College Football Playoff: 12 remaining games that will decide Top 4

College Football Playoff: The 12 remaining games that will decide the Top 4

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 25: Ohio State Buckeyes running back J.K. Dobbins (2) runs with the ball during game action between the Ohio State Buckeyes (8) and the Michigan Wolverines on November 25, 2017 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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CLEMSON, SC – NOVEMBER 24: Travis Etienne #9 of the Clemson Tigers runs with the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

No. 3 Clemson at South Carolina (Nov. 30)

Though it’s beyond the Clemson Tigers’ control, their schedule this season has been Charmin soft from almost start to finish. Outside of a Week 2 matchup with Texas A&M (a team that has since fallen off quite a bit), the reigning National Champions have not faced a ranked opponent this season.

To Clemson’s credit, though, following a sleepwalking scare against North Carolina on Sept. 28, the Tigers have dominated their competition as you’d expect them to, winning by at least 30 points in every game since. Trevor Lawrence has finally started to look like the second-coming once again while Travis Etienne has run wild.

Though Will Muschamp‘s South Carolina is just 4-6 on the year and not laying particularly well outside of a huge upset win over Georgia, that win over the Bulldogs does prove they have the moxie to slay a giant. And with this rivalry matchup being played in Columbia a week before the ACC Championship Game, Clemson can’t take their opponents lightly. They need an undefeated record to make it into the College Football Playoff.

No. 5 Alabama at No. 12 Auburn (Nov. 30)

Because of the loss to LSU in Week 11, the Alabama Crimson Tide are now on the outside looking in of the top four in the College Football Playoff rankings. If they’re going to have a chance to make it back into the mix, though, Nick Saban’s club can not take another loss in the regular season as they’ll not be playing in the SEC Championship Game, barring a dramatic decline for LSU.

That brings the Iron Bowl clearly into focus. With the game being played at Auburn, we know just how crazy and tightly contested the annual contest between the Crimson Tide and Tigers can be. And this Auburn team is not one to be taken lightly, boasting a fierce defense, specifically up front with Derrick Brown and Nick Coe.

On paper, Alabama should be able to come away with a victory in this matchup on the back of Tua Tagovailoa, their trio of star receivers and their high-octane offense, doing their part to stay alive for the CFP. But everyone will be watching to make sure that is indeed the way things play out.

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