Massive stakes are attached to Saturday’s Big Ten showdown on CBS between No. 7 Oregon and No. 15 USC as the College Football Playoff fates of both hang in the balance. The Ducks (9-1) don’t have a win against a team currently in the CFP Rankings and can ill-afford a home loss if they wish to reach the playoff for a second straight year.
USC (8-2) would suddenly have a compelling resume if it is able to pull a road upset of the Ducks. The Trojans also beat No. 18 Michigan earlier this season and would position themselves as a potential at-large CFP contender if they picked up a second ranked win on the road against a highly regarded opponent. With a win, USC’s chances of reaching the playoff would jump to 89%, according to model data from Sportsline. Oregon’s chances of reaching the CFP would jump to 90% with a win.
These former Pac-12 foes have never met as members of the Big Ten. That changes Saturday in a seismic battle of West Coast powers.
Watch USC vs. Oregon live at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS and streaming live on CBSSports.com, the CBS Sports App and Paramount+ Premium. Keep it locked here for live updates, analysis and highlights from the game.
