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Clemson Football: Was Notre Dame most favorable of all possible opponents?

By Shawn Spencer

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 01: Austin Bryant #7 and teammates Clelin Ferrell #99 and Isaiah Simmons #11 of the Clemson Tigers signal four ACC Championships in a row after their 42-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 01: Austin Bryant #7 and teammates Clelin Ferrell #99 and Isaiah Simmons #11 of the Clemson Tigers signal four ACC Championships in a row after their 42-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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The Clemson football team drew a first-round game with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Were the Irish the most favorable CFB Playoff matchup for the Tigers?

Clemson football will take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first round of the CFB Playoff in a few weeks.

The Tigers will be look to advance back to the National Championship for the third time in the last four years with a win.

Did Clemson draw the most favorable matchup in the playoff of all the possible opponents? It certainly can be argued that way.

Most favorable opponent?

Here’s a look, basically, at the teams that the Tigers could’ve played in the first round. This is the list of teams that had a shot at the playoff, which in my opinion was six teams counting Clemson.

  • Alabama
  • Notre Dame
  • Oklahoma
  • Georgia
  • Ohio State

Basically, anyone out of these five- and Clemson of course- were out before the CFB Playoff Selection Show began.

Of course, we know now that Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Oklahoma were the four teams chosen. But, if I were ranking the teams (all five) based on who I would want Clemson football to play (from easiest to hardest), here’s how I’d have them ranked.

  1. Notre Dame
  2. Ohio State
  3. Georgia
  4. Oklahoma
  5. Alabama

I know some would probably switch Georgia and Oklahoma, but I think we all pretty much would agree on the first two. If you had your choice out of that group of who you’d like the Tigers to play, I think the first team you’d say would be Notre Dame. After that, I think most would say Ohio State, which finished No. 6.

It’s not necessarily that Notre Dame is a bad team. It’s just that I think most have seen the flaws of their play. They’ve played some mediocre teams close- which everybody has- and I just don’t see a lot of threats as far as big-play guys or people that make you scared.

Next. Clemson's secondary will be tested vs. Notre Dame. dark

I could be wrong and the Irish may prove to be the best team in the country, but right now I think it’s fair to say that Clemson football got a favorable matchup in the first round of the CFB Playoff, all things considered.

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