TCU’s Defense Faces a Shifting USC Offense in Alamo Bowl Matchup
Preparing for a Lincoln Riley offense is never a walk in the park. His schemes are fast, layered, and built to stretch a defense thin.
But for TCU defensive coordinator Andy Avalos, the challenge ahead of the Alamo Bowl is a little different - and a little more complicated. The No. 16-ranked USC Trojans are coming in without several of their top offensive weapons, and that makes the scouting process less about plugging in film and more about solving a puzzle.
The Horned Frogs, sitting at 8-4, are heading to San Antonio on Dec. 30 to face a 9-3 USC squad that will be missing star receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane. Both players have opted out of the bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft - and both leave behind some serious production.
Lemon, who took home the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wideout, racked up 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Lane wasn’t far behind, finishing with 745 yards and four scores of his own.
Also expected to be out is tight end Lake McRee, a 6-foot-4 mismatch nightmare who added 450 yards and four touchdowns. That’s a trio of weapons who accounted for nearly half of USC’s passing yardage - gone.
So, does that make USC easier to defend? Not exactly.
Sure, TCU won’t have to deal with some of the most dynamic pass-catchers in college football. But what they will face is a retooled offense with new looks and fresh wrinkles. That’s the kind of uncertainty that keeps defensive coordinators up at night.
“You got to identify the personnel that’s going to be available,” Avalos said. “You kind of have to put the pieces together from the whole season as to who are some of the other guys that have stepped into some of those roles throughout the year.”
In other words, forget relying too heavily on the film. This is going to be more about anticipating tendencies and preparing for what could be - not just what was.
Jayden Maiava: The Constant in USC’s Offensive Equation
One player TCU can count on seeing is quarterback Jayden Maiava, and he’s been nothing short of elite this season. The junior signal-caller has quietly become one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country, throwing for 3,431 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions. But what really jumps off the page is his Total QBR - a nation-leading 91.2, according to ESPN.
Maiava isn’t a run-first guy, but he’s more than capable of hurting defenses with his legs. He’s added six rushing touchdowns this year, and his ability to extend plays outside the pocket is something Avalos and his staff are zeroing in on.
“We’ve pretty much played a running quarterback all year,” Avalos said. “You handle the first play in the passing game, and then you have to get ready for the second play with the scramble game and make sure we’re leveraging the pocket.”
That second-play mentality - the scramble drill, the broken play - is where Maiava thrives. He’s got the patience to let routes develop, but if things break down, he’s just as dangerous improvising. And with Riley calling the shots, you can bet USC will have some designed QB runs baked into the game plan.
TCU’s Defensive Core is Locked In
If there’s a silver lining for the Horned Frogs, it’s that they’ll be close to full strength on the defensive side of the ball. And that’s no small detail.
Safeties Bud Clark and Jamel Johnson, linebackers Kaleb Elarms-Orr and Namdi Obiazor, and edge rusher Devean Deal are all expected to suit up. That continuity matters, especially when facing an unpredictable offense.
For Johnson - a second-team All-Big 12 selection - playing in the bowl game wasn’t even a question.
“It feeds into next year. We want to leave this place better than how we found it,” Johnson said.
“It was us coming together one more time. It’s just a blessing and something we wanted to do.”
That mindset is part of what makes this Alamo Bowl more than just a postseason exhibition for TCU. It’s a chance to set the tone for 2026. It’s a national spotlight game - a standalone 8 p.m. kickoff on ESPN - and it’s against a blueblood program, even if USC is missing a few stars.
A Statement Opportunity for the Horned Frogs
After closing the regular season with back-to-back wins over Houston and Cincinnati, TCU’s defense has found its rhythm. Now they get a chance to show that momentum wasn’t a fluke.
“I feel like this game is big going into next season,” Johnson said. “It can give us and the young dudes confidence knowing that we can really compete at the highest level. For us to make strides and go to the Big 12 title game, the College Football Playoff, this is one of the top games that can give us the confidence to go do that.”
Make no mistake - even with opt-outs, USC isn’t short on talent. There’s still NFL-caliber speed on the outside and a quarterback who’s been one of the best in the country. But TCU’s defense is healthy, motivated, and locked in on making a statement.
And if they can contain Maiava and disrupt Riley’s reworked offense? That statement might echo well into next fall.