How does Trevor Lawrence’s COVID-19 test affect College Football Playoff race?

Trevor Lawrence tested positive for COVID-19 and the attention on the field turns toward Clemson’s College Football Playoff chances.

The Clemson Tigers will be without Trevor Lawrence this Saturday against Boston College due to his positive COVID-19 test. The team should still be able to take that game at home, but the attention turns to the following week’s game against No. 4 Notre Dame.

Having Lawrence out in that game could lead to a Clemson loss and put their playoff hopes in peril. However, he should be eligible to return given a recent report about when he received his positive test. He would still need to show up healthy and without practicing for 10 days so this situation could still have ramifications for the College Football Playoff.

How does Trevor Lawrence effect the College Football Playoff Race?

Right now it looks like Ohio State and Alabama are clear favorites to take two of the four available spots. Clemson and Notre Dame were next up as the two other favorites, even with a head-to-head matchup on the schedule.

Let’s assume the worst for a moment and say Lawrence misses the Notre Dame game and Clemson loses. So what happens if he returns and Clemson takes down Notre Dame in the ACC Championship Game and both teams only have those head-to-head losses? Clemson should have the upper hand in that scenario given the loss came without their Heisman hopeful quarterback.

Clemson is currently the top-ranked team in the nation and a loss to Notre Dame without Lawrence, only to get him back, would help the team’s chances of staying near the top of the rankings. If anything, Notre Dame would be facing the pressure to prove they are still dominant after taking down a Lawrence-less Clemson team.

It is still possible Lawrence returns for the Notre Dame game and is able to play. But he was just diagnosed with the virus and there is a lot that has to go well, including him having a quick recovery. That is not a given.