The big point of controversy earlier in the week was LSU’s placement above USC in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. The Tigers have two losses — one of them a 27-point blasting at home by Tennessee — while the Trojans are a single two-point conversion from Utah away from an unbeaten record.

But the fact remains that USC is two wins away from forcing the issue. A 12-1, Pac-12 champion USC with three consecutive wins over ranked opponents would make for as compelling a case as any to grab a spot in the CFP.

USC faces Notre Dame on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PT on ABC. It already has its spot in the Pac-12 Championship game secured, where it will face either Oregon, Washington, or Utah — all of which are currently in the CFP’s top 15.

Paul Finebaum, ESPN’s SEC Network host, thinks USC will win both and make the CFP. He explained how he’d handle a 12-1 USC during an appearance on “First Take” this week alongside Stephen A. Smith and Keyshawn Johnson.

“For those who don’t follow this, USC has Notre Dame at home on Saturday night, and then they go to the conference championship game, presumably, against Oregon. … I think they’re going to get past all that,” Finebaum said. “Frankly, if they do, I think they deserve a ticket in.

“What it really is going to come down to, assuming that TCU continues to win in the Big 12 — they have Iowa State and the Big 12 championship game that none of us are going to be watching very closely. Then, I think it comes down to Southern Cal and the loser of Michigan and Ohio State and, quite frankly, I would go for Southern Cal right now.”

The loser of this weekend’s Ohio State-Michigan game will be sitting at 11-1. They sit at No. 2 and 3 in the latest CFP ranking.

“Interestingly, Notre Dame is going to help everyone right now,” Finebaum continued. “Notre Dame beat Clemson a couple weeks ago. Give Marcus Freeman credit, after that loss to Ohio State early on, they have come on really well. … Right now, though, they are a pretty good team and it’s going to count as a very good win. I think that is going to be the deciding factor. On top of that, USC is a very hot team. They’ve lost one game by (one point) at Utah, which is an extremely difficult place to play. They have perhaps the most exciting player in the country in Caleb Williams … and I think they’re sitting pretty right now.”

Take care of business and the reward will be there.