The SMU Mustangs enter conference championship weekend in one of the most perilous spots in the College Football Playoff rankings.
SMU comes into the ACC Championship Game at No. 8, but there is potential the Mustangs could drop out of the playoff entirely with a loss to the Clemson Tigers.
Clemson is currently ranked 17th, so it can only get it with the automatic bid as ACC conference champion.
If an upset occurs in Charlotte, the selection committee will likely have to choose between SMU and the Alabama Crimson Tide for the final at-large spot.
SMU can avoid its doomsday situation by just simply winning Saturday night's game, which is something many experts expect it to do given how the Mustangs and Clemson have performed in 2024.