There’s plenty of debate raging about whether a win in the ACC championship game would assure North Carolina a trip to the playoff, but perhaps the more interesting argument is whether a loss necessarily eliminates Clemson.
As our pals over at FiveThirtyEight note, the Tigers’ resume, even with a loss in the ACC championship game, would be solid.
Finally, don’t write off Clemson — which could have an opportunity to make it in even with a loss. In the event it fell to UNC, Clemson would have a résumé similar to Ohio State’s as a one-loss non-champion — but with a better strength of schedule, an additional win (Clemson would be 12-1 to Ohio State’s 11-1), and victories over Notre Dame and Florida State.