Can Clemson still make the College Football Playoff?

After a stunning loss to NC State, their second of the season, can the Clemson Tigers still find their way to the College Football Playoff?

Life without Trevor Lawrence is just plain difficult, a life that Clemson Tigers fans are feeling right now after losing to NC State 27-21 in double overtime. The second loss of the season puts a hammer on Clemson’s College Football Playoff hopes.

This begs the question, will the Tigers have a chance to make the College Football Playoff?

The odds are very unlikely with two losses, including this one to an unranked team in September. For one, several teams ranked ahead of them would have to falter, which is a mathematical improbability. Many may lose once, but for about 10 teams to lose multiple times to open the door all while Clemson runs the table, it’s just not going to happen.

That and the fact that given how they look right now on both offense and defense, the Tigers might not have what it takes to be one of the top four teams.

Clemson’s chances of making the College Football Playoff ended with NC State

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers could not have picked the wrong time to lose games, and now they look more like a shell of their former selves. Though Clemson has been the gold standard in the ACC for an extended period, that run may be coming to an end. Clemson has made the playoff every year since 2014.

Sure, they can still wind up winning the conference and getting to play in a New Year’s Six Bowl game, but their standard has been championships beyond the conference, and this year, that might not be the case.

Clemson is not off to a good start, and right now, they are facing the reality that their streak of making it to the College Football Playoff might have ended earlier than expected.

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