Can Clemson Tigers still make the College Football Playoff?
By John Buhler
Though the Clemson Tigers lost to the Pittsburgh Panthers in Week 11, can they still make the College Football Playoff? What are their chances?
The Clemson Tigers lost their first game of the season in Week 11 to the Pittsburgh Panthers, 43-42, thanks to a game-winning field goal by Chris Blewitt. This was Clemson’s first regular season loss since 2014. It hurts the Tigers’ College Football Playoff hopes, but can Clemson still make it?
The truth is, yes, Clemson can still make the College Football Playoff. Frankly, the Tigers probably will, as long as they take care of business the rest of the way. Clemson absolutely has to beat the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Week 12 to close out ACC play.
If Wake Forest beats Louisville tonight, Clemson in Week 12, and Boston College in Week 13, then the Demon Deacons will win the ACC Atlantic Division. Louisville can still win the Atlantic, as long as the Cardinals beat Wake Forest tonight and the Demon Deacons beat Clemson next week.
Clemson could theoretically survive a loss to in-state rival South Carolina out of the SEC at season’s end, but that loss probably cripples the Tigers’ College Football Playoff chances considerably. South Carolina still hasn’t qualified for a bowl game yet.
In short, if Clemson wins out over Wake Forest, South Carolina, and whomever wins the ACC Coastal division, the Tigers will make the 2017 College Football Playoff at 12-1 (7-1). Don’t expect Clemson to get a top-two seed in the Playoff, but a one-loss Power 5 champion will get in this season.
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Clemson’s chances would improve if the Washington Huskies drop a game in the Pac-12, as it would take the pressure of the Big 12 front-runner Oklahoma Sooners from taking their spot. The Tigers still control their own destiny to making the Playoff, but it doesn’t seem likely that they’ll be anything better than a No. 3 seed at this time.