Gamecocks get bump in CFP rankings, but not enough. Clemson falls, still controls its destiny
South Carolina moved up one spot in the latest College Football Playoff rankings released on Tuesday after knocking off Clemson last weekend.
Even at No. 14, however, it appears the Gamecocks are bowl-bound rather than destined to join the playoff field. Any team not playing this weekend is set in their position, Warde Manuel, CFP selection committee chairman and Michigan athletic director, explained on ESPN.
South Carolina moved up one spot in the latest College Football Playoff rankings released on Tuesday after knocking off Clemson last weekend.
Even at No. 14, however, it appears the Gamecocks are bowl-bound rather than destined to join the playoff field. Any team not playing this weekend is set in their position, Warde Manuel, CFP selection committee chairman and Michigan athletic director, explained on ESPN.
“Any team that is not playing right now, we don’t have a data point to rearrange where we have those teams ranked,” Manuel said. “And so, that is set in terms of how we see them. … There’s nothing that’s going to change.”
Even with that reality, Gamecocks Football posted a simple message on X: “Job’s not finished.”
The Tigers toppled five spots, from No. 12 to No. 17, in new rankings following the 17-14 home loss in the Palmetto Bowl rivalry game. They still have a shot at the playoff, though, after Syracuse upset Miami and sent Clemson to the ACC Championship game this weekend in Charlotte. A win over SMU would punch the Tigers’ ticket.
Pairings for college football’s first 12-team playoff will be set Sunday, the day after the conference title games. The playoff games start Dec. 20, with the title game set for Jan. 20 in Atlanta.
Oregon stayed at No. 1 for the fifth straight week and will head into Saturday’s Big Ten title game as the only undefeated team in big-time college football.
Ohio State moved down four spots to No. 6 after its loss to Michigan.
That bumped Texas up a spot to No. 2, Penn State to No. 3, Notre Dame to No. 4 and Georgia to No. 5.
The selection committee all but designated the Big 12 as a one-bid team, moving Arizona State and Iowa State up only one spot each to Nos. 15 and 16.
The top five ranked conference champions are guaranteed bids, which means the winner of the Big 12 title game is in even it doesn’t reach the top 12
SMU, on a nine-game winning streak, moved up a notch
