Few schools have a tougher non-conference slate than USC in 2018. Taking into account the fact that all Pac-12 teams play nine conference games, adding multiple non-conference matchups to the schedule makes things that much difficult.

Why is USC making things so difficult for itself? According to Lynn Swann, the school’s athletic director, that’s the only way a Pac-12 team can earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. (Swann must not have seen Washington’s schedule in 2016)

Joey Kaufman of the Orange County Register recently caught up with Swann for an in-depth Q&A segment. During their conversation, Kaufman asked Swann why USC would make things so difficult in 2018 — the Trojans travel to Texas and host Notre Dame in addition to playing nine Pac-12 games.

Swann’s response was quite revealing: He doesn’t believe USC can get into the Playoff any other way.

Because of time zones, people on the East Coast aren’t really seeing us. We have to play a tougher schedule. If the voters are going to look at four teams to be in the top four, the Pac-12 playing the Pac-12 won’t get it by itself. We have to schedule teams and we have to have that very competitive schedule to be able to get that look. And we’ve got to win those games. So it’s important to have Texas on the schedule. It’s important that Notre Dame is playing well and we play them and we beat them along the way.

It’s an interesting strategy and one that SEC schools do not abide by for the most part. While several SEC programs are willing to schedule marquee neutral site games to open the season, few are willing to schedule home-and-home series or play multiple non-conference opponents in a given regular season.

Judging by recruiting rankings, USC should have a better and deeper roster than any Pac-12 program in 2018. Based on talent alone, USC doesn’t have an equal in the league but going undefeated in league play won’t matter if the Trojans can’t finish their business out of conference. Will the difficult schedule keep USC out of the Playoff or thrust them into final four come December?