College football 2020: 5 games with biggest playoff implications in Week 2

5. No. 1 Clemson at Wake Forest

Clemson has won five straight ACC championships and has not lost a conference game since their shocking loss to Syracuse in 2017. The reason that this game makes the list is that Clemson needs to avoid a letdown against an overmatched opponent, like Syracuse in 2017.

On paper, these two teams are on different planets and it should not be close, but Clemson needs to open the season with an emphatic statement to make sure that the rest of the ACC remembers who runs the conference.

Wake Forest comes into this game shorthanded, as the teams best offensive weapon Sage Surratt decided to opt out of the season and prepare for the NFL draft. He was one of the best receivers in the country and will not be easily replaced.

The news isn’t all bad for the Demon Deacons, they have one of the best pass rushers in the country in Carlos Basham Jr. and new quarterback Sam Hartman does have some experience and has shown flashes of playmaking ability.

This game makes the list because Clemson can’t afford a loss to a team like Wake Forest and needs to show a dominant effort like we are accustomed to.