Clemson moves to No. 1 in latest Playoff rankings

by Brandon Rink - Staff Writer - Tue Nov 28 19:20:03 GMT-04:00 2017

Clemson is back in the top spot of the College Football Playoff Poll.

Returning there for the first time since 2015, the Tigers (11-1) moved up two places this week after upsets claimed previous No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Miami, over a weekend Clemson added its fifth ranked win (No. 24 South Carolina on the road, 34-10).

The new top-6 is Clemson (11-1) then Auburn (10-2), Oklahoma (11-1), Wisconsin (12-0), Alabama (11-1) and Georgia (11-1).

The ACC Championship Game Saturday (8 p.m., ABC) figures to guarantee at least one Playoff spot between Clemson and No. 7 Miami. Most of the rest of the CFP contenders are locked in conference championships as well: PAC-12 (Fri., 8 p.m., ESPN) – USC (vs. Stanford); Big 12 (12:30 p.m., FOX) – Oklahoma vs. TCU; SEC (4 p.m., CBS) – Auburn vs. Georgia; Big Ten (8 p.m., FOX) – Ohio State vs. Wisconsin. An 11-1 Alabama, however, is left rooting for some chaos and a committee favoring “eye test” over resume/conference championship.

The final College Football Playoff rankings are Sunday, as the committee will select their four teams for the CFP semifinals and the New Year’s Six bowl matchups. The show starts at noon on ESPN.

The College Football Playoff semifinals in the Rose and Sugar bowls will be played on Monday, Jan. 1 while the College Football National Championship will be held on Monday, Jan. 8, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The Tigers were in the top-four in every CFP poll last season, but never made it to No. 1 in the ranking, which doesn’t have a final poll after the season’s conclusion.

Clemson went wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in 2015 en route to its first CFP appearance, combining over three seasons for 17-straight weeks in the top-four.

The Tigers have also been ranked in the top 25 of all 24 of the Playoff polls’ existence.

Clemson ascended to No. 1 in this week’s Associated Press and Coaches polls also.

CFP Top 25 - Nov. 28

1. Clemson

2. Auburn

3. Oklahoma

4. Wisconsin

5. Alabama

6. Georgia

7. Miami

8. Ohio State

9. Penn State

10. Southern Cal

11. TCU

12. Stanford

13. Washington

14. UCF

15. Notre Dame

16. Michigan State

17. LSU

18. Washington State

19. Oklahoma State

20. Memphis

21. Northwestern

22. Virginia Tech

23. Mississippi State

24. NC State

25. Fresno State

Week 14 College Football Playoff rankings:

1. Clemson
2. Auburn
3. Oklahoma
4. Wisconsin
5. Alabama
6. Georgia pic.twitter.com/TFZMUJAkFD
— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) November 29, 2017