TCU
9-4 , 5-4
USC
9-4 , 7-2
Frogs Rally for Thrilling Victory over #16 USC in Alamo Bowl
12/31/2025 1:39:00 AM | Football
Seals named Offensive MVP; Elarms-Orr named Defensive MVP
Ken Seals, in his first start in his final game as a TCU Horned Frog, led a furious rally from an 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to an overtime victory over No. 16 USC to add to TCU's storied history of thrillers in the Alamo Bowl.
Facing 3rd-and-20 in the game's first overtime period, having watched USC's explosive offense held to a field goal, Seals dumped the ball off to running back Jeremy Payne who proceeded to make one defender miss, then another, and another, and yet one more. Payne's feet stayed in bounds, and it was all purple daylight from there to send the partisan TCU crowd into a frenzy.
TCU moved to 3-0 in the Alamo Bowl, and in each game, the good guys have trailed by at least 10 points.
Never say die, Frogs.
The game started slow as Seals and first-time playcaller Mitch Kirsch found their footing. After the Trojans broke open the scoring on a field goal, Seals heated up. leading the Horned Frog offense down the field to score early in the second to take the lead.
Seals would continue to dazzle, using his feet to find the end zone again and get TCU a 14-10 lead. After a pair of key PBU's in the end zone by Bud Clark, the Horned Frogs would enter halftime with a narrow 14-13 advantage.
USC picked off TCU on its first drive, but Channing Canada returned the favor in the end zone to keep the Horned Frogs in front.
The Frogs managed just 35 total yards of offense compared to 40 yards of penalties in the third quarter and trailed 24-14 with 9:37 to go. Then, Seals and the offense went on an 11-play, 75-yard drive to draw it to within a field goal, capped by Payne's first score of the game.
On USC's ensuing possession, attempting to salt away the game, Trojan quarterback Jayden Maiava attempted to connect with freshman receiver Tanook Hines – he of 163 receiving yards on the night already – but TCU freshman Gil Jackson wouldn't allow the completion to force a punt.
Seals and the offense, cool as ever, went 59 yards on 13 plays to setup Kyle Lemmerman's 27-yard field goal as time expired to tie the game and force overtime.
And with Bram Kohlhausen watching along from the sidelines, new legends of the Alamo were born.
Team Stats
USC 3, TCU 0
USC - Sayeri,Ryon 40 yd field goal 7 plays, 50 yards, TOP 03:46
USC 3, TCU 7
TCU - Denman,Jon 5 yd run (Lemmermann,Kyle kick), 9 plays, 69 yards, TOP 03:55
USC 10, TCU 7
USC - Miller,King 2 yd run (Sayeri,Ryon kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:39
USC 10, TCU 14
TCU - Seals,Ken 1 yd run (Lemmermann,Kyle kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:59
USC 13, TCU 14
USC - Sayeri,Ryon 28 yd field goal 10 plays, 64 yards, TOP 04:40
USC 21, TCU 14
USC - Richardson,Jaden 21 yd pass from Maiava,Jayden (Tupou,Taniela pass) 5 plays, 73 yards, TOP 03:02
USC 24, TCU 14
USC - Sayeri,Ryon 41 yd field goal 8 plays, 46 yards, TOP 05:05
USC 24, TCU 21
TCU - Payne,Jeremy 5 yd run (Lemmermann,Kyle kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:13
USC 24, TCU 24
TCU - Lemmermann,Kyle 27 yd field goal 13 plays, 59 yards, TOP 02:44
USC 27, TCU 24
USC - Sayeri,Ryon 22 yd field goal 6 plays, 20 yards, TOP 00:00
USC 27, TCU 30
TCU - Payne,Jeremy 35 yd pass from Seals,Ken () 3 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
