College Football Playoff Bubble Watch: Clemson, South Carolina enter fray ahead of rivalry clash

The bubble is tightening in the College Football Playoff race. Clemson, South Carolina and Arizona State were major winners from Tuesday’s updated rankings as all three teams made noticeable moves thanks to upset losses from Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M last week.

For surging South Carolina, the Gamecocks head into Saturday’s rivalry showdown at Clemson with an opportunity to potentially move ahead of Alabama and Ole Miss — two teams they lost to head to head this season — if they’re able to secure a win. Clemson is slotted at No. 12 and could earn a berth in the ACC Championship Game against SMU provided Syracuse upsets Miami.

No. 16 Arizona State and No. 20 Texas A&M are the only bubble teams in control of their own destiny entering the final weekend of the regular season. If the Sun Devils win out and take the Big 12, that will be enough to keep No. 17 Tulane at bay and on the outside looking in. And if the Aggies pull a surprise by beating Texas and Georgia in consecutive weeks as betting underdogs, they’re in too as the SEC champion. Others in this week’s bubble watch need help.

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College Football Playoff Bubble Watch: Week 13

About the expanded CFP

The penultimate College Football Playoff Rankings from the selection committee will be released on Dec. 3 with Selection Sunday coming five days later. In the first season of the 12-team playoff format, the four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded 1-4 and receive first-round byes next month. Remaining teams, including the fifth conference champion, will be seeded 5-12 based on the selection committee’s opinion. 

First-round games on campus start Dec. 20 with CFP quarterfinals at bowl sites beginning Dec. 31. The semifinals at the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl will be played Jan. 9 and 10. The national championship is set for Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.