USC Football rises into Top 10 in final College Football Playoff rankings

USC Football rose into the Top 10 of the final College Football Playoff rankings after winning the Pac-12 Championship Game over Stanford.

USC Football didn’t make the Top 4 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, but they did make the jump into the Top 10, landing at No. 8 in the final Top 25.

The Trojans leaped over No. 9 Penn State, who was inactive during championship weekend, and No. 10 Miami, who lost to Clemson in the ACC title game. However, they did not receive a boost over No. 7 Auburn, whose skid from the Top 4 after their SEC title game loss to Georgia stopped just ahead of USC.

As revealed earlier Sunday Morning, Clemson, Oklahoma, Georgia and Alabama grabbed the four playoff places while No. 5 Ohio State and No. 6 Wisconsin sit on the outside looking in.

No. 11 Washington secured a place in a New Year’s Six bowl by taking the No. 11 spot in the rankings head of No. 12 UCF.

Despite the loss to USC, Stanford remaining highly ranked at No. 13, just in front of No. 14 Notre Dame. No. 18 Washington State also held onto their Top 20 ranking without playing this weekend.

The question for the Trojans looking at the final rankings revolves around Wisconsin and Auburn, who rank higher despite losing their conference title games. The Badgers have just one loss to USC’s two, while the Tigers have better wins but more losses.

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Adding to the intrigue, the playoff committee actually ranked USC’s opponents more generously than other polls. Both of the Trojans losses came against Top 18 teams on the road while USC’s two wins over No. 13 Stanford still look impressive.

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USC ranked No. 8 in the AP poll this week as well, moving up three places and jumping Penn State on the strength of their Pac-12 title game victory. As in the CFP rankings, Auburn stayed ahead of the Trojans at No. 7.

Washington inched up to No. 12, while Stanford fell down just one spot to No. 15, giving way for Notre Dame to slide into their vacated rank at No. 14. Washington State stayed put at No. 21.

In the coaches poll, the Trojans rose two notches, ranking seventh ahead of both Auburn and Penn State, but behind Wisconsin.

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The Huskies rank 12th, with Notre Dame at 15th and Stanford at 16th. Washington State also sits at 21st.