CBS Sports analyst: "If Clemson is higher than #4, the committee is biased"

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

by Tony Crumpton - Assoc. Editor - Tue Nov 01 11:17:17 GMT-04:00 2016

CBS Sports analyst Rick Neuheisel was on SXM College Sports Radio on Tuesday morning and had some strong feeling about Clemson's possible ranking in Tuesday's upcoming College Football Playoff rankings.

"Washington, to me, has played terrific football," Neuheisel said. "Do you realize that Washington is No. 4 in points per game, offensively. They’re No. 7 in points given up per game. They’re balanced on both sides. Michigan is No. 3 in points per game and No. 1 in points given up per game. Alabama is No. 8 in points per game and No. 4 in points given up per game. Do you know where Clemson is? 26th in points per game. They’ve struggled at home. You can’t do that (say the Pac 12 is down). So is the SEC and you’re not blaming Alabama for it."

Neuheisel went on to say that Clemson is overrated if they are ranked ahead of Washington tonight.

"Clemson is 11th in points given up on the defensive side – lower than Washington, Michigan or Alabama – and they’re 26th in points per game – lower by a long margin than the other three. If Clemson is higher than No. 4, this committee is biased. The only reason they could be three is because of what they did a year ago. That’s wrong. You cannot tell me that Clemson has played better than Washington this year. That would be ridiculous (for Clemson to be ranked third in tonight’s CFP rankings). That would be head in the sand. That would be following the polls as they have always done. We said two weeks ago when Clemson had the near miss against North Carolina State – for them to stay at No. 3 in one poll and No. 4 in the other given that game, people are not watching the games. They’ve struggled. They struggled to be Troy. They struggled to beat NC State, but I think their win over Auburn trumps anything Washington has done because Washington’s non-conference was so weak. I think the committee is going to look at that. Plus, the Pac 12 is a little weird – up is down and down is up."

Washington has eight wins with victories over Rutgers, Idaho, Portland State, Arizona, Stanford, Oregon, Oregon State and #16 Utah.

According to the latest AP Poll, Clemson has impressive wins over #5 Louisville, #11 Auburn, #19 Florida State, and #29 Troy.

Clemson's opponent winning percentage is .673 and Washington's opponent win percentage is only .439.