College Football 2020: 3 potential trap games with CFB Playoff implications

2. Clemson vs. Louisville

Clemson will return Trevor Lawrence for his third season in 2020, instantly cementing this powerhouse program as a contender to make their fifth straight appearance in the College Football Playoff. The recently engaged quarterback will enter the season as a likely Heisman favorite and NFL draft prospect.

Once again, Clemson has the easiest schedule of any playoff contender and has a strong chance to run the table in conference again in 2020. Their only overtly threatening opponent comes late in the year as they’ll likely face Notre Dame, even if there’s an in-conference only schedule.

This is why I believe Clemson’s only true “trap game” comes early in the season against the Louisville Cardinals.

Clemson will be heading into this home game as a heavy favorite against a Cardinals squad that will be just outside of the top 25 looking in. Every sign points to the fact that they’ll win this game and there’s no reason to believe that they’ll be disorganized, but it might be the best shot an ACC team has to beat the Tigers.

Louisville has never beat Clemson in football, so I’m really just grabbing at straws here. But this fringe top-25 team likely has the best shot to beat a Tigers team that hasn’t hit its stride yet.