USC is one step closer to College Football Playoff after Week 13 rankings

The top four teams are all undefeated, but Michigan and Ohio State play each other this weekend in Columbus, which means that one of those two programs will walk away from Week 13 with a loss. The Big Ten has been weak this season, which should mean either Ohio State or Michigan will drop out of the CFP top four.

In the meantime, UGA's next game is a massive contest against No. 5 LSU, which could potentially be a win-win for USC. It's not like the Bulldogs could be ranked any higher if they beat LSU, so they theoretically can't kick anyone out of the top four. 

In the meantime, the Tigers still have to play a feisty Texas A&M squad looking to pick up a big home win to at least salvage some of this losing season before the Aggies head on to Georgia. There's a world in which LSU could lose two in a row to end the season. Even if the Tigers beat Texas A&M, though, a loss to UGA would give them three losses and effectively eliminate them from CFP contention.

Things get a bit trickier for the Trojans if LSU wins out and finishes at 11-2 with wins over Ole Miss, Alabama and Georgia, but a win over Notre Dame would give USC two wins over ranked teams to end the season in two massive games.

There's definitely a scenario where they end up No. 5, while two SEC teams (likely Georgia and LSU) get in to dance with the winner of the Michigan-Ohio State game and undefeated TCU. Still, the Trojans have to be feeling great about their chances of making the CFP with one game remaining on their schedule. 

In a very real sense, all USC needs to do is beat Notre Dame this weekend and let the chips fall how they may.