College Football Rankings 2020: Projected AP Top 25 final rankings

In a joint decision by players, coaches, medical staff, and the athletic department, USC decided not to play in a bowl game this season after losing the Pac-12 championship game against Oregon. That left the Trojans locked in at 5-1 to finish their 2020 campaign, finishing as Pac-12 South champions. USC also ends the year as the last Pac-12 team ranked in the AP Top 25 after the dust settled on a disappointing bowl season for the league.

The Trojans finish as one of just three Power Five programs to end 2020 with only one loss on their record. Unlike the others, however, USC played only six games and lost in their shot to claim a conference crown. It was the kind of year that will cause some pollsters to leave Clay Helton’s team entirely off their ballot, while others vote the Trojans among their top dozen teams.

The end result is likely that the Trojans stand pat in the No. 21 spot where they entered the postseason. Enough AP voters will keep USC on their ballot, if only to ensure that the Pac-12 has at least one team in the final rankings. That is a small victory for Helton and crew, but after falling outside the final rankings each of the past two years it is still a victory worth celebrating at Southern California.