With 2018’s initial College Football Playoff rankings set to drop on Oct. 30, here are the nation’s longest streaks of consecutive appearances in the top four:
Clemson’s amazing Playoff rankings streak will continue with a legit No. 2 to start 2018
The Tigers have by far the nation’s longest run of top-four rankings.
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
- Clemson: 18
- Oklahoma: 4
- Georgia: 1
- Alabama: 1
2014 was the last time Dabo Swinney’s Tigers were outside the group that would, if the season ended at a moment’s notice, make the Playoff. They’ll be back there again to start 2018, coming off a FIFTY-NINE TO TEN win at previously 4-3 Florida State. The Tigers covered the two-touchdown spread well before halftime.
That’s one part incredible consistency and also one part well-timed losses. The 2015 Tigers saved their lone loss for the title game, 2016’s Tigers happened to suffer a close loss to Pitt at the same time as two other unbeatens lost, and 2017’s had time to bounce back from an injury-hampered loss to Syracuse before the first rankings reveal. But still!
The 2018 Tigers might be the best yet.
They’re as loaded as could possibly be up front on defense, and freshman Trevor Lawrence is already the ACC’s best quarterback.
They’ll slot in at No. 2, right behind an Alabama that appears historically terrifying, and they’ll have earned it.
Clemson had another close tussle with Cuse, albeit again with the type of QB injury situation that the committee says it pays attention to. The only other Power 5-ish unbeaten as of publication, Notre Dame, has had several close calls against lesser teams. The advanced stats favor Clemson over the Irish, fwiw.
Some have complained about Clemson’s schedule.
It’s fine. Entering Week 9:
SOS rankings for college football’s unbeaten teams:
47. Notre Dame
59. Alabama
68. Clemson
124. UCF
129. USF
That was also before one-loss Georgia Southern beat a previously ranked Appalachian State and quite possibly took control of the Sun Belt. “Haha, their best win is Georgia Southern” is one way to put it, but a 31-point win over the Eagles is a good win, simply put.
More important than having a really astounding schedule is looking great against whatever your schedule is.
Alabama and Clemson have simply done that to a more significant degree than anybody else has. (I see you accusing me of inconsistency there, UCF fan, and will now dazzle your mind with 2017 receipts.)
So are we setting up for Alabama vs. Clemson, Round 4?
Still on course, and that sounds better than ever, actually.
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