USC Trojans

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Preseason

WEEK 12 · 2026

The Week 12 job

Beat Maryland and avoid turning a likely win into a season problem.

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

playoff chanceNow24%Win26%Loss6%

Maryland

Maryland 10%USC 90%

USC

By importanceWatch plan

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 1

Root for

UCLA

at

Michigan

Root for UCLA3.0-point playoff boost

UCLA visits your schedule in week 13: keep them ranked.

26% if UCLA wins23% with the other result3-point differenceUSC playoff chance

…

…

NBC

Priority 2

SMU

at

Root for

Notre Dame

Root for Notre Dame1.9-point playoff boost

Notre Dame winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

24% if Notre Dame wins22% with the other result1.9-point differenceUSC playoff chance

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 3

Root for

Rutgers

at

Penn State

Root for Rutgers1.9-point playoff boost

Rutgers winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

25% if Rutgers wins24% with the other result1.9-point differenceUSC playoff chance

…

…

FOX

Priority 4

Oregon

at

Root for

Michigan State

Root for Michigan State1.7-point playoff boost

Michigan State winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

25% if Michigan State wins23% with the other result1.7-point differenceUSC playoff chance

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 5

Vanderbilt

at

Root for

Florida

Root for Florida1.5-point playoff boost

Florida winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

25% if Florida wins23% with the other result1.5-point differenceUSC playoff chance

59 more games that don't move your needle

Indiana at Washington

Iowa at Illinois

Ohio State at Nebraska

Ball State at Ohio

Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan

Miami (OH) at Kent State

Akron at Massachusetts

Bowling Green at Toledo · ESPN2

Central Michigan at Buffalo

Rice at Temple · ESPN

Arkansas State at Louisiana Tech

Clemson at Duke · ESPN

Kentucky at Missouri

Texas A&M at Oklahoma

Georgia at South Carolina

LSU at Tennessee

Arkansas at Texas

Arizona at Kansas State

BYU at Kansas

Colorado at Cincinnati

Houston at West Virginia

Iowa State at UCF · FS1

Oklahoma State at Arizona State

Texas Tech at Baylor

Utah at TCU

Virginia Tech at Miami

NC State at Florida State

North Carolina at Virginia

Pittsburgh at Louisville

Stanford at California

Syracuse at Boston College

Wake Forest at Georgia Tech

Northwestern at Minnesota

Wisconsin at Purdue

Colorado State at Fresno State · The CW Network

Utah State at Oregon State · CBSSN

Washington State at Texas State · USA Network

San Diego State at Boise State · USA Network

Old Dominion at UConn · CBSSN

East Carolina at Army · CBSSN

Charlotte at Tulsa

South Florida at Florida Atlantic

Memphis at Navy

North Texas at Tulane

UTSA at UAB

Hawai'i at Nevada

New Mexico at Wyoming · FS1

UNLV at San José State · CBSSN

UTEP at Air Force · The CW Network

UL Monroe at App State

Coastal Carolina at Louisiana

Georgia Southern at Troy

Georgia State at Marshall

Delaware at New Mexico State

Florida International at Kennesaw State

Missouri State at Jacksonville State

Western Kentucky at Liberty

Middle Tennessee at Sam Houston

South Alabama at Southern Miss

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 12, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.