Originally Posted by
Christopher Moen
No, I have plenty.
1) USC is historically a National Championship contender and one of the best NFL Factories.
2) USC plays in a Power Five conference, but that conference, PAC-12, isn't as revered as the SEC or ACC. Instead, they're constantly considered at the bottom of the five conferences with the Big 12, and sometimes, the Big 10.
3) Due to being in the PAC-12, in order to make the four team College Football Playoffs, USC needs to not only win their conference, they also need a strong strength of schedule, especially if they have lost a game. The SEC and ACC, due to the nature of their conferences, don't have issues with strength of schedules. This is why they have had at least one team each make the CFP. The Big 10 and the Big 12 have both been left out twice, while the PAC-12 has only made it twice.
With these facts in mind, what benefit does USC get by paying NDSU to come play at the LA Memorial Coliseum, especially as the program continues to get back on track? Unless, NDSU is ranked among the press and/or coaches rankings (Sagarin is nice, but the "experts" don't pay enough attention to it for it to matter), beating the Bison at home, even by a lot, isn't going to help them in the long run to make the CFP. USC only plays one G5 team a year, but relies on match-ups the public and press consider marquee to bolster their record. Is NDSU better than the G5 teams USC beats each year? Certainly, but the "experts" that do the voting will look at a PAC-12 schedule that includes a FCS gam as a big red flag when deciding between the third through sixth ranked teams. An undefeated team with a schedule that is considered weak is going to be put behind any SEC or ACC team that has one lost. And that also is a fact.
With that said, would it be awesome for USC to schedule the Bison? Absolutely, but if they don't, its not because their staff is worried their team would be worried about overlooking the Bison. There is a LOT of money to be made from the CFP, and the PAC-12 is missing out big time. Unless their best teams get their crap together, they're close to being considered no better than a G5 conference (the AAC might have an argument right now they are better).