5 Dark horse contenders for 2021 College Football Playoff

USC

Just like Oregon, USC is on this list in part, because it has talent. The Trojans have been recruiting really well under Clay Helton recently. The 2021 class also included a bunch of talent, highlighted by Korey Foreman the No. 1 recruit in the class overall.

USC is also one of the 16 teams to appear on the blue-chip list for the 2021 season and the Trojans also have an elite quarterback in Kedon Slovis.

Slovis completed 67 percent of his passes last season, and passed for 1,921 yards to go along with 17 touchdowns. He did throw seven interceptions in six games but his lowest yardage total was 264 yards.

Behind his play, USC went 5-0 but lost to Oregon in the Pac-12 title game. The Trojans don’t have an extremely difficult schedule but travel to Notre Dame in October.

USC and Oregon won’t play in the regular season and if each team can reach the Pac-12 title game with one loss, they could have a chance to end the Pac-12’s playoff drought.

Of course, If Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Oklahoma take care of business, it won’t matter but how often do all four preseason favorites make the playoff?

I wouldn’t expect it in 2021 either and one of these teams could take advantage.