With its win over Virginia, No. 9 Clemson continued its march towards getting back to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020.
With the new 12-team format, Clemson has multiple paths to the playoff. Obviously, the most direct would be to win the ACC outright, as the five highest-ranked conference champions receives automatic bids. The four highest-ranked champions will receive first-round byes.
With the divisions being scrapped ahead of this season, the top two teams in the conference will lock up a spot in Charlotte. The Tigers are now 5-0 in ACC play, two games up in the win column on both Miami and SMU, who are now 3-0. Pitt is also unbeaten in the conference at 2-0.
Remaining Opponents
No. 9 Clemson (6-1, 5-0 ACC): vs. Louisville, at Virginia Tech, at Pitt, vs. Citadel, vs. South Carolina
With a bye week coming up, the Tigers now get set to face the most daunting part of its schedule. Louisville will bring one of the better offenses in the country to town in less than two weeks and then there are consecutive road games at Virginia Tech and Pitt. Lane Stadium is never an easy place to play and that Pitt team is still without a loss. Then Clemson finishes it up with two nonconference games that won’t have any impact on the ACC standings, but will heavily impact where they are ranked.
No. 6 Miami (7-0, 3-0 ACC): vs. Florida State, vs. Duke, at Georgia Tech, vs. Wake Forest, at Syracuse
Another week and another controversial call helps the Canes’ escape. That is the third time already this season. Louisville gave Miami all it could handle on Saturday, proving once again that defense can be had. Not much meat left on the Hurricanes’ schedule, though. We will see if that putrid Florida State team gets up for that rivalry matchup this weekend.
No. 19 Pitt (6-0, 2-0 ACC): vs. Syracuse, at SMU, vs. Virginia, vs. Clemson, at Louisville, at Boston College
Fresh off a bye week, the Panthers are one of the surprises of the ACC, but are they running on borrowed time? They had fourth quarter rallies to beat Cincinnati and West Virginia earlier this year and were lucky to beat Cal. Syracuse is going to be a tough out and then they travel to SMU before hosting Clemson on Nov. 16.
No. 22 SMU (6-1, 2-0 ACC): at Duke, vs. Pitt, vs. Boston College, at Virginia, vs. Cal
Quarterback Kevin Jennings continues to impress, but despite the blowout win over Stanford, the Mustangs dropped a spot in the AP Poll this week, proving the voters aren’t ready to buy stock in Rhett Lashlee’s team. A night game at an underrated Duke team won’t be easy, neither will its home matchup against Pitt.
With the new 12-team format, there is also the possibility of Clemson getting in at 11-2. Should the Tigers win out but lose in the ACC Championship Game, Clemson could be in position to earn an at-large spot.
How?
The first College Football Playoff rankings come out on Nov. 5. With Clemson currently No. 9 in the AP Poll, and only Louisville stands in the way of the Tigers being inside of the Top 10 in those initial rankings.
Win out the rest of the way and Clemson will likely be firmly entrenched inside the Top 10 and maybe in the Top 5. A loss to, let’s say a Top 5 Miami team might not knock them out of contention.
If there were a three-team tie atop the conference standings, there is the possibility of Clemson running the table, finishing 11-1, unbeaten in league play, and still not make it to the ACC Championship Game due to the tiebreakers in place. Although, if the Tigers finish inside of the Top 10, it is likely they get in.
Who is in Contention with the Tigers?
Here is a look at what is left for some of the teams Clemson could be competing against for an at-large spot.
The Big 10 currently has three teams ranked inside of the AP Top 5, with Oregon moving up to the top spot this week. Penn State is No. 3 and Ohio State No. 5. The surprise team here, though is Indiana, who is still unbeaten and up to No. 13 after its dominating win over Nebraska.
No. 1 Oregon (7-0, 4-0 Big 10): vs. Illinois, at Michigan, vs. Maryland, at Wisconsin, vs. Washington
The win over Ohio State puts the Ducks in the drivers seat but a trip to Michigan is still coming. While the Wolverines are down this year, the Big House is not the easiest place to go into and come away with a win.
No. 3 Penn State (5-0, 2-0 Big 10): at Wisconsin, vs. Ohio State, vs. Washington, at Purdue, at Minnesota
A road game at Wisconsin won’t be easy, but at least the Nittany Lions get Ohio State at home. After that, Penn State has a fairly manageable slate.
No. 4 Ohio State (5-1, 2-1 Big 10): vs. Nebraska, at Penn State, vs. Purdue, vs. Northwestern (in Chicago), at Indiana, vs. Michigan
The Buckeyes had the weekend off, giving them an extra week to lick their wounds after the loss to Oregon. Road games at Penn State and that surprise team in Indiana, and then the rivalry game against Michigan, has Ohio State facing a tricky path.
No. 13 Indiana (7-0, 4-0 Big 10): vs. Washington, at Michigan State, vs. Michigan, at Ohio State, vs. Purdue
The Hoosiers continue to cruise right along but a 4-3 Washington team comes to town next. And they’ve lost starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke to a thumb injury. He’s out indefinitely. Indiana does get Michigan at home before going on the road to face Ohio State, giving them what might be the toughest path of all the Big 10 teams.
SEC Bias
Georgia proved with its convincing win over Texas that it is far too early to write the Dawgs off. That leaves Texas A&M and LSU as the only teams without a loss in SEC play. However, behind them, there are five teams with just one loss in league play.
There are currently six SEC teams with 6-1 records overall, with all of those teams ranked inside of the Top 15. You can best bet there will be at least one two-loss team from the SEC that earns an at-large bid, and probably more than one.
No. 5 Texas (6-1, 2-1 SEC): at Vanderbilt, vs. Florida, at Arkansas, vs. Kentucky, at Texas A&M
The Longhorns finally dropped one and no amount of classlessness from that fan base can change that. Next up is a trip to Vanderbilt and the Commodores are not the easy out that they’ve been in most years. That rivalry game to end the season also looms large and could end up deciding who plays in Atlanta for the SEC Championship.
No. 14 Texas A&M (6-1, 4-0 SEC): vs. LSU, at South Carolina, vs. New Mexico, at Auburn, vs. Texas
Another not so impressive win for the Aggies as they got by Mississippi State 34-24 but it gets tougher this week with LSU coming to town. On the road at South Carolina could have this Texas A&M team staring down the barrel at consecutive losses and knocking them out of contention.
No. 2 Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC): vs. Florida, at Ole Miss, vs. Tennessee, UMass, vs. Georgia Tech
The Dawgs flexed some muscle with its win over Texas. With that remaining slate, odds are pretty favorable that when the dust settles, Georgia is back in Atlanta.
No. 7 Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC): vs. Kentucky, vs. Mississippi State, at Georgia, vs. UTEP, at Vanderbilt
The Vols win over Alabama vaulted them four spots in the poll, jumping them right over Clemson. A road game in Athens certainly won’t be easy and they finish up at Vandy.
No. 15 Alabama (5-2, 3-2 SEC): vs. Missouri, at LSU, vs. Mercer, at Oklahoma, vs. Auburn
It’s been quite some time since Alabama’s had two losses at this point in the season. One more likely does the Tide in.
Can the Big 12 Get an At-Large Bid?
Iowa State and BYU both remain unbeaten at 7-0 and firmly entrenched inside of the Top 15. The two teams do not face off in the regular season.
No. 10 Iowa State (7-0, 4-0 Big 12): vs. Texas Tech, at Kansas, vs. Cincinnati, at Utah, vs. Kansas State
BYU (7-0, 4-0 Big 12): at UCF, at Utah, vs. Kansas, at Arizona State, vs. Houston
These two teams seem to be on a collision course in the Big 12 title game, and as things stand right now that would look to be an elimination game. The winner is in and the loser out.
Independents or Group of 5
No. 12 Notre Dame (6-1): vs. Navy, vs. Florida State, vs. Virginia, vs. Army (Yankee Stadium), at Southern Cal
It looks like the Irish will need to win out and with that schedule it’s certainly possible.
No. 17 Boise State (5-1, 1-0 MWC): at UNLV, vs. San Diego State, vs. Nevada, at San Jose, at Wyoming, vs. Oregon State
The Broncos road trips to UNLV and Wyoming will likely decide their fate as the Group of 5 Champion in the CFP.
Based off the AP Ranking and possible conference champions, here is what the CFP seedings might look like:
- Oregon
- Georgia
- Miami
- Iowa State
- Penn State
- Ohio State
- Texas
- Tennessee
- LSU
- Clemson
- BYU
- Notre Dame
In this scenario, Oregon, Georgia, Miami and Iowa State would have automatic byes to the quarterfinals. Notre Dame would play a first-round playoff game on the road.
Possible CFP Matchups:
For Dec. 20-21 CFP Games on home fields
No. 12 Notre Dame at No. 5 Penn State
No. 11 BYU at No. 6 Ohio State
No. 10 Clemson at No. 7 Texas
No. 9 LSU at No. 8 Tennessee
2024-25 College Football Playoff schedule, dates, TV channel, sites
All times Eastern
- First round (Dec. 20-21)
- Friday, Dec. 20: 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN
- Saturday, Dec. 21: 12 p.m. | TNT Sports
- Saturday, Dec. 21: 4 p.m. | TNT Sports
- Saturday, Dec. 21: 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN
- Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
- Fiesta Bowl: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 | ESPN
- Peach Bowl: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 | ESPN
- Rose Bowl: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 | ESPN
- Sugar Bowl: 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 | ESPN
- Semifinals (Jan. 9-10)
- Orange Bowl: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9 | ESPN
- Cotton Bowl: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10 | ESPN
- CFP National Championship
- 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20 | ESPN
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