College Football Rankings 2017: Week 6 AP Poll winners, losers

Loser: USC Trojans (No. 5 down to No. 14)

The 14th-ranked USC Trojans took a hit in this week’s AP Poll after their loss to the Washington State Cougars. It is their first loss in Pac-12 play, so their season certainly isn’t over but it certainly has put a damper on the Trojans’ Playoff chances and Sam Darnold’s Heisman odds.

The USC Trojans face a few ranked opponents in the upcoming weeks but the rest of their schedule doesn’t favor a run at a higher-ranked foe. They face the 20th-ranked Utah Utes on Oct. 14 and the 21st-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Oct. 21.

Quarterback Sam Darnold didn’t play the best of games, either. The final drive of the game culminated in him being strip-sacked of the ball and the Cougars running out the rest of the clock.

Darnold finished the game with 164 passing yards, an interception and a fumble in the game.

It certainly didn’t help that the Trojans are down three offensive linemen currently, but the “next man up” mentality rules the day. Considering they’re a top program in college football, the expectations for them are always high in the Pac-12.

They should get back in the win column this week when they host the Oregon State Beavers.