USC Trojans

0–0 · 0–0 BIG TEN

Preseason

WEEK 5 · 2026

The Week 5 job

Beat Washington and keep USC's season in its own hands.

TBD

SAT OCT 3

TV TBA

playoff chanceNow24%Win30%Loss13%

Washington

Washington 38%USC 62%

USC

By importanceWatch plan

TBD

SAT OCT 3

TV TBA

Priority 1

Root for

Ohio State

at

Iowa

Root for Ohio State1.8-point playoff boost

Ohio State visits your schedule in week 9: keep them ranked.

24% if Ohio State wins23% with the other result1.8-point differenceUSC playoff chance

…

…

TV TBA

Priority 2

Indiana

at

Root for

Rutgers

Root for Rutgers1.9-point title-game boost

Big Ten race: Indiana losing helps your spot in the standings; you still play Indiana in week 11.

9% if Rutgers wins7% with the other result1.9-point differenceUSC Big Ten title-game chance

52 more games that don't move your needle

Akron at Central Michigan

Michigan State at Wisconsin

Penn State at Northwestern · FOX

North Texas at Tulsa · ESPN

Western Kentucky at New Mexico State · CBSSN

Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech · ESPN

Liberty at Delaware · CBSSN

Vanderbilt at Georgia

Alabama at Mississippi State

Florida at Missouri

Kentucky at South Carolina

Auburn at Tennessee

Arkansas at Texas A&M

Middle Tennessee at Kansas

Baylor at Arizona State

BYU at TCU

UCF at Houston

Cincinnati at Arizona

Texas Tech at Colorado

West Virginia at Iowa State

Boston College at SMU

California at UNLV · CBSSN

Louisville at NC State

Miami at Clemson

Notre Dame at North Carolina

Stanford at Wake Forest

Syracuse at UConn · CBSSN

Virginia at Florida State

Purdue at Illinois

Michigan at Minnesota

Maryland at Nebraska

Utah State at Boise State · CBSSN

Oregon State at Colorado State · USA Network

Texas State at San Diego State · The CW Network

Fresno State at Washington State · USA Network

Memphis at Charlotte

UTSA at Rice

Navy at Air Force · CBS

Temple at South Florida

San José State at Hawai'i · MW+

UTEP at New Mexico · MW+

Toledo at Ball State

Western Michigan at Buffalo

Eastern Michigan at Massachusetts

Ohio at Kent State

Bowling Green at Miami (OH)

Army at Louisiana Tech

Arkansas State at Louisiana

Georgia Southern at Coastal Carolina

Old Dominion at Georgia State

Marshall at James Madison

UL Monroe at South Alabama

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 5, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.