ACC Football 2018: Midseason awards and superlatives

Best chance at the College Football Playoff

I have talked a ton about Clemson in this piece and there’s a reason why- they’re the ACC’s best football program. The Tigers are ranked third per the AP poll with a 6-0 record. Clemson had Week 6 off as they prepared for a ranked NC State program that has also received a lot of attention in this post. Dave Doeren has his Wolfpack playing well but the Tigers are the clear favorite to return to the playoff.

Clemson could drop a game, and it seems as though the College Football Playoff Committee has faith that they’ll put the best product on the field in the semifinal games which are a national showcase around new year’s day every season. The Tigers have the coaching, talent and experience to run through their ACC schedule, win the ACC Championship game for the fourth straight season, and make the College Football Playoff in 2018.

If the Tigers were to drop a game it would have to be against the NC State Wolfpack with time to recover against weaker competition before the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte. If Clemson loses to anyone else on the schedule it would be a hard sell if Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Alabama are undefeated.

If Clemson runs the table as does Miami, and the Hurricanes pull an upset, they could be in the College Football Playoff if Georgia has two losses and one of OSU and the Irish have a loss.