Remember that great party you attended back in high school or college? You know which one I’m talking about … the one where the music was great, you met that girl and it was crazy! It’s a night you will never forget. You remember that, right?
You also probably remember those parties you attended when you were in middle school. You know, the ones where all the guys stood on one side of the room and all the girls stood on the other side, and you did not have the guts to go ask the pretty girl across from you to dance. Do you remember that?
Well, one of those two scenarios is what Sunday’s Pizza Party in Death Valley is going to feel like based on what happens in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday night. And though the mood will be extremely important on Sunday, what might happen, or should I say, where No. 1 Clemson might play during the Holiday Season is really why we will all be there.
Here are all the “What if… scenarios” to look to watch for on Sunday.
In talking with some sources at Clemson and in the ACC, here is what you can expect should the Tigers beat No. 8 North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game, or what might happen if they are to lose.
As we know, if Clemson wins it will be the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. However, if Clemson is the No. 1 seed, it does not get to pick which bowl between the Orange and the Cotton it wants to play in. That is a popular misconception due to the fact Alabama, last year’s No. 1 seed, played in the Sugar Bowl.
The College Football Playoff Committee is in charge of slotting the two playoff bowl games as well as the New Year’s Six Bowl Games. Whoever is the No. 1 seed, the committee will do its absolute best to place the No. 1 seed in the bowl that geographically fits them the best.
In other words, if Clemson is the No. 1 seed and Iowa remains the No. 4 seed, then the committee will send Clemson to the Orange Bowl to face the Hawkeyes.
Though we have been told it is not likely to happen, there still is a remote possibility Clemson could make it into the playoffs with a loss, but a lot of things have to happen for that to occur. Too many to actually believe it will, and there is still no guarantees even if they all happen.
More than likely a loss will send Clemson to the New Year’s Six Bowl Games. From what we have gathered, the Tigers will not fall any further than a New Year’s Six Game, which would be bad for Florida State, who right now will get a New Year’s Six Bowl Game if the Tigers win.
Here is what we do know about the New Year Six Bowl games and how the selections will work for the committee.
New Year’s Six Bowl Games
Peach Bowl: at large vs. at large
Sugar Bowl: Big 12 second place team vs. SEC Champion or second place team
Rose Bowl: Pac 12 Champion or second place team vs. Big Ten second place team
Fiesta Bowl: at large vs. at large.
Note: one of the four at large bids goes to the highest ranked non-power five conference champion
So if Clemson wins and Alabama wins on Saturday, your College Football Playoff will more than likely look like this. I’m also assuming Michigan State knocks off Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game.
College Football Playoffs (TCI Projections)
Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. (Iowa-Michigan State winner)
Cotton Bowl: Alabama vs. Oklahoma
Note: I was told the committee ranks the top four teams first and will not consider possible matchups in the semifinals as part of their rankings. In other words, they will not spilt Oklahoma and Alabama into different brackets in hopes the two could possibly play each other in a national championship game. If they think Alabama is the second best team and Oklahoma is the third, then those two will be ranked accordingly and not by matchup.
New Year’s Six Bowls: (TCI’s projections)
Peach Bowl: Florida State vs. Houston
Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Baylor
Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Ohio State
Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Iowa
So what happens if Clemson losses? Assuming everyone else who is supposed to win wins, everything stays status quo, with the exception of the Peach Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl. If North Carolina were to win the ACC Championship Game and make the playoffs, then Clemson would knock Florida State out of the New Year’s Six and it would take FSU’s slot in the Peach Bowl.
If North Carolina does not make the playoffs, then the committee will have to decide if the ACC is worthy of having two teams in the New Year’s Six Bowl Games. Most feel because Clemson was No. 1 all year, the committee will not leave the Tigers out of the New Year’s Six Bowl Games. So Clemson will either go to the Peach Bowl or the Fiesta Bowl.
New Year’s Six (should Tigers lose & UNC makes playoff)
Peach Bowl: Clemson vs. Houston
Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Baylor
Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Ohio State
Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Iowa
New Year’s Six (should Tigers lose & UNC does not make the playoff)
Peach Bowl: Clemson vs. Houston
Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Baylor
Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Ohio State
Fiesta Bowl: Notre Dame vs. North Carolina
Note: The committee would more than likely send UNC to Fiesta Bowl to avoid a Clemson-Notre Dame rematch