What A 24-Team Playoff Would Look Like For The Big Ten

Despite USC having five wins heading into week 9, the Trojans would not be an automatic qualifier to make the CFP. The four teams that would qualify, and their projected rankings , are the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes, No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers, No. 5 Oregon Ducks, and the No. 19 Illinois Fighting Illini.

Ohio State and Indiana are the two final undefeated teams in the Big Ten, while Oregon has just one loss. The Illinois Fighting Illini have the same record as USC, 5-2, but one of their wins was against the Trojans.

There are several teams in the Big Ten, including USC and Illinois, holding a 5-2 record, and some with a high conference record. With that, there would still be eight teams in the hunt for a CFP appearance through the final stretch of the season.

Hypothetical Big Ten Teams in the Hunt

• USC Trojans (5-2)
• Michigan Wolverines (5-2)
• Iowa Hawkeyes (5-2)
• Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-2)
• Washington Huskies (5-2)
• Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-2)
• Northwestern Wildcats (5-2)
• UCLA Bruins (3-4)

One thing that the 24-team CFP would do is keep the competition high across the season. While teams still battle to earn a bowl game even when no longer in the playoff race, an expansion would keep teams in the hunt for longer.

USC Trojans Being In The Hunt Concerning?

While the USC Trojans entered the season unranked, there were still high expectations due to the talent on the roster. With the Big Ten getting four automatic qualifiers in this hypothetical, it could be seen as concerning that the Trojans would still only be in the hunt at this point of the season.

With USC’s roster, the Trojans not being a top-four team in the conference is a tough look for USC coach Lincoln Riley and the Trojans. The team's two losses were against the No. 23 Illinois Fighting Illini and the No. 12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. With both being against ranked opponents on the road, it hurt the program’s chances of being seen as a playoff team.

One of the biggest critiques of Riley is his lack of wins against ranked opponents. Fortunately, the Trojans dominated against the No. 25 Michigan Wolverines, who were ranked No. 15 at the time.

The USC Trojans have five games remaining this season as they head into their second bye during week 9. After the bye, the Trojans will face Nebraska , Northwestern, Iowa, Oregon, and UCLA. The No. 6 Oregon Ducks are their toughest remaining opponent.

If the 24-team CFP were real, the USC Trojans would still have a shot to make the bracket with five weeks to go, but it would be an uphill battle for the team.