Clemson Football: CFB Playoff scenarios, picture heading into Week 12
The Clemson football team is now ranked No. 3, according to the latest rankings. Here’s a look at the picture and scenarios heading into Week 12.
After debuting at No. 5 in the CFB Playoff rankings, Clemson football moved to No. 3 in the second poll following losses from Penn State (vs. Minnesota) and Alabama (vs. LSU).
The Tigers improved to 10-0 with a 55-10 win over NC State this past weekend and clinched the ACC Atlantic in the process.
The Clemson football team has two remaining regular season games against Wake Forest and South Carolina before competing in the ACC Championship the first weekend in December.
Here’s a look at the CFB Playoff picture heading into Week 12 and some interesting scenarios based off the latest CFB Playoff rankings revealed on Tuesday evening. First, a look at the top-10.
- LSU
- Ohio State
- Clemson
- Georgia
- Alabama
- Oregon
- Utah
- Minnesota
- Penn State
- Oklahoma
CFB Playoff Picture, Scenarios: (*stars indicate one-loss*)
ACC: Clemson
Big Ten: Ohio State, Minnesota
Big 12: Oklahoma*, Baylor
Pac-12: Oregon*, Utah*
SEC: LSU, Georgia*, Alabama*
The playoff race is basically down to 10 teams. Looking at the undefeated programs, a loss from Clemson, Minnesota or Baylor would likely eliminate them from playoff contention. Ohio State and LSU likely could afford losses and still have a path to the playoff.
Following the Week 12 rankings and looking ahead to the rest of this season, here’s a scenario that could play-out that would likely be a nightmare for Clemson football fans.
What if? Clemson, Ohio State and Baylor win out. Georgia beats LSU in the SEC Championship game. Oregon wins the Pac-12 with one loss.
If this scenario were to happen, Georgia and Ohio State would be locks for the playoff. You would think that Baylor- with likely two wins over Oklahoma and wins over other Big 12 teams that could be ranked- would be in the playoff, as well.
That would leave the committee to choose between leaving out an undefeated Clemson football team that likely wouldn’t have beaten a top-25 team or a one-loss LSU team with several ranked wins, including Alabama on the road. Personally, I don’t trust the committee to make the right decision and include the ACC Tigers.
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Moving forward, Clemson football fans probably want to see Baylor lose a game and then just see LSU win-out in the SEC. It also wouldn’t hurt to see Auburn beat Alabama, if we’re being honest. In the end, Clemson can only control itself and win-out, but it wouldn’t hurt to get a little help to make things a little less dramatic as we head down the stretch.