It has been a weekend of shake-ups in college football rankings. South Carolina and Clemson, both Top 25 teams a week ago, suffered embarrassing losses to unranked opponents, while the USC Trojans, despite dominating their first three games, continue to find themselves overlooked in the polls.
The Gamecocks lost 31-7 at home to Vanderbilt, dropping from No. 11 to third among teams receiving votes in the AP Top 25. Clemson fell 24-21 at Georgia Tech, exiting the poll entirely after being ranked No. 12 entering the weekend. South Carolina sits at 2-1, and Clemson is 1-2, both set to face conference foes in their next games.
Meanwhile, USC, which outscored its first three opponents 132-33 and posted one of the nation’s most efficient offensive and defensive profiles, cracked the AP Top 25 at No. 25. Yet the Trojans remain behind their biggest rival, No. 24 Notre Dame, highlighting the continued skepticism of voters despite USC’s dominant early-season performances. The Fightin’ Irish are the first 0-2 team since 1988 to be rankd in the top 25. Auburn and Missouri, who were unranked last week, also leapfrogged USC after commanding wins, leaving the Trojans on the outside for the third consecutive poll since the preseason.
College football analyst Josh Pate, speaking on his Josh Pate’s College Football Show podcast, captured the frustration of Trojan fans. “So, they’re sitting there ranked and Vandy’s not. They’re sitting there ranked and Georgia Tech’s not. They’re sitting there ranked and USC is not,” Pate said.
“USC is a big brand name. I am puzzled, by the way, by a group of people that normally looks for any excuse to rank USC,” he continued. “And I’m the only one standing up for USC right now. Formerly Pac-12 Pate, formerly Pac-10 Pate, the only one willing to stand on the table for USC. What has happened around here?”
Dominance on the Field
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Despite the lack of respect in the polls, USC has shown promising performances. In Week 3, the Trojans traveled to Ross-Ade Stadium to face the Purdue Boilermakers, a team that finished 2024 at 1-11 and 0-9 in Big Ten play. Quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for 282 yards, completing 17 of 28 passes, while Purdue’s Ryan Browne put up 305 passing yards and one touchdown—keeping the Trojans’ defense tested throughout the game.
USC’s offense combined for 33 points and 140 rushing yards on 40 carries. Waymond Jordan led the backfield with 77 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, while Eli Sanders contributed 75 yards and a score on 10 carries. Wide receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane made key plays, with Lemon catching five passes for 63 yards and Lane hauling in three for 115 yards.
Defensively, the Trojans were formidable, totaling 55 tackles, five sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and three interceptions. Linebacker Eric Gentry led with eight tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles. Defensive tackle Jamaal Jarrett returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown, and safety Bishop Fitzgerald added two more interceptions.
The only notable issue for USC was penalties, with nine for 104 yards, echoing last week’s eight penalties for 93 yards against Georgia Southern. Third-down efficiency was also inconsistent at 4-of-13 conversions, limiting the scoring potential despite offensive dominance.
Looking Ahead
USC enters its next game against the Michigan State Spartans with momentum, now 1-0 in Big Ten road play. Coach Lincoln Riley addressed the team’s performance after the Purdue win:
“We weren’t perfect, but we felt like we brought a complete team in here,” Riley said.
With a balanced offensive attack, a defense that can create turnovers, and growing consistency in Big Ten play, USC has the tools to make waves this season—even if the polls are slow to acknowledge it. For now, the Trojans must chase not only Big Ten respect but also their traditional rival, Notre Dame, who sits just ahead at No. 24 in the AP Top 25. The task is clear: minimize penalties, maintain focus, and continue building on a strong start against increasingly competitive opponents.