Why USC’s Path to the College Football Playoff Is Clearer Than Ever

With victories over the Michigan Wolverines and Iowa Hawkeyes, the USC Trojans now aim to add the Oregon Ducks to a potential 10–2 résumé that would give them a profile the College Football Playoff committee would struggle to leave out.

Sep 13, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley stands on the sidelines during the first quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images | Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

After overcoming a double-digit deficit in heavy rain to be then-ranked No. 21 Iowa 26-21, the USC Trojans moved one step closer to what once felt improbable: a legitimate chance to reach the College Football Playoff. Big Ten Network analysts Dave Revsine and Howard Griffith laid out the Trojans’ position bluntly on B1G Today, explaining that a 10–2 finish with wins over Michigan, Iowa, and Oregon would give USC one of the clearest résumés in the country.

“It feels really straightforward. . . . You win out, you’d be 10–2 with victories over Michigan, Iowa and the Ducks," Revsine said. "To me that résumé is clearcut. If that’s not a playoff team, I quite frankly don’t know what is.”

For USC, the logic is simple. If they beat No. 7 Oregon on Saturday and finish 10–2, their résumé stacks up with anyone in the country:

— Home win over No. 18 Michigan
— Road win over No. 6 Oregon
— Comeback win over Iowa
— Two losses by a combined 12 points, both to ranked teams

That’s not fringe playoff material. That’s a résumé the committee might reward. Griffith echoed the urgency while placing the responsibility squarely on USC’s shoulders.

“They’ve put themselves in unbelievable position… Control the controllables. The first one is going out and playing a really good football team this week, and that’s going to set you up for what you need to do.”

USC’s Surge: A Team Hitting Its Stride at the Right Time

Nov 1, 2025; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) warms up before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

The win over Iowa showed why analysts are taking USC seriously. The Trojans erased a sluggish first half with 16 unanswered second-half points, leaning on both star power and a resurgent defense.

Makai Lemon once again delivered a Biletnikoff-caliber performance: 10 catches, 153 yards, and a touchdown, his fourth game with 150+ yards this season. In the Big Ten’s wettest mess of the year, he still looked unstoppable.

The defense matched his energy. For the third straight game, USC held its opponent to three points or less after halftime. A unit that gave up points early in the season now looks disciplined, physical and opportunistic.

USC coachLincoln Riley—now 8–1 in his last nine Big Ten games—has USC playing its best football with everything on the line.

MORE: Three Biggest Takeaways From USC's Comeback Win vs. Iowa Hawkeyes

MORE: Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz Praises USC Receiver Makai Lemon In Rare Way

MORE: Questionable Facemask Penalty In Pivotal USC Game vs. Iowa

WOULD YOU LIKE MORE USC TROJANS NEWS? SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HERE!

The Oregon Roadblock

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore throws a pass before the game as the Oregon Ducks host the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Nov. 14, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Now comes the defining test. USC travels to Eugene to face No. 6 Oregon, a place the Trojans haven’t won since 2011. The Ducks are rolling after a 42–13 dismantling of Minnesota and have the benefit of an extra day of rest.

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is playing his cleanest football of the season. He enters the matchup with 2,190 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and only five interceptions, completing 90 percent of his passes last week. His mobility and protection—only 10 sacks allowed—make Oregon’s offense every bit as efficient as advertised.

But USC has firepower of its own. Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava has become one of the Big Ten’s most productive and steady quarterbacks: 2,868 yards, 18 touchdowns, six interceptions, and only 11 sacks in ten games. His ability to extend plays and avoid mistakes has kept USC’s offense humming, even against elite defenses.

Win-and-In Territory

Sep 13, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) talks with Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images | Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

USC sits in a clear position: Beat Oregon. Handle UCLA. Finish 10–2. If they do, their résumé—paired with a late-season surge—could elevate them into the CFP.

Lose, and the conversation ends. That’s why Revsine’s confidence matters. He sees what the numbers show and what the tape suggests: USC is playing like one of the four best teams in the country. Saturday in Eugene will determine whether the committee gets the chance to agree.