USC has turned bowl season into more than just a final game-it’s become a proving ground, a launchpad, and for some Trojans, the start of something bigger. Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen players like Elijah Paige and Prophet Brown step into larger roles during postseason matchups and carry that momentum forward. More recently, Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane used last year’s Las Vegas Bowl win over Texas A&M as a springboard into NFL Draft-worthy seasons in 2025.
While other programs might treat bowl games like a chore or an afterthought, Lincoln Riley and his team have leaned into the opportunity. They’ve made it clear: bowl season matters in Southern California.
And now, with the Valero Alamo Bowl on deck, USC has another chance to extend that narrative. The Trojans will face TCU on Dec. 30 in San Antonio, and while the roster will look different than it did during the regular season, the stakes-and the spotlight-remain high.
USC will be without several key offensive weapons. Lemon and Lane, both top targets and breakout stars, won’t suit up.
Neither will tight ends Lake McRee and Walker Lyons, who ranked third and fifth in receptions, respectively. That leaves quarterback Jayden Maiava with just one of his top five pass catchers against a TCU defense ranked 40th in DFEI.
But where some see holes, others see opportunity. Enter Tanook Hines.
The 6-foot, 195-pound freshman from Houston returns to his home state with a bigger role and a bigger spotlight. Hines quietly put together a solid season, finishing fourth on the team in both receptions (28) and receiving yards (398), while adding two touchdowns.
One of those scores came on the road at Oregon, delivered by none other than Biletnikoff winner Makai Lemon. That game-against a College Football Playoff team, in a hostile environment-was Hines’ breakout moment: six catches, 141 yards, and a touchdown.
All career highs. All under pressure.
“He played well and made a lot of big plays down the field,” Riley said. “They gave a lot of attention to Lemon… Tanook and Ja’Kobi both made a lot of big plays.
Jayden made a lot of great throws to them down the field. He’s a young guy with a bright future.”
Hines has drawn comparisons to Lemon-not just in frame, but in the way he makes difficult catches look routine. But he’s not trying to be the next anyone. He’s focused on the moment, on the opportunity in front of him, and on leading by example.
“Stay committed,” Hines said. “Stay down.
Stay grounded. Focus on the goal.
Don’t get distracted from the goal.”
He’s not one for big speeches or flashy declarations. But his quarterback has already seen enough to believe in him.
“Remarkable player,” Maiava said. “Sky’s the limit for him.
Super excited, and he knows I trust him out there. So just being able to have that chemistry with him, knowing that I’m going to get him the ball, it’s super special.
So when we go out there, it just feels like practice.”
That kind of trust doesn’t develop overnight. It’s built through reps, through adversity, through moments like the one they’ll face in San Antonio.
And for Hines, it’s personal. He’ll have around 20 family members and friends in the stands, watching him take the field as USC’s WR1-just a few hours from where he grew up.
He’s not the only Trojan making a homecoming. USC has 10 players returning to Texas for the Alamo Bowl, including defensive end Braylan Shelby. The third-year junior couldn’t hide his excitement.
“It’s amazing,” Shelby said. “Man, I got a bunch of people coming out to the game only three hours away from home.
So yeah, going back, being able to play in front of a bunch of people who nurtured me and cherished me my entire life. It’s a great opportunity, man.”
But for Shelby, this isn’t just about playing in front of familiar faces. It’s about closing one chapter and starting the next.
“This bowl game, it’s a big factor into next season,” he said. “We want to go out there and play one last time with the guys on the field.
Everybody in this room, we’re never going to see each other again. Not the same exact guys, of course.
You want to go out there, have a blast, play some good ball at the end of the day, and transition that over to the next season, and just go forth from there.”
That’s the essence of what USC has built around bowl season-a final act that doubles as a first step. And for players like Hines and Shelby, it’s a chance to write their own chapter in that growing story.
The Alamo Bowl isn’t just a game. It’s a stage. And the Trojans are ready to perform.