Post-Week 3 College Football Playoff Projections

The top teams are beginning to distance themselves from the pack. Here’s a look at the College Football Playoff teams after Week 3.

Last week’s field of College Football Playoff teams went undefeated, but one of them went through a challenging ordeal. The fifth-ranked USC Trojans have become this week’s playoff bubble team after a lackluster display against the unranked Texas Longhorns. They dropped a spot in the AP Poll after their 27-24 double-overtime victory and with good reason.

After putting up 42 points a week ago against then 19th-ranked Stanford, the USC Trojans offense did a 180 in Week 3. The Trojans put up 14 points in the second quarter, but after that, they managed to put up just three points in regulation.

Luckily, it was the difference as it sent the game to overtime but the Trojans’ offense left fans scratching their heads once again. The team managed just 71 rushing yards and quarterback Sam Darnold had two interceptions to put his total at six for the season. He’s averaging two per game though they’re 3-0 this year.

Running back Ronald Jones II had just 18 carries for 47 rushing yards but did score on a 56-yard passing play to lift the Trojans before halftime. In the aftermath, its shaken up the College Football Playoff projections a bit, as another Pac-12 team is quietly climbing back up the radar.