USC cannot win and can win its second Pac-12 football championship in four years with a win over Oregon on Friday.
It may still not be enough to get the Trojans into the college football playoffs.
USC ranks 13th in the last PCP rankings and, unless a massive shake-up in the standings is maintained, it is unlikely to win one of the top four.
“I still have hope,” Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said during a video call on Thursday. “I know the committee will watch the game and, depending on how USC does it, if they continue to improve and look good as they are, we hope they are in the discussion to get a place in the playoffs.
“But certainly 13 don’t come close to reflecting on where we think they deserve to be right now.”
The Pac-12 was in a difficult position in terms of the PCP when it chose to start fall and winter sports in January amid the coronavirus pandemic, and then moved to early November to in football.
Thus, while teams from other major conferences played games, Pac-12 teams had to wait for the seasons to begin and ended up playing fewer games.
Ohio State (5-0), No. 4 in the playoff rankings, will have played the same number of games as USC after this weekend’s Big Ten title game, but has dominated every game except one seven-point win over Indiana No. 7. .
The Trojans had to score two touchdowns in the final three minutes to beat Arizona State in their opening game and had close games against Arizona and UCLA.
Scott said the conference has held discussions with members of the PCP committee and has worked with USC to provide voters with information about the Trojans.
“I definitely feel like we’re doing everything we can to defend them,” Scott said. “I’m frustrated and disappointed with his current position, for sure.”
USC could have gained momentum by beating Washington in the title, but the Huskies had to withdraw due to problems with COVID-19. Oregon, who finished second in the Pac-12 North, takes his place in Friday’s game in Los Angeles.
“I’m glad we’re going to have a championship game where we win the Pac-12 championship on the field, which our football people considered essential,” Scott said.