Three weeks ago, Clemson's playoff dreams were all but crushed after its loss to Louisville. At the time, the only plausible route to the CFP was through the ACC Championship, which looked like a distant aspiration with Miami and SMU holding tiebreakers over the Tigers. Now, they might be one win away from another CFP appearance.
This past weekend, five CFP contenders lost, including four to teams under or slightly over .500. All happened to be right in front of Clemson in the CFP rankings.
Yesterday, the committee ranked the Tigers No. 12, right outside the playoff picture. The Top 12 doesn't include a Big 12 team, and because the top four conference champions are automatically included, one of the 12 CFP spots will be reserved for them.
But with all the movement we've seen this week, any team in front of Clemson could lose. A win against South Carolina could be Clemson's golden ticket to the playoffs. Interestingly, it could be a golden ticket for the Gamecocks as well.
South Carolina is 8-3 with great wins down the stretch. That's why the committee ranked it No. 15, just three spots behind Clemson. With a win, the Gamecocks could sneak into the playoffs, too.
Highest-stakes Palmetto Bowl in history
Of all the games in this storied rivalry, Saturday may be the most important day in the its history. This year's Palmetto Bowl is most implication-laden game either fanbase has seen, let alone both at the same time.
It's a de facto play-in game for the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoffs. The 12 teams that make it will be remembered throughout history. South Carolina — which has never even sniffed a national championship in football — could have an opportunity to play for one. On the other hand, Dabo Swinney and the Tigers have desperately wanted to retake their position at the top of college football.
When you put all the CFP factors together and then add the rich, heated rivalry between the two schools, you have the makings for one of the most electric games of the season. Even if you're not a fan from the Palmetto State, South Carolina vs Clemson will be primetime television.