There are 128 teams that play at the highest level of college football, and they all start the season undefeated.
But the harsh reality is that only 11 have a legitimate chance to win the 2016 College Football Playoff. Those contenders have had their cases covered in detail, but what about the other potential championship-caliber teams? Why were they not included as contenders?
In the seventh installment of a seven-part series, let's take a look at one of those championship-caliber teams that just doesn't have quite enough to be considered a CFP contender: the USC Trojans.
The defending Pac-12 South division champion is stocked with 2017 NFL draft prospects and has tallied the sixth-most ESPN 300 recruits (50) over the past four recruiting classes. That talent volume is impressive, but the high number of question marks for this club will keep them out of national championship contention.
(Note: Unless otherwise noted, the rankings listed below are where the team placed among the 65 Power 5 teams.)