CBS Sports projects Playoff rematch

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Clemson football has become quite familiar with facing tradition-rich programs in the postseason under head coach Dabo Swinney.

Alabama is one of those teams, which CBS Sports now projects as Clemson's opponent in a College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 1 in the Sugar Bowl.

CBS Sports analyst Jerry Palm previously had Clemson meeting Penn State in the Orange Bowl and Florida State representing the ACC in the CFP. He says the season-ending injury to Seminoles starting quarterback Deondre Francois is the key factor.

"If a team has a significant injury, then it may be time to jump on the panic button (after week one)," Palm said. "I'm thinking of you, Florida State ... Our SportsLine experts now project Florida State to finish third in the division and fifth in the conference. I am not quite that pessimistic, but I have dropped FSU from the College Football Playoff projection."

Palm picks Ohio State and Southern Cal for the other Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl.

Clemson has met Alabama in each of the last two Playoff championship games, splitting the matchups by nine points combined.

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