Why This Elite Pac-12 Team Will Not Make College Football Playoff In 2023
Updated: Jun 10, 2023
The USC Trojans are one of the major teams in college football and the face of the Pac-12, and they have yet to find themselves in a College Football Playoff. The Trojans made a huge hire last offseason by bringing in Oklahoma’s head coach Lincoln Riley to be their new man in charge. Riley is the best offensive-minded coach in the sport, and it isn’t even debatable. Riley produced three Heisman-winning quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray at Oklahoma and then Caleb Williams at USC last season.
USC was a game away last season from making the playoffs, but they fell short when they lost to Utah in the PAC-12 title game. It was right there for the taking, but the Trojans could not get the job done.
USC heads into the 2023 season with high hopes, and one big factor is they have Caleb Williams back. This will be Williams last year at USC, and he is expected to be the number one pick in next year’s NFL draft.
Games That Could Ruin Their Playoff Chances
Looking at USC’s 2023 schedule, three games stand out that could be a factor in USC’s playoff push. USC will host Utah who beat them not once but twice last season. Utah is the reason why USC never saw the playoffs and had to go to the Cotton Bowl where they fell to Tulane.
USC will be looking for revenge, and this time they get them at home instead of on the road and at a neutral site like last season. I think USC will win this football game, but there are two more games that could keep USC out of the playoffs.
USC will play their rival Notre Dame in South Bend the week before they play Utah. Notre Dame is expected to be a lot better this season and they were able to land a star quarterback Sam Hartman in the transfer portal from Wake Forrest.
Playing at Notre Dame will not be easy for the Trojans and that could be a game they drop. One good thing is it does not count towards the PAC-12 standings so they could still lose that game, find their way back in the PAC-12 title game and make the playoffs.
USC has to go on the road the second last week of the season and play the Oregon Ducks. The Ducks are expected to be right up there with USC this season, and the winner of that game could take control of the PAC-12. Oregon was able to get quarterback Bo Nix to return for his last season. Nix will be one of the favorites to win the Heisman this season, and playing Oregon will not be an easy test.
USC Will Leave The PAC-12
The College Football Playoff is in its last season of only having four teams and then next year it will begin to take 12 teams. It is very important to win every game since only the top four teams will go. We know an SEC and a BIG Ten school will be in the playoffs, and that leads to two more spots open.
USC will be jumping conferences next season and heading to the Big Ten , and things will not be easier since they have to deal with teams like Michigan and Ohio State.
USC will be in the playoffs one day, but it may not happen in their last season in the PAC-12.
Trust me they will be a top 12 team in college football over the next handful of years, and they will be getting in the 12-team field.
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