Las Vegas, NV— The Southern California Trojans ended their season in dramatic fashion, mirroring the intensity with which they began.
On September 1 at Allegiant Stadium, the Trojans secured a late-game win against LSU with a touchdown in the final seconds, earning a 27-20 victory. Four months later, back at Allegiant for the Las Vegas Bowl, they repeated their heroics. Quarterback Jayden Maiava connected with tight end Kyle Ford for a 7-yard touchdown with just eight seconds left on the clock, sealing a 35-31 triumph over Texas A&M.
Maiava, a Liberty High School alumnus from nearby Henderson and a UNLV transfer, led the Trojans (7-6) to an impressive comeback after trailing by 17 points in the third quarter. Despite a shaky start, Maiava finished the game completing 22 of 39 passes for 295 yards, throwing four touchdowns and three interceptions. Running back Bryan Jackson added 66 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
The Trojans’ final drive showcased Maiava’s resilience. After a third-and-13 situation, he delivered a critical 33-yard pass to Ja’Kobi Lane. The pair connected again to bring USC to the 2-yard line, but a delay-of-game penalty pushed them back to the 7-yard line with only 12 seconds remaining. Maiava then found Ford in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.
“At the end of the day, we all knew what we came to do in Vegas, and that was to win,” said Lane, who had an outstanding performance with seven receptions for 127 yards and three touchdowns. “We’re happy with the result, and now it’s time to go home and enjoy a little Christmas with our families.”
Texas A&M (8-5) seemed in control after scoring 17 unanswered points to open the third quarter, taking a commanding 24-7 lead. However, a series of penalties and defensive lapses allowed USC to claw back. The Aggies ultimately surrendered the lead when the Trojans went up 28-24 with 4:30 left in the game.
Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed briefly reclaimed the spotlight with a 19-yard rushing touchdown to give Texas A&M a 31-28 lead with under two minutes remaining. But Maiava’s poise on the ensuing drive dashed the Aggies’ hopes, as he led USC 75 yards in 10 plays to secure the victory.
Reed had a strong showing, completing 26 of 42 passes for 292 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also added 46 rushing yards on nine carries. His efforts were complemented by wide receivers Jabre Barber, who recorded seven catches for 48 yards and a touchdown, and Noah Thomas, who contributed five receptions for 29 yards and two scores.
However, the Aggies’ lack of discipline proved costly. They racked up eight penalties for 73 yards, including several crucial infractions in the second half.
“It’s tough,” said Aggies coach Mike Elko. “We had a 24-7 lead and then gave up three 15-yard penalties on one drive. It’s the story of our season—struggling with zone coverage and defending the pass. That’s on me.”
The Trojans’ victory brought an emotional end to their season, marking a significant milestone for Maiava and his team. For Texas A&M, the loss highlighted areas for improvement as they look ahead to next season.
