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The No. 20 USC Trojans are on a mission to secure their first-ever College Football Playoff berth in the fifth year under head coach Lincoln Riley. Following a landmark 30-18 victory over then-No. 2 Ohio State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum—arguably the signature win of Riley's tenure—the Trojans now stand at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten action as they enter their second bye week of the season.
USC's final three regular-season games present a formidable challenge: a road trip to No. 4 Indiana on Nov. 14, a home matchup with Maryland on Nov. 21, and a crosstown rivalry clash against No. 8 UCLA on Nov. 28. The first bye week produced a slew of surprising upsets, and similar chaos could unfold this weekend. Here are three games that USC fans should monitor closely.
No. 23 Oregon vs. No. 12 Ohio State
Originally billed as a top-five showdown, this matchup in Columbus will feature both teams without their starting quarterbacks—Julian Sayin for Ohio State and Dante Moore for Oregon. Nevertheless, the game carries significant weight for the Big Ten and the CFP race. USC's playoff prospects are directly tied to the result: the Trojans defeated the Buckeyes but fell to the Ducks at the Coliseum on Sept. 26. With Oregon already carrying three losses, USC would likely benefit from an Ohio State loss—which would mark the Buckeyes' second consecutive defeat. Under head coach Ryan Day, Ohio State has never lost two straight regular-season games. Will that streak end on Saturday?
No. 1 Miami vs. No. 11 Notre Dame
In what could be the game of the year, the No. 1 Miami Hurricanes visit the No. 11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish in South Bend. Miami, led by Heisman contender Darian Mensah at quarterback, aims to stay undefeated, while Notre Dame seeks a marquee win to bolster its CFP résumé after an earlier loss to No. 9 BYU. However, the Hurricanes will be without star wide receiver Malachi Toney, who suffered a high ankle sprain in practice on Nov. 4 and is scheduled for surgery. Toney has been spectacular this season, recording 73 receptions for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Fighting Irish, quarterbacked by CJ Carr, have yet to secure a signature victory, and a win over Miami in a hostile environment would provide just that.
No. 9 BYU vs. No. 3 Utah
Saturday's Holy War rivalry game between No. 9 BYU and No. 3 Utah is one of the most anticipated matchups in the series' history, with major Big 12 title and CFP implications. Both teams could find themselves in the 12-team playoff bracket by season's end. The Utes are one of three remaining undefeated teams in the country, alongside No. 1 Miami and No. 8 UCLA. The Cougars have won three straight in the rivalry, a streak that dates back to 2021, and Utah aims to snap it while preserving its perfect season. USC fans may recall the intense battles with Utah during their Pac-12 days, including the 2022 season when the Trojans, led by Heisman winner Caleb Williams, were twice denied by the Utes—once in the regular season and again in the Pac-12 championship—costing them a CFP spot in Riley's first year.