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USC gets back into Top 25 AP, Coaches polls after big win over Michigan

Erik-McKinneyby: Erik McKinney10/12/25ErikTMcKinney
USC head coach Lincoln Riley speaks postgame following a win against Michigan
USC head coach Lincoln Riley speaks postgame following a win against Michigan (acscottphotography/WeAreSC)

The USC Trojans burst back into the Top 25 of both the AP and Coaches polls following a dominant 31-13 win over the previously-No. 15 Michigan Wolverines on Saturday night.

The Trojans initially climbed into the poll and sat at No. 21 before a last-second loss to Illinois on the road. USC had a gigantic opportunity to make some national noise this past weekend and did so in pushing the Wolverines around the Coliseum turf on its way to a really important win in the Big Ten conference race and for the perception of the Trojans.

Ohio State remains No. 1 in both polls, picking up 10 first-place votes in the AP poll and four in the Coaches poll. The No. 2 team in the Big Ten, Indiana, sits at No. 3 in both polls for its highest ranking in program history.

Just looking at teams in the poll with losses already, USC is the No. 12 team in both. The Trojans will again have another opportunity to make an upward jump in both polls this coming weekend when they visit No. 13/15 Notre Dame. It always depends on how teams above in the standings fare, but a win in South Bend should put the Trojans pretty comfortably in the discussion of a top 15 team as we cross the midpoint of the season.

Nebraska is now a ranked opponent for USC as the ‘Huskers sit at No. 25 in the AP Poll, needing to get through Minnesota and Northwestern to improve that ranking before the Trojans visit Lincoln on Nov. 1. Oregon is the final guaranteed ranked opponent. The Ducks dropped five and seven spots in the AP and Coaches polls, to sit at No. 8 and No. 9, respectively. Oregon doesn’t have a ranked opponent on the schedule before USC visit on Nov. 22

Complete Week 6 AP and Coaches Polls


Rank		AP PollCoaches Poll
1Ohio State (50)Ohio State (63)
2Miami (13)Miami (2)
3Indiana (3)Indiana (2)
4Texas A&MTexas A&M
5Ole MissOle Miss
6AlabamaAlabama
7Texas TechGeorgia
8OregonTexas Tech
9GeorgiaOregon
10LSULSU
11TennesseeTennessee
12Georgia TechGeorgia Tech
13Notre DameOklahoma
14OklahomaBYU
15BYUNotre Dame
16MissouriMissouri
17VanderbiltTexas
18VirginiaVanderbilt
19South FloridaVirginia
20USCMemphis
21TexasUSC
22MemphisUtah
23UtahSouth Florida
24CincinnatiCincinnati
25NebraskaIllinois

AP Poll others receiving votes: Illinois 113, Michigan 73, Washington 36, UNLV 30, Navy 11, Mississippi St. 8, Tulane 2, San Diego St. 2

Coaches Poll others receiving votes: Michigan 119; Nebraska 90; Washington 85; UNLV 43; Navy 43; Louisville 18; Tulane 17; Arizona State 17; Duke 11; Iowa 9; Iowa State 7; Clemson 6; Houston 4; TCU 1; San Diego State 1; Pittsburgh 1

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Garry Paskwietz (1966-2019)

Garry Paskwietz was a pioneer in bringing team-specific sports coverage to the internet. He founded WeAreSC in 1998 and was an Emmy winner for his work with Fox Sports West. Always generous with his time, knowledge, and compassion, he touched the lives of countless USC and high school football fans.

Garry Paskwietz