In 2023, the Huskies of Washington football made history by reaching the College Football Playoff, winning a semifinal game and playing in the national championship. On the other hand, their Pac-12 rival USC has been playoff contenders for ten years but has never participated in the event. The Trojans did win the Rose Bowl in 2016 and won the Pac-12 championship in 2017, but their playoff hopes were dashed after early-season losses and a midseason defeat to Notre Dame.
The closest USC came to making it to the playoffs was last season when they lost out to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game held in Las Vegas. Despite this setback, USC fans can take comfort in knowing that their team has been consistently competitive over the past decade.
In comparison, Washington’s recent success is a stark reminder of how far they have come since hitting rock bottom in 2008 under Ty Willingham. That year, they went 0-12 and had hit rock bottom as a program. However, since then, Washington has risen to prominence once again under new coach Chris Peterson and his staff. The success of both teams is proof that with hard work and determination, any program can overcome its struggles and achieve greatness.
