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College Football Playoff Rankings 2017: Projected top four after Week 11

By Brad Weiss

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - NOVEMBER 11: The Miami Hurricanes take the field during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - NOVEMBER 11: The Miami Hurricanes take the field during a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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CLEMSON, SC – NOVEMBER 11: Sean Pollard #76 holds up teammate Travis Etienne #9 of the Clemson Tigers after he scores a touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC – NOVEMBER 11: Sean Pollard #76 holds up teammate Travis Etienne #9 of the Clemson Tigers after he scores a touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Clemson Tigers (9-1)

Last week: W 31-14 vs. Florida State
Last rank: 4

The Clemson Tigers did what they had to do against the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday, and with the win, they kept their College Football Playoff hopes alive. The Tigers came into this game looking to get healthy at some key positions, including their quarterback. Kelly Bryant certainly looked healthy in this one, rushing in for a touchdown, and the Clemson defense looked downright scary against their ACC foe.

Bryant finished the game 20-for-30 passing for 150 yards, but it was his direction on offense that stood out. With Bryant under center, this Clemson team is on another level, and they will look to get things squared away before taking on Miami in the ACC Championship Game in a couple of weeks. The winner of that game will earn a spot in the College Football Playoff, but the loser will likely be left out.

The biggest story in the game for the Tigers against Florida State was the play of their defensive line, which could be the difference in them winning a second straight national title. The offense lost so many playmakers to the NFL Draft this past offseason, but the defensive line is one of the best we have seen in college football this season. Guys like Christian Wilkins and Clelin Ferrell harassed freshman quarterback Justin Blackman all game long, stymieing the Seminoles offense.

Clemson does have a loss on their schedule, but that game was in the Carrier Dome against Syracuse with Bryant out for most of the game with an injury. They are slowly getting back to championship form, and after hosting the Citadel next week, they will finish out their season on the road against South Carolina. The ACC title game is going to be huge, and for Clemson fans, the hope is the team is 100 percent healthy heading into that contest.

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