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College Football Playoff Rankings 2017: Projected top four after Week 7

By Brad Weiss

TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 14: Damien Harris #34 of the Alabama Crimson Tide breaks a tackle by Kevin Richardson II #30 of the Arkansas Razorbacks on the way to scoring a touchdown at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 14: Damien Harris #34 of the Alabama Crimson Tide breaks a tackle by Kevin Richardson II #30 of the Arkansas Razorbacks on the way to scoring a touchdown at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Clemson
SYRACUSE, NY – OCTOBER 13: Kelly Bryant #2 of the Clemson Tigers warms up before the game against the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on October 13, 2017 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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Clemson Tigers (6-1)

Last week: L
Last rank: 2

Before we start going crazy, let’s take a look at the Clemson Tigers season as a whole. They have already beaten two top-15 teams and are going to hit their bye week at the right time. Quarterback Kelly Bryant was knocked out of the team’s loss to Syracuse on Friday night, and with an extra week before Georgia Tech on Oct. 28, he should be back to 100 percent by the time the Tigers hit the field again.

Clemson will likely rebound and win the ACC, and the committee is going to remember how good this team is once it gets to the playoff. Sure, Deshaun Watson is gone but was Bryant not playing outstanding football before being hurt during the Tigers win against Wake Forest two weeks ago? They will be fine, and if they can get past that road game against NC State in a few weeks, they will lock up their spot in the ACC title game.

When Clemson lost on Friday night, I was fully prepared to knock them out of the top-four. However, Washington looked terrible against Arizona State on Saturday night, and USC barely made it past Utah. Oklahoma has played well this season, but it is hard to overlook that loss to Iowa State. Teams like Miami (FL), Ohio State and Wisconsin all may challenge for a spot in the playoff but I am going to keep Clemson in for now.

This all hinges on Bryant, as the team looked absolutely lost without him under center against the Orange. The defensive line for Clemson is one of the best in football, and if they have their pieces on offense, this team is talented enough on both sides of the ball to beat anybody. In addition, a loss like the one they suffered on Friday night could be the wake-up call they need to run the table and do some damage in the playoff in a couple of months.

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