Showdown with USC looms larger with Oregon at No. 7 in the CFP

The committee released the new College Football Playoff Poll Tuesday evening and it creates a little more pressure for the Ducks.

College Football Playoff Poll Week 13

1. Ohio State

2. Indiana

3. Texas A&M

4. Georgia

5. Texas Tech

6. Ole Miss

7. Oregon

8. Oklahoma

9. Notre Dame

10. Alabama

Spots number 11 and 12 are held temporarily by Brigham Young and Utah, but they would get bumped by the ACC Champion and the Group of Five Champion, Tulane, South Florida or whoever emerges out of a crowded field.

At No. 7, Oregon is in line to host a home playoff game against the No. 10-seed, currently Kalen DeBoer and Alabama. However, the way this lines up if the Ducks lost another game, they'd surely drop below two-loss Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Alabama, probably 9-1 BYU and perhaps even Miami.

Tightly bunched ranking forces Oregon to win out

A first-round home game in Autzen Stadium would be a huge edge, but they have to beat USC and Washington to maintain their spot. Ole Miss is on a bye this week before the Egg Bowl. With a convincing win Saturday the Ducks could edge them out for No. 6, which would put them against the ACC champ in the first round and No. 3-seed Texas A&M in the quarterfinal.

A 6-seed keeps them opposite Georgia or Ohio State until the semifinals.

Oregon has played and beaten two ranked teams, but both Penn State and Iowa have fallen out of the polls since the Ducks beat them on the road. Their only loss came at home to No. 2 Indiana. They are a 10.5-point favorite Saturday versus USC at 12:30 p.m. PT, televised on CBS.

If they win against the Trojans and then the Huskies, there's no need for lobbying or scoreboard watching.