After Clemson lost to Louisville to fall 6-2, they were ranked 23rd in the college football playoff poll. Their at-large playoff hopes seemed cooked.
A funny thing happened in the last month. Clemson started winning, and teams in front of them started losing.
First, they took care of Virginia Tech 24-14, and they moved to 20. Then they won at Pittsburgh, on a final-minute 50-yard TD run by QB Cade Klubnik to jump to 17. Saturday they predictably easily dispatched The Citadel 51-14. The result itself doesn’t won’t sway playoff committee members’ eyes, but a W is a W.
Some other results around the country though sent shockwaves that directly affected Clemson. #9 Mississippi lost #14 BYU Lost to Arizona State, #16 Colorado went down to Kansas, #15 Texas A&M lost 43-41 to Auburn, and #7 Alabama got beat by Oklahoma.
Suddenly Clemson is staring at a 3-4 spot jump in the polls with a top 20 SEC team South Carolina on deck. This is a stunning development that moves Clemson’s at-large playoff hopes from non-existent to realistically in play. The majority of wins over ranked SEC teams is resulting in at least 2 spot moves in the polls. Where does that leave Clemson IF they beat South Carolina – somewhere ranked 9-12, and very much under at large consideration. There’s still the chance that Miami loses to Syracuse and Clemson can play their way in with an ACC Title over SMU, but why take care of your own business?
With all that said, I’m not assuming a win over South Carolina by any stretch. The Gamecocks harbor their own playoff dreams.
Clemson has completely flopped against the best teams they have played. They face-planted in their opener to Georgia. Then against a good, but not great Louisville team at home they got boat raced resulted getting ranked 23rd. So two times out for Clemson to prove their playoff worth they failed.
South Carolina provides opportunity number three. The Gamecocks will be ranked in the top 20, at 8-3, and only a handful of plays from being 10-1 with single-digit losses to LSU and Alabama. They are a team with a fierce pass rush and with easily enough ability to knock off Clemson in Death Valley.
Clemson is going to have to play their first quality game against a good opponent to have a chance.
The Tigers can make their case as a playoff-worthy team next Saturday. They failed their first two chances.
They get another shot, as I wouldn’t rely on backing into the ACC Title game and winning it.
Time to seize the opportunity, and make their case.
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