5 takeaways from Texas A&M’s heartbreaking Las Vegas Bowl collapse against the USC Trojans

5 takeaways from Texas A&M’s heartbreaking Las Vegas Bowl collapse against the USC Trojans

What started as a hot start for the Texas A&M Aggies turned into real heartbreak as the team fell apart in the fourth quarter, allowing the USC Trojans to score a touchdown with eight seconds left and secure the 35-31 victory at SRS Distribution Las Vegas to secure bowl on Friday night.

After seven ties at halftime, the Aggies scored 17 points in the third quarter to take a 24-7 lead, seemingly putting the game out of reach early before USC scored 21 unanswered points to take the lead right back bring the game.

The Aggies would retake the lead, a 19-yard rushing score from Marcel Reed to take a 31-28 lead, but Jayden Maiava would force the Trojans downfield and find his tight end Kyle Ford in the end zone to put the game on hold in Southern California.

Now, as the questions pile up leading up to the start of next season in August, here are five takeaways from this year’s hectic Las Vegas Bowl.

In football there are two halves and four quarters

Two halves. Four quarters. 60 minutes. The best teams play their best football during these periods.

Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for the Texas A&M Aggies on Friday night.

Or really for most of this season.

The inconsistency on both sides of the ball was evident as the Aggies came out of the gate hot, scoring on their first drive before the next two were ended early following interceptions by Marcel Reed.

The offense made a much-needed revival in the third quarter, scoring 17 points before going on three-pointers for most of the fourth quarter, which included a missed field goal by Randy Bond. They scored late and regained the lead, but the damage had already been done as the game wore on.

Consistency is a big thing that Mike Elko needs to pass on to his men this offseason.

    Southern California Trojans wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane (8) catches the ball against Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman BJ Mayes

Dec 27, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane (8) catches the ball against Texas A&M Aggies defensive back BJ Mayes (20) during the second half at Allegiant Stadium. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Lack of discipline proves costly

On the drive late in the third quarter that brought the Trojans back into the contest, Jayden Maiava’s touchdown pass to Ja’Kobi Lane was preceded by a facemask call to BJ Mayes that gave USC a free 15 yards. On the very next play, Dezz Ricks is tagged for a defensive pass interference call that puts the Trojans on the A&M 17-yard line, where Maiava Lane hit for her second touchdown of the night, sparking a comeback that few have imagined would have thought possible back then.

The Aggies were rejected eight times for a total of 73 yards, so it’s safe to say they beat themselves in Vegas.

Reed’s mishaps

Often praised for his passing, Marcel Reed’s early interceptions proved detrimental to the Aggie game plan.

Granted, the second pick wasn’t necessarily his fault, bouncing from Noah Thomas’ hands straight into those of USC cornerback Akili Arnold, but still, an interception is an interception, and those are valuable points the Aggies could have had in the game ability was washed away early.

USC Trojans wide receiver Kyle Ford (81) celebrates with tight end Lake McRee (87) after a 7-yard TD

Dec 27, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; iSouthern California Trojans wide receiver Kyle Ford (81) celebrates with tight end Lake McRee (87) after scoring on a 7-yard touchdown reception against the Texas A&M Aggies at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Defensive duds lead to clutch scores

Pass defense was a season-long problem for the Aggies and seemed to struggle with the basic fundamentals of their positions. They failed to force a foul on Jayden Maiava on the final Trojan drive of the game. Maiava threw nine passes on the drive, and only one of them didn’t hit the target.

Knowing they needed a stop to put the game on ice, the Aggie defense allowed an eight-yard completion, then a 13-yard completion, and then a six-yard completion. A two-yard run and then a pass thrown by Maiava that was tipped back to Maiava resulted in -3 yards, then finally an incompletion and then the big play, a 33-yard connection between Maiava and Ja’Kobi Lane , then an 11-yard gain between the two again led to the go-ahead seven-yard touchdown for Kyle Ford.

Another part of the game that the Aggies will need to put pressure on in the offseason is strengthening the defense and letting games rest.

What if?

What if Nic Scourton, Shemar Stewart and Shemar Turner were in this game? What if there was a rule that said NFL Draft declarers were still required to attend their respective bowl games? Would Bryan Jackson have been as aggressive as a runner as he was throughout the game? Would the Aggies have kept USC’s run total in double figures instead of 105? Would they have kept it in single digits?

Of course, we’ll never know, but there’s always an endless game of “what ifs” in football, adding many questions to those fans might already have before 2025.

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