Clemson Football: Tigers ranked No. 2 in latest 2017 CFB Playoff poll
Clemson football came into the third College Football Playoff with a top-four ranking. Here’s our thoughts and instant reactions from the release.
The third College Football Playoff ranking of 2017 was released Tuesday night and Clemson football remained in the top four.
The Tigers came in at No. 2.
Here’s a look at the top-10 that the committee released on ESPN.
- Alabama
- Clemson
- Miami
- Oklahoma
- Wisconsin
- Auburn
- Georgia
- Notre Dame
- Ohio State
- Penn State
Thoughts:
The committee loves them some Big Ten football, apparently. I’m not sure what Penn State has done to garner a top-10 ranking over some of the other teams, but you can’t complain too much.
I’m very surprised Clemson football is ranked No. 2.
I had the Tigers No. 4 behind Oklahoma and Miami. It’s not because I thought either of those teams were better than them, but that I just thought the committee would push Oklahoma and Miami over the Tigers after big wins this past weekend.
I like it though.
The College Football Playoff committee has sent a message to Clemson football: Win and you’re in.
There are people talking scenarios where the Tigers win-out and then still get left out, but I don’t think that’s the case after tonight. I think Clemson fans can rest assured that as long as the Tigers go 12-1, they’re going to be in the College Football Playoff.
The committee looks at a team’s overall body of work and it’s clear that they respect the schedule that Clemson has played and consider the Tigers the best one-loss team in the land.
So much so that they still have Miami ranked behind the Tigers despite blowing out Notre Dame last week.
Next: Scouting Report vs. The Citadel
Clemson has wins over two top-20 teams (No. 6 Auburn and No. 19 NC State) and has six wins over teams with a winning record. The strength of schedule is what is helping the Tigers.
We will have more thoughts and analysis on this as we progress through week.