USC earns top 20 spot in first College Football Playoff ranking

The first College Football Playoff rankings for the 2025 season have been released, and while USC was ranked 20th in the AP Poll earlier this week, the committee believes the Trojans deserve a higher spot.

After an impressive first two months of the season during which the Trojans notched six wins, including a dominant victory over ranked Michigan and a signature road triumph at Nebraska, the committee has placed USC at 19 to begin their rankings journey this year.

The Trojans are one of seven Big Ten teams featured in this initial release and already boast a win over 21st-ranked Michigan.

Plenty to Play For

USC is in a strong position to rise in the rankings, with upcoming matchups against ranked Iowa (20) and Oregon (9) in the final third of the season. The Trojans are favored in every game except Oregon, who have shown vulnerability at home this year. The committee clearly has confidence in USC’s ability to make an impact and compete in high-stakes games with national implications.

For USC, the focus turns to Northwestern as the Trojans look to preserve their perfect home record in 2025. USC will face Northwestern on Friday evening at 6 p.m. PT (9 p.m. ET) on FOX.