Clemson’s 31-23 loss to Miami on October 21st dealt a significant blow to their hopes for an ACC title and a potential spot in the College Football Playoff (CFP). The Tigers’ struggles were amplified by mistakes on both sides of the ball, including turnovers and missed opportunities, leaving them with a 4-2 record in ACC play.
In terms of the ACC tiebreakers, Clemson is now on the outside looking in. The conference’s divisional structure was eliminated this season, and teams are ranked based on their win-loss records in ACC play.
With two losses, Clemson faces an uphill battle to secure one of the top two spots in the standings, especially with teams like Florida State (6-0) and North Carolina (5-1) ahead. The Tigers will likely need to win out and hope for some help from other teams to have a shot at the ACC Championship Game.
As for the CFP race, Clemson’s chances are slim. A second loss on their resume, combined with a lackluster performance so far in key matchups, puts them behind other one-loss teams in the national rankings. The Tigers would need an unlikely series of events, including dominant victories and losses from other top-ranked teams, to make a late push into the playoff conversation.
For head coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers, the Miami loss was a “horrible” setback. Their postseason hopes now depend on a rapid turnaround, and Clemson must play near-perfect football for the remainder of the season.
Leave a Reply