CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Clemson drops in latest CFB playoff rankings

Clemson drops in latest CFB playoff rankings


by - Assoc. Editor -

Clemson (10-1, 7-1 ACC) went down one spot to the No. 3 ranking in the College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday night by the College Football Playoff committee.

The College Football Playoff Committee chose Alabama (#1 seed), Miami (#2 seed), Clemson (#3 seed) and Oklahoma (#4 seed) as the four teams projected in the playoff which was announced live on ESPN. With these projections, Miami (No. 2) would face Clemson (No. 3) in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Calif for an ACC title rematch. However, it doesn't really matter the seeds if both teams remain undefeated as they are on a collision course for a de-facto playoff elimination game on Dec. 2 at the ACC title game.

"As we said last week the separation between teams 1 through 5 is very narrow and I would say this week that remains true," CFP Committee Chair Kirby Hocutt said on the ESPN. "We talked about a Miami team that has shown progress over the last three weeks. They have really strengthen their resume in the last three weeks. The selection committee as we talk about what we see on the field we see characteristics of a championship caliber team with Miami. They got down 14 early against their opponent this week. They came back. They got down 14 points in the second half and they came back to win in a convincing manner. So the selection committee continues to be impressed with Miami as they continue to build their undefeated record and they have an ever slight margin over No. 3 Clemson this week. Not a lot of separation but they did just enough this week following two impressive games to earn that No. 2 spot right over Clemson."

Clemson's strength of schedule is currently 11th while the Hurricanes are 32nd in the nation while both have two wins with teams in the current Top 25. Oklahoma has the most wins with teams in the current Top 25 with three.

Clemson has a 6-0 record against FBS teams with a winning record.

A lot of experts in the past week have question Clemson's ranking due to its loss to Syracuse who has lost four games in a row and will finish with a losing record, but Hocutt said the committee takes a lot of factors into consideration.

"When we talk about Clemson's loss to Syracuse it's a team that Miami beat," Hocutt said on ESPN. "We look at Syracuse beating Clemson and that game was at Syracuse. Oklahoma's loss was in Norman. So we take all those things into consideration. We talked plenty about the injury situation with the quarterback when Clemson came up short against Syracuse. All that is taken into account. As well as what has taken place this past weekend. I would say the resume continue to be studied. They continue to change each and every week and the selection committee takes all of that into consideration."

Clemson's next opponent South Carolina (8-3) is now ranked for the first time this season No. 24 in the rankings.

The final College Football Playoff rankings for 2017 is Sunday, Dec. 3 as the committee will select their four teams for the CFP semifinals and the New Year’s Six bowl matchups.

The College Football Playoff semifinal contests consisting of the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl will be played on Monday, Jan. 1 while the College Football National Championship will be held on Monday, Jan. 8 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.

In the three years of the College Football Playoff system, Clemson has been ranked in the top 25 of all 23 Playoff polls over the three years. Clemson’s top 25 streak includes a streak of 16 straight polls in the top four.

Top 25 CFB Playoff rankings

1. Alabama

2. Miami

3. Clemson

4. Oklahoma

5. Wisconsin

6. Auburn

7. Georgia

8. Notre Dame

9. Ohio State

10. Penn State

11. USC

12. TCU

13. Washington State

14. Mississippi State

15. UCF

16. Michigan State

17. Washington

18. LSU

19. Oklahoma State

20. Memphis

21. Stanford

22. Northwestern

23. Boise State

24. South Carolina

25. Virginia Tech

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