So far, we have seen a fair number of bowl projections with the USC Trojans heading to the Peach Bowl to face the Georgia Bulldogs.
That would be a devastating blow for USC. However, Richard Johnson of Sports Illustrated has pegged the Trojans to the Fiesta Bowl, playing against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
But, as Johnson mentions, the game against Notre Dame determines a ton — as does TCU’s game this weekend.
“Next weekend will almost certainly determine at least the Big Ten’s contribution to the College Football Playoff with Ohio State and Michigan facing off at The Horseshoe,” Johnson wrote. “We’ll also see USC in a big spot against Notre Dame and TCU against an Iowa State team that isn’t its normal tricky self.”
The Trojans defeated UCLA and have locked in a spot on the Pac-12 title game, so it seems to be either the Rose Bowl or a College Football Playoff spot if they beat Notre Dame and win the Pac-12 title.
For Lincoln Riley’s first season in Southern California, that is the best-case scenario. Depending on how things play out this weekend, USC could enter the Pac-12 title game with a CFP spot in sight.
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