Tiger fans’ hopes have been revived.
Following the loss to Louisville, Clemson’s path to the College Football Playoff seemed nearly impossible, with the most viable route being through the ACC championship and relying on SMU or Miami to lose twice. However, after this past Saturday, that scenario has drastically changed.
Saturday night was nothing short of chaos. Five teams in the top 16 of the College Football Playoff rankings suffered losses, with four of them losing to teams with barely winning records. Alabama (No. 7), Ole Miss (No. 9), Texas A&M (No. 15), and Colorado (No. 16) now each have one more loss than Clemson, and BYU (No. 14) has the same record as the Tigers.
In the best-case scenario, Clemson could rise as high as No. 12. Though they’re still on the outside of the CFP picture—since the Big 12 champion is guaranteed a spot—there’s still plenty of football left to be played, including conference championships. Two SEC teams ahead of Clemson, each with two losses, could face off in the SEC title game, ensuring one will finish with three losses, which could help Clemson’s cause.
Of course, Clemson still needs to handle business. That’s where their dominant win over the Citadel became crucial. Without that victory, their playoff hopes would be dashed. But the most pivotal matchup could be next week’s game against South Carolina. The Gamecocks, currently No. 18, are just behind Clemson and could rise as well. Despite their three losses, a win against South Carolina could be Clemson’s ticket to the CFP.
Just three weeks ago, Clemson’s playoff chances seemed bleak. Now, their fate is in their own hands. This is the state of college football today, and the Tigers are in prime position at the perfect time.
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