We are just three weeks away from Selection Sunday, meaning time is running out for each contender to make a push for the final four. With each passing Saturday, the playoff picture becomes a bit clearer, however much is still on the table.
Week 11 was a costly one for the Pac-12, as it saw two of its best chances at the playoff hopefuls falter as heavy favorites.
Bo Nix and the Ducks looked like the conference’s best shot to make its first playoff appearance since 2016, but Washington had other ideas.
A valiant effort came up just short, ending Oregon’s national championship ambitions. The Pac-12’s playoff hopes grew bleaker when UCLA was shockingly upset by Arizona after dark.
With the Ducks and Bruins out of the mix, USC remains the only hope for college football fans west of the Rocky Mountains.
The Trojans made a lot of noise this offseason with the hiring of Lincoln Riley and a monster portal class that could change the way we view roster building in the sport.
However, they have been largely under the radar since the season started, hiding in the late night window of games for much of the season.
USC’s remaining schedule gives it a chance to bolster its resume and crash the top four should it run the table.
I mentioned last week how USC is the playoff threat no one has been talking about, and I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the Trojans find themselves in the top four on Selection Sunday.
The Trojans get UCLA in the Rose Bowl this weekend followed by a visit from Notre Dame to close their regular season out.
USC will punch its ticket to Las Vegas with a win against its cross-city rival this Saturday and have a chance to get another win against a highly ranked opponent.
If Lincoln Riley and his squad can pull this run off and get into the playoff, it will mean much more than people realize.
Not only will one of the sport’s most iconic brands return to national prominence, it will do so in a way that makes us rethink what is possible for first year coaches.
Historically it has taken coaches at least three years to truly turn a program around. Even at blue bloods such as USC, Texas and Ohio State, coaches have very grounded expectations for their first year.
That may no longer be the case because of Riley. It’s understandable for a coach to struggle early on in his tenure because it takes time for high school recruits to develop and be contributors to their team.
However, the rise of the transfer portal means programs no longer need to rely on high school talent to develop.
Riley brought in an abundance of proven talent, both from Oklahoma and around the country. These players are already familiar with the college game and can make an immediate impact.
This will put pressure on future first year coaches to right the ship sooner than previously expected.
A coaching hire that went largely unnoticed was Sonny Dykes landing the TCU job after reviving SMU football (seriously it shut down its football program for two years).
It’s not often that a coach leaves for another job without having to get on an airplane, but the move was an easy one for Dykes as he made the 45 minute drive across town to Fort Worth.
In Dykes’ first go around with the Horned Frogs, they have jumped out to a 10-0 start and find themselves in the top four in the playoff rankings.
A Heisman caliber season from Max Duggan along with several second half comebacks have helped the Horned Frogs clinch a spot in the Big 12 title game.
Not having a Big 12 title game cost the Horned Frogs a spot in the inaugural playoff back in 2014. Eight years later, they have a chance to avenge that missed opportunity.
TCU controls its destiny and would be one of the most improbable playoff teams if it can keep its momentum from the Texas win going.
Chris’ College Football Top 25 Rankings:
1.Georgia Bulldogs(10-0) W vs Mississippi State 45-19, last week-1
2.Ohio State Buckeyes(10-0) W vs Indiana 56-14, last week-2
3.Michigan Wolverines(10-0) W vs Nebraska 34-3, last week-3
4.Tennessee Volunteers(9-1) W vs Missouri 66-24, last week-4
5.TCU Horned Frogs(10-0) W vs Texas 17-10, last week-5
6.LSU Tigers(8-2) W vs Arkansas 13-10, last week-7
7.Alabama Crimson Tide(8-2) W vs Ole Miss 30-24, last week-8
8.Clemson Tigers(9-1) W vs Louisville 31-16, last week-9
9.Utah Utes(8-2) W vs Stanford 42-7, last week-10
10.USC Trojans(9-1) W vs Colorado 55-17, last week-11
11.Penn State Nittany Lions(8-2) W vs Maryland 30-0, last week-14
12.North Carolina Tar Heels(9-1) W vs Wake Forest 36-34, last week-15
13.Oregon Ducks(8-2) L vs Washington 37-34, last week-6
14.Washington Huskies(8-2) W vs Oregon 37-34, last week-22
15.Ole Miss Rebels(8-2) L vs Alabama 30-24, last week-13
16.Kansas State Wildcats(7-3) W vs Baylor 31-3, last week-20
17.UCLA Bruins(8-2) L vs Arizona 34-28, last week-12
18.Florida State Seminoles(7-3) W vs Syracuse 38-3, last week-23
19.UCF Knights(8-2) W vs Tulane 38-31, last week-24
20.Notre Dame Fighting Irish(7-3) W vs Navy 35-32, last week-21
21.Tulane Green Wave(8-2) L vs UCF 38-31, last week-19
22.Cincinnati Bearcats(8-2) W vs East Carolina 27-25, last week-unranked
23.Oregon State Beavers(7-3) W vs California 38-10, last week-unranked
24.Texas Longhorns(6-4) L vs TCU 17-10, last week-16
25.Coastal Carolina Chanticleers(9-1) W vs Southern Miss 26-23, last week-unranked
Dropped out of rankings- NC State, Liberty, Illinois