Top 25: Saturday Blitz Final 2014 College Football Rankings

Dec 27, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler (6) conducts the Spirit of Troy marching band after the 2014 Poinsettia Bowl against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Qualcomm Stadium. USC won 45-42. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

22. USC Trojans, 9-4 (6-3)

Last Game: Defeated Nebraska Cornhuskers 45-42 in the Holiday Bowl

Steve Sarkisian’s first season with the USC Trojans was met with significant highs and significant lows. The highs obviously included thrilling victories against the Stanford Cardinal, Arizona Wildcats, and Nebraska Cornhuskers in their bowl game. The lows, meanwhile, included a bad loss to Boston College, an overtime loss to Utah, a Hail Mary given up against Arizona State, and a sickening blowout loss to crosstown rival UCLA.

Nevertheless, in the very tough Pac-12 South, the Trojans held their own as they adjusted to a new system. And at 9-4 in the Pac-12, they did enough to be in the Top 25 at the end of the season, even if they did struggle to put away a Nebraska team that had gone home for the holidays.

Now comes the future, and expectations will be much higher for Sarkisian going forward. You have to make a case to put USC in the Top 25 this year.

At USC, Top 10 at minimum is supposed to be a given.

Next: No. 21 Ranked Team