USC’s first two weeks have done more than build a 2-0 start. They’ve put the Trojans in the conversation for something bigger, and that’s exactly why a new College Football Playoff projection from On3’s Andy Staples is going to land well in Los Angeles.
On Labor Day, Staples unveiled his Week 1 CFP bracketology, and he had USC in the field. Not only that, he slotted the Trojans ahead of No. 2 Oregon, which is the kind of placement that will catch USC fans’ attention immediately.
Staples’ top four seeds came out in this order: No. 11 LSU, No.
1 Ohio State, No. 7 Miami and No.
5 Texas.
From there, the next eight teams were ranked as No. 6 Indiana, No.
3 Georgia, No. 4 Notre Dame, No.
10 Oklahoma, No. 12 Texas Tech, USC, Virginia and Boise State.
That leaves Oregon on the outside in Staples’ projection, along with No. 9 Ole Miss, No.
24 Louisville and No. 13 Alabama among the first four teams out.
It’s a bold early-season call, and one that may not line up with where the AP Poll eventually settles.
Still, USC’s inclusion is the headline for Trojan fans, because Staples has them making their first CFP appearance in school history.
There are reasons the Trojans are getting that kind of early buzz. Lincoln Riley’s team has opened with wins over San José State and Fresno State, and while those opponents won’t move many people on their own, USC has looked sharp doing it.
The most recent statement came in the form of an impressive shutout over Fresno State. Under new defensive coordinator Gary Patterson, the Trojans’ defense has looked sturdy, giving up only three points with the first team defense. Kennedy Urlacher, Prophet Brown, Jide Abasiri and Luke Wafle have all been among the players making an early impact.
The offense has been rolling too. Jayden Maiava has thrown for 635 yards and five touchdowns already, and he has done it with just six incompletions. His performance against Fresno State earned him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors.
USC still has work ahead before anyone can seriously map out the playoff picture. Louisiana comes to Los Angeles next, and then the Trojans head to Rutgers for their first road game to open Big Ten play. After that, the schedule turns toward a Sept. 26 matchup with Oregon that could tell a lot more about where this team stands.
For now, Staples’ projection gives USC something tangible to point at: national respect, a playoff spot, and a path that would put the Trojans on that stage for the first time. With Oregon looking less polished in Week 1, the idea of USC springing a major upset at home doesn’t feel far-fetched at all.
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