Paul Finebaum: USC 'by no means out of' College Football Playoff chase after road loss at Michigan
Paul Finebaum is not ready to end USC’s College Football Playoff hopes in 2024 following the loss to Michigan.
With an improved defense, the Trojans can certainly make some noise, but Finebaum pointed out one key game on the schedule that’ll determine their fate. It’s new Big Ten foe Penn State.
First up are Wisconsin and Minnesota, but Penn State travels to take on USC on October 12. Circle your calendars.
“When you look at their schedule, it does have some bumps, but you knew that was coming,” Finebaum said on SportsCenter. “But Penn State, I think, is going to be the key game there. Penn State is that team we always prop up. We always put them in the top 10, and then somehow in the four-team playoff era, they would always lose to Michigan and Ohio State. But this is a real opportunity for Southern Cal. They are by no means out of it.”
As Finebaum pointed out, USC’s playoff chances are roughly 33% with their 2-1 record right now. The schedule has a lot of ups and downs, but don’t write them off yet.
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“You saw the predictor there. They still have about a one in three chance, and that’s the difference in this playoff right now,” Finebaum said. “Normally, a loss like that could put you almost out of the playoffs before the official first moment of fall,coming here, but not now. And I give Lincoln Riley credit.
“He did what he said he was going to do. He went out and got a defense, they gave up a winning score but it was on the road and one of the most difficult arenas. And one thing I really came out of this game thinking, how good is Texas to go in there a couple weeks ago, and completely eviscerate the Wolverines?”
USC is back in action Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET at home when the Wisconsin Badgers visit for a Big Ten matchup.