The USC Trojans are clinging to their slim College Football Playoff hopes when they host a potential spoiler in the Northwestern Wildcats on Friday night in a Big Ten football showdown. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Trojans (6-2) enter Friday at No. 19 in the CFP rankings, illustrating they have quite a bit of work to do if they are to be invited to the 12-team postseason tournament. Their current odds to do so are +625 at BetMGM .

USC has looked formidable at times, but the stain on its playoff resume is a 34-32 loss at Illinois as a touchdown favorite. Its longshot playoff quest would require wins over a solid Iowa team and a road upset of Oregon on Nov. 22.

But before the Trojans take on this daunting double-bill, they have to make

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