Clemson Football: CFB Playoff Scenarios heading into Week 11
The first CFB Playoff poll was released Tuesday evening. Here are some scenarios heading into Week 11 for Clemson football and the rest of the nation.
The Clemson football team was ranked No. 5 in the nation in the first CFB Playoff poll of the season.
The Tigers were ranked behind Ohio State, LSU, Alabama and Penn State in the debut rankings, but there’s certainly no reason for Clemson football fans to panic.
As we head into Week 11, here’s a look at the top-10, the teams still vying for a playoff spot and some scenarios to keep your eye on.
CFB Playoff Rankings: Top-10
- Ohio State
- LSU
- Alabama
- Penn State
- Clemson
- Georgia
- Oregon
- Utah
- Oklahoma
- Florida
The Playoff Picture, Scenarios
ACC: Clemson
Big Ten: Ohio State, Penn State, Minnesota
Big 12: Oklahoma, Baylor
Pac-12: Oregon, Utah
SEC: Alabama, LSU, Georgia
At this point, this is what the playoff picture looks like. There aren’t any Group of 5 teams that could sneak into the picture. Clemson is the lone ACC team with a chance.
Minnesota and Baylor still have to be considered until they lose a game. One loss for either of those programs would likely mean elimination, as it would for Clemson as well.
LSU (No. 2) and Alabama (No. 3) will play each other this week. The winner will likely take over the No. 1 spot and the loser is expected to fall to No. 5. Ohio State (No. 1) and Penn State (No. 4) will play each other in a couple of weeks. The loser of that game will likely drop to No. 5 or No. 6 in the poll while the winner will be No. 1 or No. 2.
That means that an undefeated Clemson would likely be penciled in as the No. 3 team in the nation following the game between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions.
As much as the playoff committee hates the Tigers’ schedule, though, Clemson fans will need to watch and see if the committee tries to keep the loser of LSU-Alabama at No. 4 instead of moving the undefeated Tigers into the spot.
Georgia at No. 6 will have to win-out and win the SEC Championship to be considered and it seems that the two one-loss Pac-12 teams are going to be left out barring some upsets to either Clemson, the Big Ten or the SEC teams.
CFB Playoff committee must not watch film. dark. Next
At this point, it seems that the committee is trying to set up a top-four that will feature two SEC teams- between Alabama, LSU and Georgia. Clemson will be, in my opinion, if they win-out. The Big Ten Champion will likely be in even with one loss and the SEC Champion will be in regardless. That leaves one spot that could go to a one-loss Pac-12 Champion, one-loss Big 12 Champion (assuming Baylor loses) or a one-loss SEC team. Expect the committee to take the one-loss SEC team.