Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

USC Receives Disappointing College Football Playoff Prediction

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Lorenzo J. Reyna | Last updated Jul 5, 2025 4:53 PM ET

USC reinstalled new momentum heading into the 2025 season. The influx of new faces on the roster and a favorable schedule points to a far improved campaign for Lincoln Riley and company. Which includes College Football Playoff hype.

Except one national college football columnist doesn't envision USC cracking the final 12-team bracket. In fact, USC is predicted to play on Dec. 30 in a disappointing bowl predictions.

Despite the constant changes and renewed enthusiasm, Brett McMurphy of On3/Rivals picked USC to face Kansas State in the Alamo Bowl. The Wildcats are heading into '25 fresh off a 9-4 season and familiarity with Riley.

The incoming fourth-year USC head coach faces KSU annually in the Big 12 during his run with the Oklahoma Sooners. He gets reacclimated with Chris Klieman here in San Antonio.

This shockingly becomes USC's first appearance in the Alamo Bowl if the prediction comes true. The bowl contest used to pit Pac-12 against the Big 12. But now welcomes in Big Ten representatives.

This also hands USC a fourth straight bowl appearance for Riley. He'd join two-time National Champion winner Pete Carroll in becoming the last USC coach to hit that postseason mark. Carroll is also the last head coach in USC history to take the Trojans to four bowl games in his first four seasons at the helm.

Riley still faces a make-or-break 2025. His Trojan teams have declined on the winning side since his first season. USC has gone 8-5 and 7-6 since its 11-3 campaign that resulted in the 2022 Cotton Bowl appearance.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: