The USC Trojans What If table presents playoff probabilities depended upon how USC plays future conference games. These games include either the next game, all remaining games, or a set of games called Best/Worst Case Scenarios. Other unplayed future conference games are assumed won/lost with a probability based upon relative team strengths.
| Resultant Record | Regular Season Finish | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | 1* Conference Championship Game Participant |
2* Conference Championship Game Participant |
3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | |
| Win Next Game | 6 | 1 | 1% | 11% | 38% | 31% | 14% | 3% | 1% | 1% | <1% | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| Current Standings | 5 | 1 | 1% | 9% | 33% | 25% | 15% | 7% | 5% | 3% | 1% | 1% | <1% | <1% | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| Lose Next Game | 5 | 2 | <1% | 1% | 21% | 16% | 16% | 16% | 14% | 9% | 4% | 2% | 1% | <1% | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| Regular Season Finish | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1* Conference Championship Game Participant |
2* Conference Championship Game Participant |
3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | |
| Best Case Scenario | 2% | 30% | 24% | 31% | 7% | 3% | 1% | <1% | <1% | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| Current Standings | 1% | 9% | 33% | 25% | 15% | 7% | 5% | 3% | 1% | 1% | <1% | <1% | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| Worst Case Scenario | <1% | <1% | 21% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 14% | 9% | 4% | 2% | <1% | <1% | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
|
Best Case Scenario USC beats Iowa UCLA beats Ohio St. |
Worst Case Scenario Iowa beats USC Ohio St. beats UCLA |
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| Remaining Games Won |
Winning Percentage of Remaining Games |
Resultant Record | Regular Season Finish | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | 1* Conference Championship Game Participant |
2* Conference Championship Game Participant |
3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | ||
| 3 of 3 | 100% | 8 | 1 | 2% | 27% | 68% | 3% | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| 2 of 3 | 67% | 7 | 2 | <1% | 2% | 46% | 38% | 12% | 2% | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| 1 of 3 | 33% | 6 | 3 | X | <1% | 1% | 12% | 29% | 28% | 19% | 9% | 2% | <1% | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |
| 0 of 3 | 0% | 5 | 4 | X | X | X | <1% | <1% | 4% | 17% | 26% | 25% | 22% | 5% | <1% | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ | ^ |