RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 4 sourcesThe USC Trojans are No. 14 in the 2026 preseason edition of the US LBM College Football Coaches Poll. The Trojans are part of a loaded Big Ten Conference which has the top two teams in the poll, the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 2 Oregon Ducks . The defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers are No. 6.
USC being No. 14 means the Trojans are not projected by the coaches to make the College Football Playoff. USC has not made the CFP in each of the first 12 seasons of the playoff's existence. The Trojans have failed to make each of the first two 12-team editions of the playoff after 10 seasons in which they missed the four-team version of the CFP.
USC plays Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana , so the Trojans will get their shot at each of the three Big Ten football teams in front of them in the poll. USC has a tough schedule, but the blessing of that tough schedule is that if USC does go 10-2, the Trojans will almost certainly make the playoff. They don't have to go 11-1, but they do have to go 10-2. It's doubtful they will be able to make the College Football Playoff with a 9-3 record through 12 games.
Other Big Ten teams in this poll include Michigan at No. 16, Penn State at No. 17, Washington at No. 19, and Iowa at No. 22.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC not projected to be playoff team in preseason US LBM Coaches Poll
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