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It should be clear for everyone to see: USC would have been competitive in College Football Playoff

Matt Zemek
·5 min read
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People are going to say that since Utah beat USC 47-24 in the Pac-12 Championship Game — and Utah lost three games this season — it’s a reach to say that the Trojans would have been competitive in the College Football Playoff semifinals had they gotten that far.

USC skeptics would also make the claim that since Brett Neilon would not play in the game (Andrew Vorhees might not have opted out of a playoff semifinal, as opposed to the Cotton Bowl, and the same goes for Jordan Addison), USC would not have its best and strongest offensive line. Fair point there.

However, one can factor in the Neilon injury and still make the claim that USC would have been competitive in the playoff if it had gotten past Utah. At the very least, Saturday’s two semifinals moved the needle closer to — not farther away from — that conclusion.

Let’s discuss this:

THESE SEMIFINALS WERE BASICALLY LIKE USC GAMES IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER

CONTEXT

SOFT NON-CON SCHEDULE

BIG TEN WAS DOWN

SLOPPY FIESTA BOWL

BIG TEN COMPETITION

GEORGIA'S SECONDARY WOULD HAVE BEEN ROASTED BY USC'S PASSING GAME

THERE WAS REAL PARITY THIS SEASON

BEFORE THE LATE RALLY, GEORGIA COACHED POORLY

UNPREPARED DEFENSES CALEB WILLIAMS WOULD HAVE FEASTED ON

LOOKED LIKE USC AGAINST UTAH

TCU SECONDARY LOSES THE PLOT

THIS COULD HAVE BEEN JORDAN ADDISON

SEE HOW EASY THIS WAS AGAINST GEORGIA'S D?

BEST TACKLER ON THE FIELD

44 TOTAL POINTS IN 3RD QUARTER OF TCU-MICHIGAN

38 TOTAL POINTS IN 2ND QUARTER OF OHIO STATE-GEORGIA

BOTTOM LINE

We’re not saying USC would have won. We are saying USC would have been in the game in the fourth quarter. None of the four playoff teams allowed fewer than 41 points. Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud played like a No. 1 pick, but even the other three quarterbacks in the semifinals — not nearly as talented as Stroud — scored tons of touchdowns and points. None of these four teams were dominant or overpowering. Georgia figured to be the best candidate for that distinction, but the Dawgs were largely outplayed by Ohio State and stole the game late after trailing by 14 on two separate occasions (21-7 and 38-24). There was no dominant team in college football this season. USC would have had a chance.

Seize your opportunities when you have them. That’s the lesson for the Trojans … and everyone else.

Story originally appeared on Trojans Wire