College football’s playoff system is in disarray.
USC was defeated by Utah, 47-24, in the Pac-12 championship game in Las Vegas on Friday night, opening the way for Ohio State to overtake them in the race for a spot in the national title game.
USC quarterback and likely Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams suffered a hamstring injury in the first quarter. While he continued to play the rest of the game and even produced remarkable throws, his mobility was restricted.
“You ever had an old rubber band? That’s how it felt,” Williams told reporters following the game.
The USC defense labored difficult to prevent Utah from breaking tackle after tackle. Cameron Rising passed for 310 yards and three touchdowns, and Ja’Quinden Jackson ran for 105 yards and two scores on 13 carries for the Utes.
Caleb Williams played with a hamstring injury in the Trojans’ defeat to Utah in the Pac-12 championship game.
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USC’s loss, and the way in which it occurred, opens the door for Ohio State, with one loss, to leapfrog them into the College Football Playoff.
Michigan was responsible for Ohio State’s lone loss of the season last week. The Pac-12 championship game was USC’s second loss; on October 15, the Trojans lost a 43-42 thriller against Utah.
The top three rated teams, Georgia, Michigan, and TCU, all play in their respective conference championship games on Saturday, but based on their bodies of work, they would all likely qualify for the College Football Playoff even if they were to lose.
Ohio State’s entry into the College Football Playoff became possible after USC’s defeat to Utah.
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Ohio State leapfrogged USC unfairly since the Buckeyes failed not qualify for the Big Ten title game and so did not have to play this weekend. The way in which USC lost, though, may force the committee to make a change. In addition, Ohio State recorded victories against Penn State and Notre Dame, both of which were rated in the top ten.
Currently, Georgia would presumably face Ohio State, while Michigan would face TCU. However, if TCU falls to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game on Saturday, there might be a replay of the rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State in the first round.
»The loss of USC has thrown the college football playoffs into disarray, and Ohio State is lurking«