CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Clemson ranked #1 in CFB Playoff Rankings

Clemson ranked #1 in CFB Playoff Rankings


by - Assoc. Editor -

The Clemson football team (8-0, 5-0 ACC) was ranked the #1 overall seed in the College Football rankings released by the College Football Playoff committee on Tuesday night on ESPN.

The College Football Playoff Committee chose Clemson (#1 seed), LSU (#2 seed), Ohio State (#3 seed) and Alabama (#4 seed) as the four teams projected in the playoff.

College Football Playoff Chair Jeff Long told ESPN's Rece Davis the following on Tuesday night about Clemson's impressive resume.

"I think the quality of their victories and certainly the Notre Dame victory at home," Long said. "But they have four teams that better than a .500 record that they have defeated. That combined with and offense and defense that are very strong on both sides of the ball so I think that's what won the day in the committee's eyes for the number one ranking."

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney was on the College Football Playoff show on ESPN on Tuesday night and had the following viewpoint of his team being on top of the college football world.

"I think it is just a sign we have had a great season to this point," Swinney said. "I certainly think we should be in the conversation regardless of what the ranking is. I don't think anybody should be having a party over what the poll is, and I don't think anybody should be disappointed. If you look back at last year, Ohio State was I think 15th or 16th in the first poll and won the national championship."

Swinney knows that national rankings are entertaining, but there is still a challenging part of the schedule left.

"Notre Dame was top 10 and finished unranked," Swinney said. "Georgia Tech was not ranked and finished number nine. So there is a lot of ball to be played. I know you guys have to sell advertising and all that type of stuff. You got to have something on TV. The only reason I agreed to come is Rece you are just a good guy from Alabama, and that is it."

However, Swinney is pleased with his team's achievements so far this season.

"All I would say is I'm proud of our team because we are 8-0, and that's all good," Swinney said. "This poll right here is simply based on potential. Potentially we got a chance to be in there. December 6th when we finish our season it will be based on performance, and that is what it is all about. This is a game of performance not potential. That's when the preseason polls and preseason All-American teams come out I just ripped them up in front of our team every year because it is about playing and earning it on the field. You got to play the games. I think we are a very good team. I voted us really, really high myself the last couple of weeks. I believe in our team, but we got a long ways to go. Our focus is 100% trying to find a way to beat an outstanding Florida state team. A team we have had a very difficult time with the last few years."

Full College Football Playoff Rankings as of Nov.3

1. Clemson (8-0)

2. LSU (7-0)

3. Ohio State (8-0)

4. Alabama (7-1)

5. Notre Dame (7-1)

6. Baylor (7-0)

7. Michigan State (8-0)

8. TCU (8-0)

9. Iowa (8-0)

10. Florida (7-1)

11. Stanford (7-1)

12. Utah (7-1)

13. Memphis (8-0)

14. Oklahoma State (8-0)

15. Oklahoma (7-1)

16. Florida State (7-1)

17. Michigan (6-2)

18. Ole Miss (7-2)

19. Texas A&M (6-2)

20. Mississippi State (6-2)

21. Northwestern (6-2)

22. Temple (7-1)

23. UCLA (6-2)

24. Toledo (7-0)

25. Houston (8-0)

In national rankings, The Tigers are #1 in the Fox Four Poll, #1 in CBSSports.com's Top 128, #1 on ESPN's College Football Power Rankings, #1 in ESPN's strength of record metric, 7th in ESPN's FPI, #5 in latest Coaches Poll, #3 in latest AP Poll, #1 in F/+, #1 in S&P+, #1 Massey, #1 College Football Composite and #2 in the Sagarin rankings.

Clemson has played the 18th hardest schedule in the country which is tops of all the teams that are undefeated.

This is just the third time that Clemson has been ranked #1 in any poll (1981 season 2X) according to Clemson SID Tim Bourret.

Swinney said during his Tuesday press conference that this team's focus is on Florida State and not any national rankings.

"I don't care, not unless they're going to give us an exemption like a pass," Swinney said. "It's just so irrelevant. Three of the four teams in the first poll didn't play in the first playoff. Unless they're going to change the rules, no. I know they have to fill air time, and they need to sell advertising, but it has nothing to do with us. We're honored. We've had a great season, so we're excited about that. The only poll we're excited about is December 6. We'll open up Death Valley and have a poll party and serve everyone pizza on December 6 to celebrate that. Our focus now is trying to beat Florida State."

The Tigers are currently a 12.5-point favorite against Florida State on Tuesday afternoon which is the largest spread against the Seminoles in conference play ever.

Clemson sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson has some school work to work on and is not going to stress about the rankings.

"My main focus is getting these tests done this week and finishing up school, and then football,” Watson said. "he rankings will take care of themselves. If we keep playing Clemson football, we’ll be alright."

Watson knows if they lose their mental focus then the lofty rankings will not matter.

"Those rankings are just numbers. It’s still early November. We have four or five more weeks to go, so anything can happen."

The national championship game will be played at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Jan. 11 at 8:30 pm.

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