10 Reasons Clemson Football Will Make the CFB Playoff in 2017

8. The Tigers can lose a game and still make the CFB Playoff

Even though I believe Clemson football is the better team overall in each game, the 2017 schedule still lends itself to a loss or two due to the setup.

In September, Clemson plays Auburn at home and Louisville and Virginia Tech on the road.

The Tigers get Georgia Tech in October and then have a tough road matchup with NC State and a home tilt against Florida State, both in November.

All of those teams have a chance to be ranked when Clemson football matches up with them, but there’s still good news:

2016 showed us that Clemson can lose a game and still make the College Football Playoff.

If the Tigers can get through September with just one loss, they will have a chance to make a run at a playoff berth and that breathing room may just be what Clemson needs to get back to the playoff for the third-straight year.

Let’s say, for instance, that Clemson loses to Louisville on the road. If the Tigers go undefeated from that point out and the Cardinals lose two conference games, which very well could happen, Clemson would still win the ACC Atlantic division.

If Clemson, FSU, and Louisville finish in a three-way tie for first, the Tigers could also find themselves atop the ACC and in the College Football Playoff.

All I’m saying is that an 11-1 Clemson football team is good enough to go the College Football Playoff and the Tigers’ brand is strong enough to make a case for itself. I’d be surprised to see Clemson finish 11-1 and not go to the College Football Playoff, assuming that loss doesn’t come in November.