After checking in at No. 23 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings on Nov. 5, Clemson (7-2, 6-1 ACC) moved up to No. 20 on Tuesday when the second CFP rankings of the 2024 season were unveiled.

This week, ESPN’s Heather Dinich released her updated College Football Playoff “bubble watch” (subscription required) heading into Week 12 of the season.

Following Tuesday night’s second CFP rankings release, Dinich highlighted eight teams on the bubble for this year’s 12-team playoff.

Dinich – ESPN’s lead CFP insider – currently has Clemson as one of the first four teams out of the playoff, along with Georgia (No. 12 in second CFP rankings), SMU (No. 14) and Colorado (No. 17).

Dinich weighed in on why she has the Tigers among the first four out in her bubble watch.

“The field goes as deep as the teams that can still win their conference, and the Tigers are the most likely spoiler in the ACC race, which is their best chance to reach the CFP,” Dinich wrote. “If they run the table, they would add a road win against Pitt and earn a tough win against rival No. 21 South Carolina, which would be highly regarded in the committee meeting room. Their only two losses are to ranked CFP teams (Louisville and Georgia).”

According to ESPN analytics, Clemson currently has a 19 percent chance to make the ACC Championship Game.

After bouncing back from a 33-21 loss to Louisville on Nov. 2 at Death Valley with a 24-14 win at Virginia Tech last Saturday, the Tigers are set to take on Pitt this Saturday at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh (12 p.m., ESPN).

Right now, Dinich has Ole Miss and Boise State as the last two teams in the CFP. After the first four out, Dinich’s next four teams out are Kansas State, Texas A&M, LSU and Louisville.

The 12-team CFP will feature the five highest-ranked conference champions, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams, as determined by the CFP Selection Committee.

The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded one through four and receive first-round byes, with the fifth highest-ranked conference champion being seeded where it was ranked, or at No. 12 if its final ranking lands outside of the top 12.

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