College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 after Week 8

Clemson had a bye this week before it squares off with Florida State in Tallahassee in Week 9. That offers an opportunity to look at what the Tigers have done so far to set themselves up for a return to the College Football Playoff. Dabo Swinney’s team fields one of the best defenses in the country, while quarterback Deshaun Watson is once again in the thick of the Heisman discussion this season. But they’ve also looked inconsistent, with four of their wins coming by a touchdown or less.

If the Tigers can get past Florida State, though, nobody else is likely to knock them outside the playoff hunt in the Top 25. Clemson opens November with home games against Syracuse and Pitt before their ACC regular-season finale at Wake Forest. The season concludes with the Battle for the Palmetto State against South Carolina on November 26. As long as they repeat as ACC champions, the committee should have no problem putting the Tigers back into the semifinals this season.