Washington State upset No. 5 USC on Saturday, throwing the first big wrench into the Pac-12 Conference's playoff path.
The Trojans, the preseason pick to win the conference with Heisman Trophy contender Sam Darnold, now face a much more difficult road to the College Football Playoff.
WOLF: Trojans face some hard questions after eye-opening loss
It's the end of September, but here are four storylines that will take shape down the line.
USC won't have it easy
The Trojans' road doesn't get any easier after a September that featured home games against Texas and Stanford and road games against Cal and Washington State. They get back-to-back home games against Oregon State and Utah, and they can't slip up against the Utes. That would give Utah control of the Pac-12 South Division and push the Trojans further out of the playoff picture.
USC-Notre Dame elimination game
There's a real good chance the USC-Notre Dame matchup in South Bend on Oct. 21 is a matchup of one-loss teams and a de facto playoff elimination game. The Irish face Miami (Ohio) and North Carolina the next two weeks, and should playing with a lot of confidence when the Trojans roll in.
MORE: How Washington State pulled off the upset
Pac-12 cannibalization?
The Pac-12 has three unbeaten teams remaining in Washington, Washington State and Utah. The defending Pac-12 Huskies now inherit the label of the team to beat in the conference, whose spot in the pecking order is undetermined. Did this loss put the Pac-12 in danger of being cannibalized? Perhaps, but Washington proved last year you can get it in with one loss. USC can do that, too.
Big Apple Cup
Friday was more about an impressive victory for Washington State with quarterback Luke Falk and coach Mike Leach. The Cougars made it through September unbeaten for the first time in the Leach era, and the schedule is friendly until November — that is, if they can take care of business at Oregon next week. Imagine if the Apple Cup were played between two 11-0 teams. We're a long way from that, but it's not impossible.
