Clemson football is the #1 team in college football but it is surely not without question. I believe as it stands today that the College Football Playoff selection committee got it right. Clemson should be the top team.
Let’s take a look at Clemson, #2 Alabama, and #3 Ohio State and a few things about them and their schedules.
Ohio State. Is it disrespectful to rank the defending champs anything but #1? In my opinion, the answer is no. Yes, they are still champs until the season is over but the past is just that-the past.
Schedule. There isn’t much to talk about here. Being in the weak Big Ten doesn’t help the Buckeyes’ case for the top spot, and games against Hawaii, Northern Illinois, and Western Michigan just makes things worse. The toughest part of their schedule is yet to come. Michigan State and Michigan are both ranked and wins over them plus a win in the conference championship gets Ohio State in the playoffs.
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide mascot runs the flag after a touchdown during the third quarter against the LSU Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Alabama. The biggest argument against their current ranking is the 43-37 home loss to #15 Ole Miss. I personally think that it’s too early to place a one loss team in the #2 spot with so much left in the season. Was the loss to Ole Miss a fluke? No. Just because they had 5 turnovers(3 INTs, 2 fumbles)doesn’t make it a fluke. Recovering an onside kick like Alabama did in the 4th period is more of a fluke.
Schedule. Having wins over #2, #8, #9, and #20, Bama’s road seems to have been tough. But when 8, 9, and 20 are currently unranked Georgia, Texas A&M, and #23 Wisconsin(8-2), that road led to nowhere. The strength of their ranking is based on the dominating win over LSU and their dominance in games before Ole Miss and after Ole Miss, and no one passes the eye test better.
What’s left? #17 Mississippi State will be ready for Alabama on Saturday, Charleston Southern will get a hefty check, the first half of the Iron Bowl is worth watching, and an offensively challenged Florida team will be the opposition in the SEC championship game. Alabama will be a favorite in each game, so we will see if the Tide can continue to roll towards the playoffs.
Clemson. The Tigers handled the big stage and being #1 well with a home win over #16 Florida State. But there are still doubters out there. What is there to doubt? Clemson is the only team from the preseason poll to beat two teams that were ranked higher than them. Those teams are FSU and Notre Dame who were #10 and #11 respectively while Clemson was #12. Their biggest win is the 24-22 victory over a #6 Notre Dame, the Playoff poll’s fourth best team.
Backups. Clemson football fans are probably so tired of hearing about backup quarterbacks. Last year, when they lost to #1 FSU at Tallahassee, Sean Maguire started for the suspended Jameis Winston. Besides hearing about the mistakes they made, they also heard that they couldn’t beat a backup QB. So are you suppose to win, if you’re #22 on the road and you played most of the game with a true freshman QB?
Nov 7, 2015; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) carries the ball while being defended by Florida State Seminoles linebacker Terrance Smith (24) during the first half at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Now let’s fast forward to this year’s game. Clemson is #1 and facing #16 FSU at home. Maguire is starting in place of a healthy Everett Golson and the previous week Maguire threw for 348 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-21 win over Syracuse. FSU coach Jimbo Fisher decided to start Maguire because he felt like he gave them the best chance to pull an upset-it didn’t happen. The Tigers did their job. They beat the Noles and not just Sean Maguire.
Before Notre Dame QB Deshone Kizer faced #12 Clemson in Death Valley, he was already entrenched as the Irish’s new starting quarterback. He had replaced the injured Malik Zaire and threw a 39 yard pass to WR Will Fuller to beat UVA 34-27, and he led them to a victory over a #14 Ga. Tech team. At the time of the game between the two teams, he was the starter not a backup. With Zaire out for the season, Kizer has played very well and well enough to maybe cause a quarterback controversy for next season.
Clemson faced the starter in both big games this season and they shouldn’t have to apologize for beating them.
Schedule. The Tigers remaining four games all seem winnable but two games should be highlighted. The rivalry game against South Carolina can never be overlooked in any season and especially when it’s a road game. The Gamecocks are playing better offensively under interim coach Shawn Elliott and spoiling the Tigers title hopes would have Columbia rocking. The other game that could pose a problem for Clemson is the ACC title game against a hot #17 North Carolina team. Although they haven’t clinched a berth to Charlotte yet, they would be the only opponent from the Coastal division that could make the game interesting.
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There is still a lot of football left but right now Ohio State is the defending champions, Alabama looks invincible, and Clemson is number one. The arguments will continue on who should be ranked where, and it makes things fun until the playoffs begin on December 31st.