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College Football Playoff Prediction Leaves Out Notable Big Ten Team

The USC Trojans have yet to make a College Football Playoff since it was introduced in 2014. Is 2025 the season for Lincoln Riley to get the Trojans over the hump? College football analyst J.D. Pickell doesn't think so.
Cory Pappas|
Oct 12, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley, left, talks with Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin on the field prior to the game at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Oct 12, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley, left, talks with Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin on the field prior to the game at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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USC TrojansLSU TigersPenn State Nittany Lions

The USC Trojans are seeking their first College Football Playoff appearance this season. College football analyst J.D. Pickell dropped his 12-team playoff predictions for the 2025 season. Lincoln Riley and the Trojans did not make it.

What does Pickell’s 12-team field look like?

Pickell’s College Football Playoff Prediction 

USC Trojans Lincoln Riley College Football Playoff Predictions 12-Team Jayden Maiava Betting Odds LSU Tigers
Dec 31, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly holds up the trophy after defeating the Baylor Bears in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl in the second half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images | Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

The USC Trojans did not make J.D. Pickell’s 12-team playoff. Here are the teams he has and what their rank is. 

1. LSU Tigers 

2. Ohio State Buckeyes 

3. Clemson Tigers 

4. Texas Longhorns 

5. Oregon Ducks 

6. Penn State Nittany Lions 

7. Texas A&M Aggies 

8. Georgia Bulldogs 

9. Alabama Crimson Tide  

10. Baylor Bears 

11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 

12. James Madison Dukes

Pickell has the No. 1 ranked LSU Tigers taking down the No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in the National Championship. It’s a field loaded with Big Ten and SEC teams. Pickell predicts five SEC teams and three Big Ten team making it in. 

The only outliers are one ACC team; Clemson, one Big 12 team; Baylor, one group of five team; James Madison, and an independent Notre Dame. 

USC Trojans College Football Playoff Betting Odds

USC currently has odds of +450 to make the playoff and odds of -700 to miss it per DraftKings Sportsbook.

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Can Lincoln Riley Get USC to Their First Ever Playoff?

USC Trojans Lincoln Riley College Football Playoff Predictions 12-Team Jayden Maiava Betting Odds LSU Tigers
Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley leaves the field after the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

If Pickell’s prediction comes to fruition, this would mark another season where the USC Trojans failed to make the College Football Playoff. USC has been knocking on the door of the playoff a couple different times since the format was adopted in 2014, but have not gotten over the hump. 

The closest USC came in recent years was in 2022, Lincoln Riley’s first year as coach in Los Angeles. Led by Heisman trophy winning quarterback Caleb Williams, the Trojans went 11-1 in the regular season. 

They entered the Pac-12 Championship game against the Utah Utes in a situation where if they won, they would be one of the four teams in the College Football Playoff. The Utes dominated in the second half en route to a 47-24 victory, ending USC's playoff hopes. The Trojans ended up earning a berth in the Cotton Bowl, where they lost to Tulane. 

Lincoln Riley himself has been to the College Football Playoff three different times back when he was the coach of Oklahoma Sooners. Can he get this USC team there this season?

The USC Trojans starting quarterback for the 2025 season opener will be Jayden Maiava as announced by Lincoln Riley at Big Ten media day last week. Maiava started the final four games of the season for USC after Miller Moss was benched. USC went 3-1 in Maiava’s starts. 

  • Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. 
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Cory Pappas
CORY PAPPAS

Cory Pappas is sports writer for USC Trojans On SI and Oregon Ducks On SI. Since starting in March of 2024, he has been writing breaking news stories, game previews, game recaps, and more across College Sports, the NFL, MLB, NBA, and Olympics for Total Apex Sports. In addition to writing, Cory is also a sports data scout for Sportradar. He covers live sporting events ranging from college athletics to semi-pro and professional. Before joining the industry, Cory graduated from the University of Oregon in 2022. He ran track for Oregon's club Track and Field team. Before Oregon, he played varsity basketball and track and field in high school in Walnut Creek, CA. Cory is using his lifelong passion for sports and writing together.

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