The playoff scenario is simple for the ACC: Clemson wins and the Tigers are back in.
That is certainly a different story line than the one that dominated the first three College Football Playoff rankings, when the debate surrounded Louisville and not Clemson. While many pundits hemmed and hawed about whether the Cardinals could get an at-large spot, and therefore two ACC teams into the playoff, Clemson almost felt like an afterthought.
Not anymore, and certainly not after a loss two weeks ago to Pitt. Clemson (10-1) remained at No. 4 in the latest rankings released Tuesday night.