Adam Bradford revisits pregame predictions from USC's OT loss to TCU

1 week ago 2

On Tuesday night, USC closed out its 2025 season with a heartbreaking 30-27 overtime loss to TCU in the Alamo Bowl. Prior to the game, I gave five predictions for the contest.

How did my picks fare? Let's take a look back and see:

The King's finale

"USC running back King Miller needs 127 yards rushing against TCU to hit 1,000 yards on the season. He does not quite hit that mark, but he does go over 100 yards and score at least one touchdown."

This one belongs on the Scott Van Pelt "Bad Beats" of missed predictions. Miller rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown in regulation, seemingly making this one a hit. However, he had a three-yard loss in overtime, bringing his yardage total for the game down to 99. Truly an unbelievable miss on my part.

No tight end catches

"USC will be without its top two tight ends in the Alamo Bowl with Lake McRee opting out and Walker Lyons entering the transfer portal. Given that USC's remaining tight ends combined for exactly one reception on the season, I am predicting that the unit does not record a single catch against TCU."

After USC's tight ends other than McRee and Lyons caught a grand total of one pass during the regular season, Carson Tabaracci and Taniela Tupou combined for four receptions for 49 yards in the Alamo Bowl. A win for tight ends coach Chad Savage, but a loss for me.

Going out with a bang

"Tuesday night will mark D'Anton Lynn's final game as USC's defensive coordinator, as he is headed to Penn State afterwards to take the DC job there. Lynn goes out with a bang, as his USC defense holds TCU to 24 or fewer points."

This one ran into all sorts of issues. For one, Lynn ended up departing the team prior to the bowl game at the last minute, with defensive line coach Eric Henderson calling the plays. Then, the Trojans held TCU to 24 points in regulation, only to allow a touchdown in overtime that brought the total points allowed up to 30.

An unlikely hero

"In today's era of college football with bowl rosters often looking very different from regular season rosters, it is not uncommon to see unlikely heroes emerge. Last year for USC, it was Kyle Ford catching the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds of the Las Vegas Bowl. This year, I am going with Jaden Richardson to finally score his first FBS touchdown in his final college football game."

As bad as the rest of my predictions were, I absolutely nailed this one. Richardson not only scored his first Division I touchdown, but he did it with one of the best catches that you will ever see.

Player of the game

"Bowl games typically feature a player of the game award. My final prediction of the season is that quarterback Jayden Maiava earns this honor as he leads the Trojans to their tenth victory of the year."

Maiava had perhaps his worst game of the season—throwing two interceptions—and the Trojans lost in overtime. I don't want to talk about it.