overcame a third-quarter deficit, scoring a game-winning touchdown with just eight seconds left to beat LSU 27-20. Fast forward to the Las Vegas Bowl, and USC did it again, erasing a 17-point third-quarter deficit to defeat Texas A&M 35-31.
On the same Allegiant Stadium turf, Jordan Maiava connected with senior tight end Kyle Ford on a 7-yard touchdown pass with eight seconds remaining, sealing the victory for the Trojans.
Maiava, a graduate of Liberty High School in nearby Henderson and a transfer from UNLV, played the hero role in the comeback. The Trojans (7-6) were trailing 24-7 early in the third quarter, but Maiava’s steady play and leadership rallied the team. He finished 22-of-39 passing for 295 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Bryan Jackson led the ground game, carrying 16 times for 66 yards and a touchdown. But it was the passing connection between Maiava and his receivers that made the difference.
Maiava’s day started rocky, but he orchestrated a key drive late in the game, including a stunning third-and-13 pass to Ja’Kobi Lane that turned into a 33-yard gain. The pair connected again, putting the Trojans at the 2-yard line before a delay-of-game penalty pushed them back to the 7-yard line with just 12 seconds remaining.
With teammates Duce Robinson and Zachariah Branch heading to the transfer portal, Lane stepped up in a big way. He caught seven passes for 127 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner.
“At the end of the day, we all realized what we came to do in Vegas—come out with a win,” said Lane. “And I think we’re all happy with that. Now it’s time to go home and enjoy a little bit of Christmas time we missed.”
Texas A&M (8-5) briefly regained the lead after quarterback Conner Weigman ran for a 19-yard touchdown with 1:49 left, putting the Aggies up 31-28. But Maiava stole the spotlight, leading USC 75 yards in 10 plays to score the game-winning touchdown—on the same field where he began his collegiate career.
The Aggies appeared to have control after scoring 17 unanswered points to start the second half, taking a 24-7 lead. But costly penalties derailed their momentum. Texas A&M committed eight penalties for 73 yards, including four for 40 yards in the second half alone.
“It’s huge,” said Aggies head coach Mike Elko. “We go up 24-7, and then we have three 15-yard penalties on the next drive. I think the story of the game is the story of our season. We don’t understand how to play zone coverage, which is mind-blowing to me. We can’t cover the forward pass well enough to be a good football team, and that’s my fault.”
With the exception of the Notre Dame game (a 49-35 loss), every other USC defeat was by one score or less. While the Trojans finished with a losing record at 7-6, the future in Southern California appears brighter, especially with the team’s ability to overcome adversity and show resilience in key moments.
