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College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 after Week 13

By Zach Bigalke

Nov 24, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; LSU Tigers running back Derrius Guice (5) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; LSU Tigers running back Derrius Guice (5) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 26, 2016; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) celebrates in the end zone after throwing his second touchdown of the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) celebrates in the end zone after throwing his second touchdown of the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Clemson solidified its positions one of the top four teams in the country with a blowout of interleague rival South Carolina in the Battle for the Palmetto State. The Tigers won their 11th game of the season and will almost certainly move up a spot in the AP Top 25 and the College Football Playoff rankings. Deshaun Watson might have played his way back into Heisman contention against the Gamecocks, throwing for 347 yards and six touchdowns before exiting once the game was far enough out of reach. The Tigers defense held South Carolina under 200 total yards of offense, allowing just one touchdown on a trick play.

Dabo Swinney’s team is a win away from returning to the playoffs for the second straight season. All they need to do now is take out Virginia Tech in Orlando next weekend to claim the ACC title, and they will be headed to either the Peach Bowl or the Fiesta Bowl as one of the contenders for the national championship. Pittsburgh, the source of their only defeat, finished in a three-way tie for second in the ACC Coastal, which further solidifies Clemson’s strength of schedule heading into the final selection. All they need to do against the Hokies is win, no matter how ugly, and they are in.

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