How Tonight's Results Might Impact USC's Playoff Prospects

The USC Trojans' matchup with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish this week is one of their most important contests. This game will have a big impact on the Trojans' chances of making the College sports Playoff, making it one of the best rivalries in college sports.

USC would have a respectable road victory to add to their résumé if they can win the game. This would be a landmark victory for USC considering Notre Dame is currently rated 21st in the nation. Additionally, it would give them a victory outside of the Pac-12, which might be advantageous if they finish the season with similar records to other teams.

If the Trojans and Ohio State Buckeyes both have a winning record at the end of the season, for instance, how well they perform against a dependable foe like Notre Dame might decide the outcome. USC's chances would improve if they were to produce a greater victory than the Buckeyes did in South Bend, where they managed to win in the final seconds.

Losing to the Fighting Irish might put an end to USC's perfect season and hurt their chances of making the playoffs. It wouldn't be a good look for the Trojans because Notre Dame has dropped two of its previous three games going into this week.

USC essentially needs to go unbeaten the entire season if they want to make the College Football Playoff. It may not be just, but it reflects the current state of the college game.

The expectation is that USC will be able to defeat Notre Dame after learning from their performance against Arizona the previous week. This USC team doesn't want their chance to potentially make the playoffs to slip away from them since bragging rights are on the line. Their odds could significantly change according on how they perform against Notre Dame.