COLUMBUS, Ohio — The great debate of the College Football Playoffs through the first two weeks of rankings concerned whether Ohio State or LSU belonged on top. Should a third team enter that conversation, particularly in direct competition with the Buckeyes? Defending national champion Clemson took an 11-0 record into its off week. With Saturday’s 52-3 rout of recently ranked Wake Forest, the Tigers have outscored their last six opponents 315-58 (or 256-44 counting only the five FBS opponents). Why only reach back six games on the schedule? Because seven games ago, Clemson barely escaped North Carolina with a 22-21 victory. That close call was directly cited by committee chair as one of the reasons why the Tigers were No. 5 in the initial playoff rankings behind four other then-undefeated teams: Ohio State, LSU, Alabama and Penn State. Losses by the Crimson Tide and Nittany Lions pushed Clemson back to…
Continue Reading: Could Clemson pass up Ohio State in the College Football Playoff rankings?
