USC Football: 2023 Bowl Game, Opponent Set for Trojans

USC will take on Louisville in the Holiday Bowl.

After a 7-5 season that ended with USC losing five of its last six games, the Trojans will be headed to San Diego to face Louisville in the DirecTV Holiday Bowl.

Louisville finished with a 10-3 overall record, including a 16-6 loss to Florida State in the ACC Championship on Saturday. Louisville is ranked No. 15, their best finish since 2016.

It is unclear how many Trojans might exempt themselves from playing in the Holiday Bowl. Quarterback Caleb Williams, who is the projected No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has not said whether or not he will play for USC in the postseason. In fact, Williams has yet to confirm if he is headed to the NFL next season.

The Holiday Bowl could be a chance for Trojan fans to catch an early glimpse of the quarterback competition between backup quarterbacks Miller Moss and Malachi Nelson. With Williams likely to leave, Riley will have to find his replacement on the roster or in the portal.

Since their establishment in 1888, USC has appeared in 55 bowl games with a 35-21 record. They have lost their previous three bowl games, including the 2019 Holiday Bowl against Iowa.

Head coach Lincoln Riley is 1-4 in bowl games, including a 0-3 record in the College Football Playoff.

The Holiday Bowl will be played in Petco Park at 5:00 p.m. PST on Dec. 27.

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