National reaction pours in as USC’s playoff hopes are demolished by Notre Dame

Let’s be realistic about this: Is USC sweeping Washington or Oregon and winning its next six games? That’s not happening.

Technically, USC might still be alive in the College Football Playoff race, but that’s not worth thinking about right now.

USC isn’t a top-10 team. The Trojans don’t even look like a top-25 team. They look painfully ordinary and unremarkable. How is this team going to suddenly change its spots and not only beat both Washington and Oregon in November, but then beat the Huskies or Ducks a second time in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday, December 1 in Las Vegas?

Is that a possibility which is worth taking seriously right now? The realistic approach should dismiss — not entertain — the possibility that USC can make the playoff.

USC has bigger, more immediate problems to worry about right now, such as playing good football.

The Trojans haven’t done that since the first half against Colorado.

Here’s national reaction to USC’s playoff hopes going down the drain: