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USC Trojans tumble out of Top 25 polls following last-second loss to Illinois

Erik-McKinneyby: Erik McKinney09/28/25ErikTMcKinney
USC Trojans running back Waymond Jordan (2) runs through the Illinois Fighting Illini defensive line during the second half at Memorial Stadium
USC Trojans running back Waymond Jordan (2) runs through the Illinois Fighting Illini defensive line during the second half at Memorial Stadium. (Ron Johnson-Imagn Images)

It took three wins for the 2025 USC Trojans to prove to voters they belonged in the Top 25 rankings and one 9 am PT kickoff at Illinois to prove they didn’t. Following the Trojans’ 34-32 loss to the Illinois Fighting Illini, USC is out of both the Week 6 AP and Coaches polls.

USC was the No. 21 team in the AP poll last week, moving up four spots from the No. 25 ranking it earned the previous week after a win at Purdue. Following the loss to the Illini, USC dropped to the sixth team among the “others receiving votes” with 22 total points. Illinois moved up one spot with its win over the Trojans and now sits at No. 22.

The Trojans were ranked No. 22 in the Coaches Poll last week. USC is now the No. 5 team among “others receiving votes” this week. The Trojans are tied with Maryland in the Coaches Poll and just ahead of the Terps in the AP poll.

The Big Ten is home to four Top 10 teams in the AP Poll, including No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon, No. 7 Penn State and No. 8 Indiana. The Ducks made a big jump from No. 6 to No. 2 following their overtime win at Penn State. Two other future USC opponents remain ranked this week, with Michigan at No. 20 and Notre Dame at No. 21.

Those are the same places the Ducks, Wolverines and Fighting Irish occupy in the Coaches poll as well. Iowa, with three votes in the Coaches poll, is the only other opponent mentioned in either Top 25.

Complete Week 6 AP and Coaches Polls

RankAP PollCoaches Poll
1Ohio StateOhio State
2OregonOregon
3MiamiMiami
4Ole MissOle Miss
5OklahomaTexas A&M
6Texas A&MPenn State
7Penn StateTexas
8IndianaOklahoma
9TexasIndiana
10AlabamaGeorgia
11Texas TechAlabama
12GeorgiaIowa State
13LSULSU
14Iowa StateTexas Tech
15TennesseeTennessee
16VanderbiltGeorgia Tech
17Georgia TechVanderbilt
18Florida StateMissouri
19MissouriFlorida State
20MichiganMichigan
21Notre DameNotre Dame
22IllinoisIllinois
23BYUBYU
24VirginiaArizona State
25Arizona StateUtah

AP poll others: South Florida 53, Utah 52, Mississippi St. 46, Memphis 38, Louisville 36, Southern Cal 22, Maryland 7, North Texas 7, TCU 6, UNLV 3

Coaches poll others: Memphis 88; Louisville 83; Virginia 63; South Florida 29; USC 17; Maryland 17; Auburn 12; UNLV 11; Navy 9; Mississippi State 9; Tulane 8; Washington 7; North Texas 7; TCU 6; Nebraska 4; Duke 4; Iowa 3; Houston 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