Trojans Say Goodbye To Pac-12 In Holiday Bowl Against No. 16 Louisville

DirecTV Holiday Bowl: Southern California (7-5) vs. No. 16 Louisville (10-3), Dec. 27, 8 p.m. Eastern (Fox)

: Louisville at 7

Series record: first meeting.

WHAT’S AT PLAY

Either Louisville's Jeff Brohm or USC's Lincoln Riley will get an eggnog bath – a sip on the noggin – instead of a Gatorade shower as the game's winning coach at Petco Park. Riley would no doubt welcome that after a disappointing season that began with national title hopes. Southern Cal will play its final game as a member of the Pac-12 Conference before moving to the Big Ten next season. USC quarterback Caleb Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, has opted out, one of many players from both schools who will miss the game because they opted out or entered the transfer portal. Williams is expected to be the first pick in next spring's NFL draft. The No. 16 Cardinals suffered a 16-6 loss to Florida State in their first ACC championship game and are seeking just their sixth 11-win season. They are playing their first season under Brohm, a Cardinals graduate. Jawha Jordan, a 1,000-yard rusher, and leading receiver Jamari Thrash have both declared for the NFL draft.

KEY MATCHUP

Louisville's defense against USC redshirt sophomore quarterback Miller Moss. Moss will replace Williams and make his first collegiate start against a Cardinals defense that ranks 20th nationally and allows just 19.7 points per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

USC: Moss has played in 11 games over the past three seasons, completing 43 of 59 for 542 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions. His longest pass is a 71-yard TD pass to Duce Robinson against Nevada this season.

Louisville: QB Jack Plummer is a graduating senior who will be making his 39th career start. In his first year at Louisville, he completed 235 of 370 passes for 3,063 yards and 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also played at Cal and Purdue.

FACTS

Other Trojans who have opted out include leading rusher MarShawn Lloyd and Brendan Rice, who led USC with 12 touchdown catches. … USC has lost three games in a row and five of six, while the Cardinals have lost two games in a row. … USC is making its fourth Holiday Bowl appearance, all in the last 10 years. The Trojans are 1-2 in their previous Holiday Bowls and have lost their last three bowl games. … Louisville is appearing in the Holiday Bowl for the first time and is in the postseason for the third straight year. It has won two of its last three bowl games. … Brohm was the third street quarterback for the San Diego Chargers in 1994 when they made their only Super Bowl appearance. He didn't play a down all season.

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AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football