USC Trojans Are Biggest Loser In First College Football Playoff Rankings - Sports Illustrated
By Google News Sports ·
When the first College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings came out Tuesday night, some USC fans were surprised to see the Trojans ranked so low, especially after their 30-18 upset of the then No. 2-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Halloween night.
The Trojans checked into the first CFP rankings at No. 20, two spots below their AP Poll ranking of No. 18. Four Big Ten teams rank ahead of the Trojans, including the No. 4 Indiana Hoosiers, who are next up on the schedule for USC, the No. 8 UCLA Bruins, No. 12 Ohio State Buckeyes, and No. 19 Iowa Hawkeyes.
With the rankings officially reveled, here's a breakdown of why the Trojans are among the teams that suffered the most in the first CFP Top 25 rankings.
The Trojans (7-2 overall, 4-2 Big Ten) were one of the biggest losers in the first CFP Top 25 rankings, as a strong case could be made that they should’ve been ranked a little bit higher. However, given how they suffered their two losses this season, there's an argument that can also be made that the Trojans' No. 20 ranking is justified.
The Trojans two losses this season against the No. 23 Oregon Ducks and the Wisconsin Badgers both came by double digits, as USC’s defense dominated. The Ducks have experienced their fair share of struggles this season, having suffered three losses after starting the year as a national championship contender.
Also, the Badgers, fresh off their 24-7 win over the Trojans on Oct. 24, followed up that promising performance with a blowout 30-0 road loss to the Hawkeyes on Halloween. Other than their recent win over the Buckeyes, the Trojans don’t have another Top 25 win this season, another reason why USC may find themselves lower than some may believe they deserve.
However, none of that matters for the…
Originally published by Google News Sports
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