USC Football Up To No. 11 In College Football Playoff Rankings

USC football moved up to No. 11 in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings, while Colorado jumped Oklahoma up to No. 8 dimming the Trojans Rose Bowl hopes.

This week’s College Football Playoff rankings have big implications for USC’s potential Rose Bowl berth, but the Trojans didn’t exactly get the set up they might have hoped for.

Clay Helton’s squad moved up to No. 11, taking the place of Louisville after the Cardinal’s lost over the weekend, but the Buffaloes also moved up a spot, leapfrogging Oklahoma into the No. 8 spot.

That separation — and the vote of confidence by the committee in Colorado — could factor into bowl destinations if Washington wins the Pac-12, forcing the Rose Bowl to replace the playoff-bound conference champion. The berth will go to the highest-ranked Pac-12 team, which could be either Pac-12 runner up Colorado or USC, in that scenario, depending on how the committee ranks them in the final poll.

The Trojans would need the Buffaloes to drop three places after losing to No. 4 Washington, something which could depend on the margin of the loss and a weighing of resumes between USC and Colorado.

Though Colorado holds an advantage with ten wins on the season, a loss to the Huskies would drop them to equal USC’s three losses. The Trojans also hold the head-to-head victory over the Buffaloes.

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USC took care of business this week, improving their record to 9-3 with a rivalry game victory over Notre Dame on Saturday.

Though rain at the Coliseum made the game a touch sloppy, the magic of Adoree’ Jackson propelled the Trojans past the Irish. The cornerback-receiver-returner extraordinaire accounted for three touchdowns — returning a kick and a punt while adding a long touchdown reception.

However, since the Buffaloes beat Utah to punch their ticket to the Pac-12 Championship game, USC will be inactive and will have no opportunity to convince the committee to improve their standing.

Elsewhere in the Pac-12, Stanford took a big leap up from No. 22 to No. 18 while the Utes actually moved up two spots despite losing to Colorado. They now stand No. 20.