Clemson tops initial Playoff rankings but won’t stay there
Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers top the initial College Football Playoff rankings but they are no sure thing to staying there or even making the playoff field.
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There was little suspense with the initial unveiling of the College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday night on ESPN. We knew Ohio State, LSU and Clemson were locks to make the top four, we just weren’t sure of the order. The only surprise came with Alabama coming in at four ahead of Baylor (6) and TCU (8) while folks in Columbus may be surprised to see the undefeated Clemson Tigers in the top spot.
Clemson holds the top spot in large part because they have the most impressive win of the season in the eyes of the playoff committee with a two-point win over a Notre Dame team starting a backup quarterback and reserve running back.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson is a future superstar and he may already be a superstar, but despite Clemson’s success to start the year, they have to be perfect the entire season otherwise the relative lack of strength in the ACC will be the team’s downfall and keep them out of the Playoff if they suffer one loss.
Some teams can be rewarded by having one loss like Alabama, but if Clemson loses this weekend vs. No. 16 Florida State, they’re out, even if they win the ACC.
A one-loss champion from the weak ACC that doesn’t have any other teams in the initial top 25 is a damning piece of evidence for the conference that has to fight the very real perception that it’s the weakest of the Power Five conferences.
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If Clemson goes undefeated, which it may, especially with their toughest opponents, Notre Dame and Florida State coming to Death Valley, they’ll be in the Playoff field.
But they won’t hold on to the top spot with LSU, Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan State, Baylor and TCU all having a remaining schedule that gives them ample ammunition to move past Clemson.
No pressure, Clemson. All you have to do is be perfect to have a chance to stay where you’re at otherwise you’ll be just like Mississippi State was last year and be a footnote in the history books as the team ranked No. 1 in the first playoff ranking.