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Clemson Football: The Path to Clinching the ACC Atlantic 2019

By Andrew Boardwine

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 01: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers holds the ACC Championship trophy 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: Head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers holds the ACC Championship trophy 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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What does the Clemson football team need to do to reach its next goal? Here’s a look at the ACC Atlantic Division heading down the stretch.

Dabo Swinney and the Clemson football program set several goals every season: To win the opener, to win the division, win the state championship, win the conference and win the bowl game.

The next step on Dabo Swinney’s masterplan for the season is to win the division.

At this point in the year, Clemson football has a perfect 9-0 record with a 6-0 record in the conference. Here’s a look at the path to winning the ACC Atlantic Division as the Tigers attempt to accomplish their second goal of the season.

First, let’s take a look at the standings.

ACC Atlantic Standings (Conference Records):

  1. Clemson (6-0)
  2. Wake Forest (3-1)
  3. Louisville (3-2)
  4. Boston College (3-3)
  5. Florida State (3-4)
  6. NC State (1-3)
  7. Syracuse (0-5)

Path to winning the ACC Atlantic:

With Clemson winning its sixth conference game against Boston College a couple of weeks ago and NC State losing to Wake Forest last week, no other team can win the division besides the Tigers, Demon Deacons or Louisville Cardinals. However, Louisville would be mathematically eliminated with a Clemson win this weekend or a loss of their own.

So, the path to winning the ACC Atlantic is pretty simple: The Tigers could clinch the division this weekend with a win over NC State and a Wake Forest loss to Virginia Tech.

If Wake Forest beats the Hokies this weekend, though, the division would come down to the matchup in Death Valley between Clemson and the Demon Deacons. The Clemson football team would clinch with a win, but wouldn’t necessarily be eliminated with a loss.

Wake Forest would have to win the game and then beat Duke at home and Syracuse on the road to clinch, assuming the Tigers beat NC State. If Clemson somehow lost to NC State and Wake Forest, it would open up the door for a crazy scenario where Louisville could actually jump into the driver’s seat for the division, but it’s just not likely at this point.

Next. Early Vegas Odds vs. NC State. dark

The easiest and simplest solution? Just win out. Clemson has more on its plate than just trying to win the ACC Atlantic. The Tigers have an opportunity to get back to the CFB Playoff for a fifth-straight season. They need to remain focused and show up ready to play, but barring an upset of Wake Forest this weekend, they’ll have to wait for the home game in Death Valley to officially clinch the division.

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