CLEMSON — Last Saturday around 4 p.m., the Clemson Tigers’ College Football Playoff hopes were almost nonexistent after a heartbreaking loss to rival South Carolina. 

After losing their third game of the season, the Tigers had one sliver of hope to make the CFP. They needed Syracuse to beat Miami.

Three hours later, its playoff hopes became a reality, again, as Syracuse knocked Miami out of the ACC Championship Game and put the Tigers in it.

Clemson (9-3, 7-1 ACC) now has an opportunity to win another ACC Championship, plus earn a berth into the CFP’s first 12-team playoff.

For Clemson players, the game feels like a fresh start.

“After the game I was mad and upset about obviously the outcome of the game. You never want to lose a rivalry game,” defensive end T.J. Parker said. “I took a little nap and I wake up, people are calling me, like aren’t you excited? You ready to go? I was confused at first and then I checked ESPN and Syracuse won. Then I got really excited because we’re getting another opportunity.”

Offensive lineman Walker Parks stayed on campus after the game to watch the Miami-Syracuse game, understanding what was at stake. 

As he walked out of Clemson’s facility, a fan informed him that the Hurricanes were up 21-0. A few hours later, Parks watched the end of Syracuse’s comeback win at his family’s tailgate.

Parks understands the importance of flushing Saturday’s loss and looking forward to the next matchup against No. 8 SMU.

“You got to flush it quick, especially in this game,” Parks said. “I told the guys, you have to almost have amnesia in this game and come off a loss on Saturday and then immediately two hours after you walk out of the locker room you have another opportunity to go to the ACC Championship and then make it back to the playoffs. Everything is still right in front of you.”

The 17th-ranked Tigers will have the chance to take advantage of their new life at 8 p.m. Saturday (ABC), when they venture to Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium to take on the Mustangs.