Offensive linemen Breck Kolojay (#66) and Keenyi Pepe (#71) during practice on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024 on IMG Academy Football Media Day in Bradenton, Florida.

Blue-chip OT Keenyi Pepe commits to ‘home’ program USC

Blue-chip offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe from IMG Academy announced Thursday that he will play his college football at the University of Southern California.

“Coming Back Home,” the Class of 2026 prospect posted to social media platform X.

Home is Long Beach, Calif., and he is a student at IMG in Bradenton, Fla. The 247Sports composite ranks him as a four-star prospect but the No. 6 player at his position in the 2026 class and No. 68 player overall.

ESPN, however, lists him as a five-star commit who is the No. 3 offensive tackle and the No. 17 overall prospect in the class.

Keenyi chose the Trojans over Florida, Georgia, Miami and Texas.

He measures 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds.

His older brother, defensive tackle Kobe Pepe, will be a redshirt senior for the Trojans in 2025. The elder Pepe played in high school at local powerhouse St. John Bosco in Bellflower, Calif.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) walks off the field after the win over Kentucky after an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn.

Nico Iamaleava’s next team? Hometown programs among favorites

Nico Iamaleava stunned the college football world — and further rocked the Name, Image and Likeness landscape — with his departure from Tennessee over the weekend.

Tennessee balked at Iamaleava’s holdout for additional NIL money, and the former five-star recruit immediately became the biggest name on the market for the spring transfer window that opens Wednesday.

Whether Iamaleava can land the reported $4 million NIL deal he was seeking from the Volunteers remains to be seen. He cannot transfer and play immediately for an SEC team, which somewhat limits his options.

Some schools may also shy away from a player who sought to double his contract after just one season. But after leading the Vols to the College Football Playoff as a redshirt freshman, Iamaleava does figure to have several suitors, with one sportsbook creating odds for his next destination.

NICO IAMALEAVA NEXT TEAM ODDS*
UCLA (+200)
North Carolina (+250)
Southern California (+300)
Texas Tech (+500)
Colorado (+600)
Arizona State (+700)
Notre Dame (+900)
Maryland (+1100)
Oregon (+1200)
California (+1600)
Syracuse (+2000)
*Odds provided by SportsBetting.ag for entertainment purposes only.

UCLA
The Bruins immediately emerged as a likely destination, although 247Sports reported that the school may lack the funds to land Iamaleava. The Bruins signed former Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar, but Iamaleava would provide a significant upgrade for coach DeShaun Foster.

It could also help significantly that Iamaleava is from Downey, Calif., southeast of downtown Los Angeles. At one point, his younger brother Madden, also a quarterback, was committed to UCLA before flipping his choice to Arkansas.

NORTH CAROLINA
The second-shortest odds belong to Bill Belichick’s program. The Tar Heels currently project Max Johnson under center, although he is returning from a leg injury. UNC also has Purdue transfer Ryan Browne and freshman Bryce Baker, so it’s already a crowded depth chart.

However, Belichick offers a staff laden with NFL coaches and the potential for Iamaleava to make an immediate impact in the ACC.

USC
The Trojans have a returning starter in former UNLV quarterback Jayden Maiava, who took over for Miller Moss late last season, and also have incoming freshman Husan Longstreet. But coach Lincoln Riley is a noted quarterback guru, and the Trojans also offer the lure of playing in Iamaleava’s hometown after Riley also offered him out of high school.

Could Iamaleava follow in the footsteps of Caleb Williams, Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield and Jalen Hurts to tutor under Riley’s direction?

NOTRE DAME
The Irish have only the seventh-shortest odds but offers an intriguing potential landing spot. They did not dip into the earlier transfer portal to add an established veteran to replace Riley Leonard.

Coach Marcus Freeman is currently relying on Steve Angeli or CJ Carr to step up and win the job — unless a big-time talent like Iamaleava is brought into the fold.

OREGON
Another longshot odds-wise is Oregon, but don’t sleep on the Ducks. Coach Dan Lanning also recruited Iamaleava out of high school and has dipped into the transfer portal before for Dillon Gabriel and Bo Nix. The Ducks have former Bruins quarterback Dante Moore and Austin Novosad currently.

While Lanning declined to comment on Iamaleava over the weekend, it’s known that he grew up as a big fan of former Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota. What’s not known is how well Iamaleava could learn Oregon’s complex offense ahead of the 2025 season.

–Field Level Media

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian leads the team onto the field as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas, Dec. 21, 2024.

Texas, USC follow ‘NFL approach,’ punt annual spring game

Texas and Southern California are part of the growing wave of prominent programs punting their annual spring game, eliminating the “live scrimmage” element from the offseason practice schedule in favor of an “NFL model.”

Coach Steve Sarkisian confirmed the Longhorns won’t pack Darrell K. Royal Stadium in April as has been tradition for Texas and almost every college football program in response to the length of the season.

“Over the last two years we played 30 games. That’s a lot for college football: 14 two years ago, 16 this year,” Sarkisian told Kay Adams in an appearance on “Up and Adams.”

“And I just mentioned we’ve had 25 guys get invited to the NFL combine the last two years, so we’ve got a lot of young players on our roster. We have 21 mid-year high school kids that just showed up. And so the development that’s needed for these guys to get ready for the fall is a little bit different than it used to be.”

USC, one of Sarkisian’s previous employers, reportedly will move forward with the public engagement elements of the spring game and involve well-known former players and coaches in a replacement event yet to be officially announced.

Sarkisian, who also coached in the NFL, emphasized process and individual player development in leading Texas to the first 12-team playoff in 2024. The Longhorns will double down on that plan.

“Our approach is going to be a little bit more NFL driven. Kind of more of an OTA style early on and as we grow into more of the scrimmage formats in the second half of spring ball, that I just don’t know if rolling the ball out, playing the game, when we only get 15 practices is the best for us to maximize the opportunities that we get,” Sarkisian said. “So it’s going to be a little bit of a different approach, but I think college football is changing right now. And we need to do a great job as coach of adapting to college football and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

While the spring game can be a showcase for a program’s stars of tomorrow, the complexities — and potential unintended consequences — involved in the modern game pushed other programs to pull the plug on the end-of-semester games. Nebraska’s Matt Rhule felt the Cornhuskers’ spring game because more of a platform for transfer portal poachers to scout and contact players. National champion Ohio State and Southern California also are done with the spring game as we know it.

Ohio State, one of the most active programs in the transfer portal between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, sold 80,012 tickets to its 2024 spring game according to school estimates, ahead of Alabama (72,358) and Penn State (67,000). Nebraska and Georgia each had more than 50,000.

The Texas spring game drew “a tad under 50,000” fans, according to athletic director Chris Del Conte.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders senior defensive assistant coach Rob Ryan watches the game against the Kansas City Chiefs Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

USC adds former NFL assistant Rob Ryan to coaching staff

Rob Ryan has left the NFL to join Southern California as its assistant head coach for defense and linebackers, the school announced on Saturday.

Ryan, 62, spent 24 of his 35 years of coaching in the NFL. He most recently served as a senior defensive assistant for the Las Vegas Raiders from 2022-24.

“Rob Ryan is one of the most accomplished defensive coaches in NFL history,” USC head coach Lincoln Riley said. “With over two decades of NFL experience, he will immediately bolster our staff as we continue our climb here at USC. He has coached some of the NFL’s top players, including numerous Hall of Famers and All-Pro selections. We’re thrilled to welcome Coach Ryan and his family to our program.”

The son of Buddy Ryan and twin brother of Rex, Rob Ryan last coached in college in 1999 while serving as the defensive coordinator with Oklahoma State.

He replaces Matt Entz, who was the Trojans’ assistant head coach for defense and linebackers last season. Entz was hired as Fresno State’s head coach last month.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) runs the ball against Utah State Aggies linebacker Jon Ross Maye (1) during the second quarter at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Branch brothers to transfer from USC to Georgia

Former Southern California standout wide receiver Zachariah Branch and safety Zion Branch are transferring to Georgia, the brothers announced on Sunday.

Also a star punt and kick returner, Zachariah Branch was USC’s second-leading receiver in 2024, gaining 503 yards and scoring just one touchdown on 47 receptions. He has 78 catches for 823 yards and four total touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing) over two college campaigns.

He was an All-American in 2023 and won the Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers Award as the country’s top return specialist. He led NCAA FBS in punt return average (20.8 yards) in 2023, also pacing the Pac-12 with 332 punt return yards. He averaged 5.7 yards on 13 returns in 2024.

Zachariah Branch has one career TD on a punt return and one on a kickoff return.

“I chose Georgia because I felt like the culture was something special,” he told ESPN. “They have a great coaching staff, the brotherhood within the program, their will to win, being prepared for the next level and being as successful as possible on and off the field was important to me.”

Listed at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, he is the No. 4 player and No. 2 wide receiver in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings.

Zion Branch, who like his younger brother has two years of eligibility remaining, is the No. 269 overall player and No. 16 safety in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings.

He finished the season with 19 tackles, one sack and three pass breakups in 12 games. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, he has 41 career tackles in 21 games. He ended the 2022 and 2023 seasons early due to injuries.

“I chose the University of Georgia because of its great coaching staff, their pedigree and the history of the program,” Zion Branch told ESPN. “Georgia has consistently been one of the best programs in college football, and the culture of excellence they’ve built is something I want to be a part of. The coaches are not just about winning games; they’re about building character, fostering growth and pushing players to be their absolute best both on and off the field.”

The brothers, who are Las Vegas natives, join former USC assistant Donte Williams, a defensive backs coach at Georgia since December 2023.

–Field Level Media

Dec 27, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws the ball against Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Cashius Howell (18) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

USC rallies to overtake Texas A&M in Las Vegas Bowl

Jayden Maiava threw the last of his four touchdown passes with eight seconds remaining, finding Kyle Ford on a 6-yard strike, and Southern California rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat Texas A&M 35-31 in the Las Vegas Bowl on Friday.

The Trojans (7-6) went through a finale that in many ways mirrored their entire 2024 season, featuring a variety of highs and lows. They concluded their bowl game on a decided high note, going 75 yards in 10 plays and 1:41 to complete the comeback victory.

Maiava shook off throwing three interceptions on the night with a determined final drive that included the successful conversion of a third-and-13 near midfield. Maiava found Ja’Kobi Lane for a 33-yard gain that did not just convert the first down but moved USC into the red zone.

The catch put an exclamation point on Lane’s night. With the Trojans replacing a variety of regular-season starters due to opt-outs and transfers, Lane stepped up for seven receptions that resulted in 127 yards and three touchdowns.

He scored on a 30-yard catch in the second quarter, and the game was tied 7-7 at halftime. With USC trailing 24-7 late in the third quarter, Lane ignited the rally with a 17-yard TD grab.

Lane’s final scoring play came on an 18-yard pass from Maiava that put USC ahead 28-24 with 4:30 remaining in regulation.

“Not afraid to take chances,” Lane said of Maiava while speaking postgame on ESPN.

Lane added about the QB’s three interceptions, “That doesn’t matter at the end of the day. What matters is a win on the column. We all realize what we came to do in Vegas, and that is come out with a win.”

The decisive score came on Ford’s flat route, answering Texas A&M’s go-ahead touchdown on the previous possession scored on Marcel Reed’s 19-yard end zone rush. Reed earlier through three touchdown passes.

Texas A&M (8-5) broke the halftime stalemate with Reed’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Noah Thomas. Then, just a minute after the Aggies’ Randy Bond kicked a 27-yard field goal, Reed hooked up with Jabre Barber from 5 yards out.

Reed went 26 of 42 for 292 yards and carried the ball nine times for 46 yards. He was intercepted twice.

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said, “The story of the game is the story of our season. We can’t cover the forward pass well enough to be a good football team. That’s my fault.”

Maiava finished with 295 yards on 22-of-39 passing as USC bookended its season with last-minute wins over Southeastern Conference opponents at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. On Sept. 1, the Trojans defeated LSU 27-20.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Miidseason QB changes take USC, Texas A&M into Las Vegas Bowl

Meeting for just the fourth time ever and the first time since 1977, Southern California and Texas A&M will clash on Friday in the Las Vegas Bowl.

USC (6-6) returns to the Las Vegas Bowl for the first time since 2013 when the Trojans routed Fresno State 45-20, capping a 10-win season.

The stakes are different for USC this time, as the team comes in looking to avoid a third sub-.500 finish since 2018. The program has not endured three losing seasons over such a limited stretch since finishing below .500 four times from 1957 through 1961.

Despite suffering a 49-35 loss to rival Notre Dame on Nov. 30, however, the Trojans gained positive momentum down the stretch after a late-season bye week when Jayden Maiava took over as starting quarterback.

Maiava replaced Miller Moss, who threw 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions starting the first nine games. USC also dropped five one-score games over that spell.

With Maiava starting at quarterback, the Trojans won one-score games against Nebraska, 28-20, and at crosstown rival UCLA, 19-13. Maiava led late-game touchdown drives to seal both.

“I’m trying to be an energy-creator for my team, do the best I can for my team. I hope they understand that I’m here for them, and I’m going to do anything to put them in the best situation to win games,” Maiava said. “I’m still learning. The biggest thing for me is just be able to not turn over the ball.”

Maiava has thrown for seven touchdowns and rushed for three in the past three games, but also thrown three interceptions — all returned for touchdowns. In his return to Allegiant Stadium, where he played home games with UNLV before transferring to USC, the Henderson, Nev., native will strive to avoid similar issues against Texas A&M.

He will also be throwing to a much different corps of pass-catchers. Starting wide receivers Duce Robinson, Kyron Hudson and Zachariah Branch all entered the transfer portal, along with change-of-pace running back Quinten Joyner.

Starting running back Woody Marks opted out of the game.

Texas A&M (8-4) embarks on its first-ever Las Vegas Bowl with considerably less roster tumult. Starting wide receiver Cyrus Allen ended the transfer portal, but the Aggies otherwise return a corps of primary contributors hoping to rebound from a disappointing final month of the regular season.

The Aggies were once 7-1 and in contention for the College Football Playoff. A 1-3 November, with the lone win coming against New Mexico State, spoiled their bid for the 12-team tournament.

They dropped a pair of heartbreakers to close the regular season with a 43-41, quadruple-overtime defeat Nov. 23 at Auburn, and a 17-7 loss to rival Texas on Nov. 30.

The difficult finish to a promising first season under coach Mike Elko could have taken some of the shine off the bowl-game opportunity. However, the relative calm in Texas A&M’s roster turnover suggests otherwise.

And, according to Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed, playing against a brand name like USC, with Texas A&M having a chance to score its first-ever win over the Trojans, adds some excitement.

“Us being A&M, them being USC, it’s a really big game for us,” Reed said.

The quarterback made his first career start in the Aggies’ 2023 Texas Bowl matchup with Oklahoma State. Reed split snaps with Conner Weigman for the first half of the 2024 season before Reed took over as the full-time signal caller down the stretch.

“From then to now, I’ve grown tremendously as a football player and a leader,” Reed said. “The sky’s the limit.”

Reed completed 121 of 198 passes for 1,572 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions in the regular season. He added 501 rushing yards and six scores on the ground.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) celebrates his touchdown scored against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

USC’s Branch Bros. enter transfer portal

Southern California stars Zachariah and Zion Branch will enter the transfer portal, they said Tuesday.

Zachariah Branch, a receiver, and Zion Branch, a safety, published announcements declaring their intent on social media. Both players are former top-100 high school recruits with two years of eligibility remaining.

Zachariah Branch was USC’s second-leading receiver in 2024, gaining 503 yards and scoring just one touchdown on 47 receptions. He has 78 catches for 823 yards and four total touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing) over two college campaigns.

“I am thankful for the love and support from my coaches, teammates, advisors, football staff and professors,” he wrote in part. “Being able to share the field with my brother has also been a blessing and something that I know is a rare privilege.”

Zion Branch finished the season with 19 tackles, one sack and three pass breakups.

“Playing football at USC has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. Having the opportunity to be a USC Trojan and suit up alongside my brother made it even more special, and it’s something I’ll always cherish,” he wrote in part.

Both players said they are looking forward to new opportunities ahead.

USC went a disappointing 6-6 this past season, including a 4-5 mark in its first Big Ten campaign. The Trojans will face Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 27.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Miller Moss (7) reacts following a turnover on downs against the Washington Huskies during the fourth quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Ex-USC QB Miller Moss headed to Louisville

Former Southern California quarterback Miller Moss officially committed to Louisville on Saturday.

Moss posted an edited graphic of him wearing a Louisville jersey on X, formerly known as Twitter, with a caption that reads, “Let’s do it #TheVille.”

ESPN had Moss as the 10th-best player in the transfer portal, also tabbing him as the third-best player at his position. He has one year of college eligibility left.

In four seasons with the Trojans (2021-24), Moss completed 65.9 percent of his passes for 3,469 yards, 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Moss was replaced as Southern California’s starter after getting nine games under center this season. Before the move, Moss had 2,555 passing yards, 18 TDs and nine picks.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2022; Frisco, TX, USA; North Dakota State Bison head coach Matt Entz holds up the championship trophy as the North Dakota State Bison team celebrates the win over the Montana State Bobcats in the FCS Championship at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Fresno State on verge of hiring Matt Entz as new head coach

Fresno State is close to formally naming Southern California assistant head coach Matt Entz as its new head coach.

Entz guided FCS power North Dakota State to two national championships before joining the USC staff after last season.

Fresno State hasn’t officially announced Entz’s hiring, but Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley made it clear Entz is departing.

“When you have a really quality staff, and you have really good people on your staff, you’re gonna have guys that get opportunities to move on, and I think we’re happy for Coach Entz first,” Riley told reporters Wednesday. “College football head coaching jobs are really really hard to get, and I think it’s always a sign of a healthy program, where programs are wanting to come in and hire your people, particularly for head coaching roles.

“He did a great job for us, made us better, made me better, was a great hire, a big part of what was one of the most, statistically, improved defenses in the country. I wish he and (his wife) Brenda the best.”

Entz, 52, went 60-11 from 2019-23 at North Dakota State. The Bison were national champions in 2019 and 2021.

Entz took the job at USC to bolster his resume in hopes of landing an FBS head coaching job. He was linebackers coach in addition to his assistant head coach duties of overseeing the defense.

Entz will replace Tim Skipper, who guided Fresno State to a 6-6 record this season as the interim coach. Skipper took over after Jeff Tedford stepped down in mid-July due to health concerns.

–Field Level Media