USC wasn’t playing in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday night at Levi’s Stadium, but the Trojans certainly had interest in the outcome.
Washington did USC a favor, pulling away in the third quarter to down the Buffaloes, 41-10.
The Trojans weren’t just hoping for a Husky victory, they needed a convincing one — ensuring Washington would earn a place in the College Football Playoff and opening up an at-large Rose Bowl bid.
Simultaneously, the blowout could help drop Colorado far enough for USC to overtake them in the CFP rankings. That is critical because the open Rose Bowl berth in the case of a Washington trip to the playoff will go to the highest ranked Pac-12 team in the final rankings.