The Pac-12 was thought long lost for the College Football Playoff just few weeks ago, but—with a heap of help—the West Coast could squeeze its way in.
No. 7 Stanford and No. 20 USC meet in a rematch of a thrilling Week 3 contest that saw the then-unranked Cardinal swing an 11-point deficit into a 41-31 win in what, at the time, was considered a major road upset over then-No. 6 USC.
The landscape of the conference and this pair, however, has changed dramatically in the two-and-a-half months since.
The Trojans fired head coach Steve Sarkisian amid off-field troubles stemming from alcohol abuse, then recovered to win five of their final seven to win the Pac-12 South.