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Paul Finebaum reveals USC's path to the College Football Playoff

Nikki Chavanelleby:Nikki Chavanelle•11/15/22•

NikkiChavanelle

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On Tuesday’s First Take on ESPN, SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum laid out the USC Trojans‘ best path to the College Football Playoff. The path obviously hinges on Lincoln Riley’s first-year squad closing out the year without another loss, but they’ll also need the TCU Horned Frogs to falter between now and Dec. 3.

“Yes, they can (make it),” Finebaum said. “They have a path but they need some help. TCU needs to lose. Can they? Yes, they have Baylor this weekend and the Big 12 championship game. There’s the Michigan–Ohio State game that we’ve been talking about for many, many weeks.

“If Michigan loses that game, I think they’re in trouble. They made some decisions a couple of years ago to help Harbaugh out, they got rid of Virginia Tech and UCLA on their schedule to play a bunch of dogs, that could cost them.

What would also greatly aid the Trojans would be a loss by the Tennessee Volunteers. However, they face the Gamecocks and the Commodores, so that prospect is unlikely.

“There’s still Tennessee to consider,” Finebaum added. “The one thing USC will have if all of this shakes out is a conference championship, which could trump Tennessee, which will not.”

USC strength of schedule in question

First Take host Stephen A. Smith responded by questioning the Trojan’s strength of schedule and whether it merits consideration, regardless of a conference championship.

Noted USC fan and alum Keyshawn Johnson argued that USC has played in some difficult environments, including Oregon State and Utah. Also, they have some impressive opponents left on the schedule.

“It ain’t Alabama but it’s hard to play,” Johnson said as his co-analysts laughed. “They’ll play a ranked opponent in UCLA, a ranked opponent in Notre Dame, and a ranked opponent in the Pac-12 Championship game, I rest my case.”

On Saturday, USC heads across town to UCLA for an 8 p.m. ET kickoff. According to the ESPN matchup predictor, the Trojans have a 60.5% chance at victory (and keeping their path to the CFP alive).