This week's USC bowl projections: Will the Trojans make a game?
We've officially turned the corner from wondering what bowl game the USC Trojans will land in, to wondering if Lincoln Riley's program will make a bowl game at all. With just four wins and three games remaining, the Trojans need to win two of those to reach the six-win mark that guarantees bowl eligibility.
Here, we take a look around the bowl projection landscape to see where several outlets have the Trojans pegged at this point.
CBS Sports
LA Bowl – Dec. 18 in Los Angeles against
Last week: Same projection
USC has never appeared in the Los Angeles Bowl. This will be only its fourth year in existence. The Trojans are 2-0 all-time against the Rebels, picking up wins in 1997 and 2018. Obviously with Jayden Maiava now taking over as the starting quarterback, this matchup would generate a little more interest. Maiava was the starting quarterback for the Rebels much of last season before leaving via the transfer portal.
Action Network
Sun Bowl – Dec. 31 in El Paso against Virginia Tech
Last week: Same projection
USC is 0-3 all-time at the Sun Bowl, including a 21-7 loss to Georgia Tech to cap off a disastrous 2012 season. USC is 1-0 all-time against Virginia Tech, beating the Hokies in a neutral site game to open the Trojans' 2004 national championship season.
Sun Bowl – Dec. 31 in El Paso against (Mark Schlabach) Independence Bowl – Dec. 28 in Shreveport, Louisiana against (Kyle Bonagura)
Last week: Schlabach – Same projection Bonagura – Los Angeles Bowl against UNLV
The Trojans are 3-0 all-time against the Blue Devils, meeting once in the Rose Bowl and twice more in Los Angeles. The most recent meeting was a 35-7 win by USC all the way back in 1975.
USC and UCF have never played before.
Sporting News
Sun Bowl – Dec. 31 in El Paso against
Sports Illustrated
Last Week: Alamo Bowl – Dec. 28 in San Antonio against Kansas State
Sports Illustrated doesn't see the Trojans winning two more games. The Alamo Bowl spot USC held last week now belongs to
* USA Today
No Bowl Game
Last week: Same projection
