The bowl scenarios for the USC Trojans are vast. If they beat Notre Dame but lose the Pac-12 title game, the Cotton Bowl is their likely postseason spot. If they lose to Notre Dame and win the Pac-12 title, the Rose Bowl is the likely outcome.

Many have pegged the Trojans in the College Football Playoff, but Jon Wilner of The Mercury News has USC going to the Rose Bowl to face Penn State, meaning they lose to Notre Dame but win the Pac-12 title.

“Our latest projections call for the Trojans to lose to Notre Dame but win the conference championship. Their opponent in Pasadena isn’t Michigan or Ohio State — both make the playoff — but Penn State,” Wilner wrote.

In this case, the Pac-12 is shut out of the CFP, and Ohio State and Michigan both make it. That would be a devastating blow for the Pac-12 as a whole, although a Penn State-USC matchup with James Franklin against Lincoln Riley would be fun to watch.

All eyes are on USC this weekend against the Irish, and then all eyes will once again be on the Trojans next weekend in the Pac-12 title game against whichever team they play.

Can Lincoln Riley lead the Trojans to a CFP spot?

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Story originally appeared on Trojans Wire