USC Ranking: Trojans Ranked in AP Poll After Win at Washington

Finally, after winning six-straight games to salvage the season including an impressive win at Washington, the AP Poll sees red-hot USC ranking among the nation’s best teams. The Trojans are 15th.

The Trojans were ranked 20th in the preseason AP Poll, but fell out immediately following a disastrous 52-6 loss to Alabama in Week 1.

They had received votes and crawled closer and closer to a ranking in recent weeks, but it’s a solid 26-13 win over previously unbeaten Washington that has done the trick.

Clay Helton’s team is now ranked No. 15 by the AP, and are the fifth Pac-12 team to be ranked this week, along with No. 7 Washington, No. 12 Colorado, No. 11 Utah and No. 20 Washington State.

The Trojans were the biggest risers in the poll, jumping a whopping ten spots and leapfrogging a host of teams, including Ed Orgeron’s LSU and Florida State. The Trojans now also outrank other three-loss teams like Auburn and Texas A&M.

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Such a big move seems an admission from AP voters that USC should have been given more credit for their five-game winning streak going into the Washington game.

Last week, the College Football Playoff Committee ranked USC 20th in the College Football Playoff rankings, acknowledging their rise since September. The new playoff rankings will come out Tuesday night, with USC expected to climb following the win over Washington.

The Trojans are also sitting at No. 19 in the Amway USA Today coaches poll, which was also released on Sunday morning.

With USC having a number next to their name, it means they will be ranked by the AP for the 13th time in 15 years going into the annual rivalry game with the crosstown UCLA Bruins.