Clemson football on the verge of a College Football Playoff spot

After the first Saturday of November, the Clemson football team was left for dead as it pertained to the College Football Playoff. Now, just prior to Thanksgiving, the Tigers have worked their way back into the conversation for a spot in the 12-team field.

Back on November 2nd, it appeared that Clemson's hopes of a playoff birth went out the window following a 33-21 loss at home to Louisville. That unexpected defeat took away Clemson's ability to control its own fortunes when it came to the ACC race and the College Football Playoff.

However, chaos has ruled the season in college football and after the latest College Football Playoff rankings were released on Tuesday evening, there is reason for Clemson fans to dream of a spot in the field again.

The Tigers check in at No. 12 in this week's rankings. That's a jump of five spots from last week.

However, there is still work to be done. Though Clemson is in the top 12, if the playoff were to start this weekend, the Tigers would be the first team left out.

That's because the Big 12 champion is guaranteed to get a bid. And because all teams in that conference are currently ranked lower than Clemson, one of them would push the Tigers out of the field if the rankings hold as they are right now.

Of course, given all of the movement we've seen each week, there's no way the rankings are going to remain unchanged. And the Tigers have a huge opportunity to improve their resume this weekend.

Hosting No. 16 South Carolina on Saturday in the regular-season finale, the Tigers could move even higher with a win, which would be their signature victory of the season.

Of course, there is another path to the playoff for the Tigers as well. If No. 8 Miami falls at Syracuse this weekend, it will put Clemson into the ACC Championship game where they would play SMU for an automatic bid to the playoff. The Mustangs, by the way, are ranked 9th in this week's College Football Playoff rankings.

The fact that Clemson is even in this position, though, is remarkable given how out of the picture the Tigers were after losing to Louisville. Their climb back into the playoff conversation is a reminder that perseverance pays dividends.

Now, Clemson could be one rivalry win away from doing what many thought was impossible on November 3rd. That makes this weekend, one of the biggest editions of the Palmetto Bowl we've ever seen.