College football rankings: Projected top 10 after Syracuse stuns Clemson
Taking a look at the projected top 10 college football rankings after the Clemson Tigers were upset by the Syracuse Orange on Friday night.
When looking at the schedule, there’s a good chance that the Clemson Tigers weren’t concerned with the Syracuse Orange. They entered the Friday night contest, even on the road, as the No. 2 team in college football. As such, it seemed like a walk in the park against a 3-3 Syracuse team. However, that wasn’t what happened.
In a scary scene early in the game, Clemson starting quarterback Kelly Bryant took a scary hit to the head that knocked him out cold. In a shocking move, head coach Dabo Swinney with Zerrick Cooper in relief. At the same time, though, the Orange were rolling in every sense.
Quarterback Eric Dungey was playing perhaps the best football of his career, both passing and running with efficiency and proficiency. What’s more, the defense was able to contain Cooper once he took over. The Orange took a lead into halftime, and everyone expected it to dissipate, as they often do.
However, that’s not what happened. Dino Babers team continued to play with a ton of heart and avoided any of the big mistakes. With a late field goal, a defensive stop that forced a turnover on downs, and then a key first down from Dungey rushing, Syracuse secured the 27-24 upset. The defending champions are undefeated no more.
After such a loss, the sport is now shaken up a bit. As such, let’s take a look at the projected top 10 college football rankings now that Clemson has been defeated:
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Washington Huskies
- TCU Horned Frogs
- Wisconsin Badgers
- Washington State Cougars
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Auburn Tigers
- Miami Hurricanes
With a loss to a team like Syracuse, it’s hard to see Clemson staying in the top 10. They likely fall out with another ACC team, the Miami Hurricanes, taking post inside the top 10.
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The season is still only midway through, so the Tigers could surely play their way back in. What’s more, things could change in an instant in terms of the teams still unbeaten. As for now, though, this is a monumental loss for the 2017 season that chances the landscape of the contenders.