Two of college football's great programs are set to square off for the first time in 47 years, and just the fourth time ever, when Texas A&M and USC meet in the Las Vegas Bowl on Friday night. The Aggies and Trojans have combined for 14 claimed national championships (USC with 11,

Texas A&M (8-4) will cap off the 2024 season and coach Mike Elko's inaugural campaign in style, as the Aggies will face USC (6-6) in the annual Las Vegas Bowl on Friday night with a chance to finish the year with nine wins for the first time since the 2020 season.

Defensively, it will be tough for USC to slow down the Aggies, specifically through the air without cornerback Jaylin Smith. The 49 points Notre Dame put up on the Trojans in the regular-season finale were the most they’ve allowed all year, though most of the damage was done on the ground. A shootout might be the best-case scenario for the Trojans.