USC wants 10-2, but Trojans have College Football Playoff path at 9-3

Aug 26, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches game action against the San Jose State Spartans during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The USC Trojans would immediately sign a contract if that contract said USC would finish 10-2 this college football season. A 10-2 record will put the Men of Troy into the College Football Playoff, given the strength of schedule. That is the goal for USC. However, a 9-3 record against a daunting slate would not be a bad season or a failure for the Trojans, given how far they fell a year ago and given their lack of elite recruiting. This team has considerable talent, but it doesn’t have the depth of the top teams in college football. If USC does finish 9-3, you wouldn’t want to bet on the Trojans making the playoff, but they might still have a shot, depending on how the dominoes fall. With help from this 247Sports article on the topic, let’s examine the possible path to the playoff for USC if it finishes 9-3. There are a lot of variables to sort through. Let’s go:

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Alex Orji (10) runs the ball against Washington Huskies cornerback Dominique Hampton (7) during the second quarter in the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan, like USC, has a loaded schedule and could get in with three losses. This brings up a key point: It’s good for USC if Michigan does well. Either USC gets a high-value win, or a loss to Michigan looks better, not worse. USC’s playoff odds go up, not down, if Michigan has a great season. Yes, Oregon and Ohio State are already there in the Big Ten, so the idea of Michigan being good might…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-wants-10-2-trojans-174045997.html

Author : Trojans Wire

Publish date : 2024-08-13 17:40:45

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