USC football injury report: Lincoln Riley lists Trojans who are out, questionable for Alamo Bowl

USC won’t be at full strength vs. TCU in the Alamo Bowl later this month. On Monday, USC head coach Lincoln Riley revealed the list of players who are dealing with injuries heading into the bowl game, as well as those who have officially opted out.

S Kamari Ramsey, WRs Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane, TE Lake McRee and LB Eric Gentry have all opted out of the game. Ramsey, Lemon, Lane and McRee have declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. Gentry has accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl and Lane after a standout senior season.

Meanwhile, DE Anthony Lucas and S Bishop Fitzgerald are dealing with injuries but are working toward a return. Fitzgerald missed the last two games of the regular season after getting hurt during the Iowa win. Lucas got banged up in the second half vs. UCLA on Nov. 29. Both are seniors and do not have any more eligibility left after this season, so the pair are still looking to suit up.

There are three injured Trojans that already know they won’t play in the bowl game. LT Elijah Paige, C Kilian O’Connor and DL Jahkeem Stewart all have undergone respective surgeries and are in recovery. Paige and O’Connor were banged up during the season, however, Stewart played through an injury the entire regular season.

“Jahkeem had surgery the day after the UCLA game,” Riley said. “He played the entire season with a stress fracture in his foot. Showed incredible toughness. Pretty remarkable that he was able to hold off the surgery the entire year and obviously play. It hampered the ability to practice him and prepare him a lot, which makes the contribution he made to this team this year even more impressive.”

Despite his injury, Stewart, a former top 35 recruit in the 2025 recruiting class, toughed out the season with 11 solo tackles (18 total), 1.5 sacks and an interception. Riley said that he expects the 6-foot-5, 290-pound true freshman, along with the other injured Trojans, to be ready to contribute to the team this offseason.

Like many teams not a part of the College Football Playoff this season, USC will have to move forward with the pieces available to them. Kickoff between USC vs. TCU in the 2025 Valero Alamo Bowl is set for 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Dec. 30 from San Antonio. ESPN will carry the national broadcast.