COLLEGE STATION -- Despite having 19 players in the transfer portal and another three expected to opt out of the Las Vegas Bowl, Texas A&M football head coach Mike Elko sees the importance of taking advantage of the final chance of the 2024 season.

"When you're trying to build a championship program and a championship team, that journey doesn't stop," Elko told reporters Tuesday. "The Las Vegas Bowl is another opportunity to go through game preparation, go out on the field, and play for a trophy. ... It's a mentality of what we're trying to do around here."

"We need this win. We lost our last three games (in conference play). We want to go out with a bang next Friday and set us up for the next eight months to come," Sophomore Taurean York said.

The Aggies (8-4, 5-3 SEC) will face off against the Trojans for the first time since 1971 and only the fourth time in program history. A&M will look to get its first nine-win season since the COVID-shortened 2020 year.

Here are some takeaways from Elko's comments Tuesday during his Las Vegas Bowl press conference with reporters:

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In the ever-changing college football world, where players are seemingly always coming or going, the Aggies anticipate good attendance against the Trojans. According to Elko, only some well-known NFL draft hopefuls are expected to opt out of the matchup.

"Shemar Turner, Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton, it's pretty well known that they won't be playing in the bowl game," Elko said. "I don't anticipate any others."

If that holds true, the Aggies will be without 22 players, including the current 19 transfer portal players. Turner, Stewart and Scourton are the only starters who will be unavailable.

"It probably speaks to culture," Elko said when asked why so few players have decided to opt out of the game. "For some of our seniors, there is a chance for them to go out and have a big game against USC. ... It's an individual basis. Our kids trust in the culture here. They trust in the coaches. They trust in what we're saying."

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With the Aggies playing a college football blue blood on a national stage, naturally, those around the team are excited. Allegiant Stadium is home to the Las Vegas Raiders. Its not even five years old, cost $1.9 billion to construct and is located less than 3 miles from the Las Vegas Strip.

The domed stadium holds a maximum capacity of 65,000 fans.

"I'm not going to sit here and lie and say it's not exciting to be in Las Vegas playing a game," quarterback Marcel Reed said. "I'm really excited to go out there."

For Elko, the "where" and the "who" are significant.

Last year, Elko was coaching Duke in a bowl game. The Blue Devils, beat the Troy Trojans 17-10 in the Birmingham Bowl; Sin City might be a bit of a different atmosphere.

"When you get a bowl game, location and venue matter. Going to Las Vegas and playing in the Raiders stadium, that's a cool opportunity," Elko said. "Matchup matters. Playing USC... It's a really cool opportunity. It's a really cool game. We're excited to go out there and play."