Most Important College Football Game for Each Top 25 Team During 2016 Season

2. Clemson Outlasts Louisville at Home 42-36 (Oct. 1)

In its bid to return to the College Football Playoff in 2016, Clemson was always going to need to win the ACC title. While a team like Ohio State can get the benefit of the doubt thanks to a deep schedule, the Tigers weren’t going to get that same benefit even if they did play tough Auburn and Troy teams out of conference. In the end, their position in the Top 25 was determined by this instant classic in prime time on the first day of October.

As Deshaun Watson hit Artavis Scott with a short touchdown pass to make it 28-10 seconds before halftime, it looked as though the Tigers were going to rattle off an easy victory at home over the Cardinals. Then Bobby Petrino’s team came out of the locker room and steamrolled the Clemson defense. Lamar Jackson bolstered his Heisman case that night by leading Louisville to 26 unanswered points and an eight-point lead, ending with 457 combined yards and three scores.

But in a battle that ultimately decided which 7-1 team got to play in the league championship game against Virginia Tech, Watson proved the more resilient quarterback. He finished the night with three interceptions, but he also threw for 306 yards and five touchdowns and added another 91 rushing yards. Wayne Gallman added another 110 yards and a TD on the ground, and Clemson came back with scores on their final two drives. The defense held firm, stopping a Louisville comeback bid a few yards short of the goal line, and Dabo Swinney’s crew secured the tiebreaker.