USC played a weaker regular season schedule than OSU.
USC played 3 teams with a winning record going 2-1
While OSU played 6 winning teams with a record of 5-1.
Ohio State had fewer losses than any other major conference team. They also didn't have a loss to a Stanford or a South Carolina on their resume. Do I think they were one of the two best teams? No. But their resume was one of the two best.