Lead: In San Antonio on Dec. 30, 2025, sixth-year senior Ken Seals led TCU to a dramatic overtime victory over No. 16 USC in the Alamo Bowl, completing 29 of 40 passes for 258 yards and throwing the game-winning touchdown. Trailing late, Seals engineered two scoring drives in the final five minutes of regulation and capped the comeback with an overtime strike to running back Jeremy Payne. The Horned Frogs prevailed 30-27, finishing the season 9-4 while USC also closed at 9-4.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: TCU 30, USC 27 in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 30, 2025, in San Antonio.
- Ken Seals (sixth-year senior) completed 29 of 40 passes for 258 yards and threw the overtime touchdown to Jeremy Payne.
- Jeremy Payne finished with six receptions for 50 yards and rushed 13 times for 73 yards and a touchdown.
- TCU tied the game with a 13-play, 59-yard drive; Kyle Lemmermann hit a 27-yard field goal as regulation expired to force OT.
- USC kicker Ryon Sayeri made field goals of 40, 28 and 41 yards; he also converted a 22-yard field goal in overtime.
- USC QB Jayden Maiava passed for 280 yards and a touchdown but threw two interceptions; TCU’s defense was led by Kaleb Elarms-Orr (Defensive MVP).
- This was the fourth overtime in the Alamo Bowl’s 33-year history.
- Both teams end the season 9-4; TCU faces offseason turnover with Josh Hoover entering the transfer portal, coordinator Kendal Briles leaving, and top WR Eric McAlister heading to the NFL.
Background
TCU entered the Alamo Bowl with a productive offense this season but notable roster and staff uncertainty ahead of 2026. Sixth-year Seals — a transfer from Vanderbilt who had started 22 games there — had spent the past two seasons backing up Josh Hoover before getting the start after Hoover entered the transfer portal on Dec. 18. Seals is a native of Azle, Texas, roughly 23 miles from TCU’s campus, and this game marked his final collegiate appearance.
USC arrived in San Antonio seeking a double-digit win season for the third straight year but fell short, finishing 9-4. Lincoln Riley’s Trojans relied on freshman kicker Ryon Sayeri for multiple long field goals and on junior Jayden Maiava at quarterback, who produced 280 passing yards. The Alamo Bowl matchup reflected both teams’ strong regular seasons and the question marks they will face in 2026 regarding continuity and personnel.
Main Event
TCU trailed late but mounted a decisive 13-play, 59-yard drive in the final 2:44 of regulation, culminating in a 27-yard field goal by Kyle Lemmermann as time expired to force overtime. Seals had to weather pressure and a late deficit, then orchestrated the drive with short completions and a mix of play calls that kept USC off balance. Earlier, TCU had taken a 14-13 halftime lead on a pair of short rushing touchdowns that capped long, 75-yard drives.
USC pushed back in the third quarter when Jayden Maiava connected with Jaden Richardson on a remarkable 21-yard touchdown, a one-handed catch in the front left corner of the end zone. Taniela Tupou’s successful two-point conversion extended USC’s lead to 21-14. Still, turnovers shaped the middle portion of the game: TCU defender Christian Pierce forced an interception that halted a Trojan drive, and Maiava later threw two interceptions that limited USC’s late opportunities.
Overtime opened with USC settling for a 22-yard field goal after earning a first-and-goal at the 2 following a pass-interference call in the end zone. TCU then faced a 10-yard sack on second down in overtime, setting up a third-and-20 from the 35. Seals delivered a short pass to Jeremy Payne in the left flat; Payne caught the ball at the line of scrimmage, broke multiple tackles and raced down the sideline for the game-winning touchdown.
Analysis & Implications
Seals’ performance under pressure — 29 of 40 for 258 yards and the overtime TD — underscores how veteran depth can swing a postseason game. His successful late drives validate TCU’s decision to rely on an experienced sixth-year player after Hoover entered the portal. For TCU, the win provides momentum but also sharpens the offseason task: replacing key staff and talent, including offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and wideout Eric McAlister, who is moving on to the NFL.
USC’s loss highlights red-zone inefficiency and turnovers as decisive factors. Despite Maiava’s 280 passing yards and a highlight-reel touchdown to Richardson, two interceptions and missed red-zone execution, as Lincoln Riley noted, hindered the Trojans’ ability to close. Reliance on a freshman kicker for multiple long attempts showed both a strength in special teams and a need for more consistent offensive finishes inside the 20.
Looking ahead, TCU’s 9-4 finish and bowl victory may ease recruiting conversations but will not eliminate questions about scheme continuity with Briles leaving and Hoover transferring. USC’s 9-4 finish likely preserves confidence in Maiava’s ceiling — he returns as a clear starter candidate — but the program must address turnover margin and late-game execution to re-establish a 10-win standard.
| Stat | TCU (Key) | USC (Key) |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 30 | 27 |
| Ken Seals (passing) | 29-40, 258 yards, OT TD | — |
| Jayden Maiava (passing) | — | 280 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs |
| Jeremy Payne (all-purpose) | 6 rec, 50 yds; 13 rush, 73 yds, 1 TD | — |
| USC Kicker | — | Ryon Sayeri: FG 40, 28, 41, +22-yd OT FG |
| Season Record | 9-4 | 9-4 |
These figures emphasize how individual plays — turnovers, field goals and one extended drive — decided a closely contested bowl game. The table avoids total-team metrics not provided in postgame releases to preserve accuracy.
Reactions & Quotes
Players and coaches offered quick assessments in the mixed postgame setting, highlighting individual effort and execution at critical moments.
“It felt like a movie,”
Ken Seals, TCU quarterback
Seals summed up his emotions after directing the comeback and delivering the overtime touchdown in his final collegiate appearance. His comments reflected the personal significance of starting and finishing his career with a postseason victory close to home.
“I’m not really surprised — he was making guys miss all night,”
Kaleb Elarms-Orr, TCU linebacker
Defensive MVP Elarms-Orr praised Jeremy Payne’s decisive run after the catch, noting Payne’s ability to break tackles and create game-changing yards in a pressure moment.
“We just did not execute good enough in the red zone,”
Lincoln Riley, USC head coach
Riley pointed to missed opportunities inside the 20 and a couple of calls that didn’t go USC’s way as contributors to the narrow loss, emphasizing execution rather than schematic failure.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Jayden Maiava will enter national award conversations (such as the Heisman) early next season remains speculative and is not confirmed by official preseason projections.
- The long-term offensive structure at TCU under a new coordinator and without Josh Hoover is unsettled; specific play-calling direction for 2026 has not been announced.
- Any final NFL draft status, workouts, or declarations for Eric McAlister beyond the statement that he is headed to the NFL are pending official team and agent confirmations.
Bottom Line
TCU’s 30-27 overtime victory over USC in the Alamo Bowl was decided by late-game poise, a veteran quarterback seizing his moment and a running back who turned a short pass into a walk-off score. The result crowns a 9-4 season for the Horned Frogs and delivers a storybook ending for Ken Seals, while underscoring turnover and red-zone execution issues for USC.
As both programs move into the offseason, TCU must rebuild continuity on offense after staff and personnel departures, even as the bowl win provides recruiting and morale benefits. USC finishes 9-4 with questions to address in red-zone play and ball security, though Jayden Maiava’s passing output offers a foundation for next season.