Here are the Pac-12 power rankings heading into Friday's Pac-12 championship game between Stanford and USC.
1. USC (10-2, 8-1 Pac-12): The Trojans are preparing for the game they expected to be in when the season began, but will be doing so as an afterthought for the College Football Playoff.
2. Stanford (9-3, 7-2): Since the conference expanded and the division format was implemented in 2011, Stanford has finished first or tied for first in the Pac-12 North five times. A victory Friday night against USC (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/WatchESPN) would give the Cardinal their fourth title in that span and send Stanford to its sixth New Year's Six-caliber bowl in eight seasons.