How USC Football Can Still Make the Pac-12 Championship This Season

Can USC defy the odds?

Despite the roller-coaster that has been your USC Trojans' 2023 NCAA season, as they sit at 7-3 with a 5-2 conference record, their hopes of making the Pac-12 Championship game aren't as bleak as we originally thought.

Because Washington defeated Utah today, the Utes now possess a 4-3 conference record. This all but eliminates them from Pac-12 Championship contention, leaving Oregon (5-1 conference), USC (5-2 conference), and Oregon State (5-2 conference) to vie for one spot – as the other will most likely go to Washington. 

This scenario, as illuminated by Chris Treviño of 247Sports, outlines how the Trojans can snag that spot:

Washington beats Utah. #USC is back to controlling its own destiny.

Beat Oregon and UCLA and the Trojans will play for a Pac-12 title.

— Chris Treviño (@ChrisNTrevino) November 12, 2023

On top of the above scenario, the Oregon State Beavers will also have to lose one of their next two games, in which they play Washington and Oregon. It's unlikely they can win both given the caliber of those two teams, leaving the Trojans in excellent position to win out and make the title game. 

USC enters tonight's game against Oregon as 16.5 point underdogs, and is receiving 5.5:1 odds to win the game altogether.

To that end, while it's seemingly very unlikely that USC stands a chance, the club does have perhaps the best player on the field in Caleb Williams, and what could be a resurgent defense in response to the firing of former DC Alex Grinch. 

One way or another, this gives the Trojans postseason life that many considered to be an afterthought given how the season has gone. Let's see if they come out ready to play.

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