Clemson football’s dramatic 34-31 victory over SMU in the ACC Championship propelled the Tigers to No. 13 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll. Despite the win, SMU remained one spot ahead at No. 12, sparking conversation about how rankings are evaluated.
Fueled by a game-winning 56-yard field goal from freshman kicker Nolan Hauser and standout performances from Cade Klubnik and Bryant Wesco, Clemson showcased its playoff potential. Yet, SMU’s consistent regular season earned them continued respect in the polls.
With the College Football Playoff looming, Clemson now has the added motivation of proving they belong among the nation’s elite. The rankings set the stage for what could be an exciting postseason journey for the Tigers.
| Rank | Team | Record | PTS | 1st | Prev | Chg | Hi/Lo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Oregon
|
13-0 | 1350 | 54 | 1 | – | 1/7 |
| 2 |
 Georgia
|
11-2 | 1281 | 0 | 5 |
+3
|
1/10 |
| 3 |
 Notre Dame
|
11-1 | 1214 | 0 | 4 |
+1
|
3/19 |
| 4 |
 Texas
|
11-2 | 1178 | 0 | 2 |
-2
|
1/6 |
| 5 |
 Penn State
|
11-2 | 1080 | 0 | 3 |
-2
|
3/9 |
| 6 |
 Tennessee
|
10-2 | 1069 | 0 | 6 | – | 4/15 |
| 7 |
 Ohio State
|
10-2 | 1037 | 0 | 8 |
+1
|
2/8 |
| 8 |
 Boise State
|
12-1 | 929 | 0 | 10 |
+2
|
8/NR |
| 9 |
 Indiana
|
11-1 | 925 | 0 | 9 | – | 5/NR |
| 10 |
 Arizona State
|
11-2 | 856 | 0 | 13 |
+3
|
10/NR |
| 11 |
 Alabama
|
9-3 | 749 | 0 | 11 | – | 2/15 |
| 12 |
 SMU
|
11-2 | 741 | 0 | 7 |
-5
|
7/NR |
| 13 |
 Clemson
|
10-3 | 707 | 0 | 17 |
+4
|
8/22 |
| 14 |
 South Carolina
|
9-3 | 668 | 0 | 12 |
-2
|
12/NR |
| 15 |
 Ole Miss
|
9-3 | 631 | 0 | 15 | – | 5/18 |
| 16 |
 Miami (FL)
|
10-2 | 611 | 0 | 14 |
-2
|
4/19 |
| 17 |
 BYU
|
10-2 | 423 | 0 | 18 |
+1
|
8/NR |
| 18 |
 Army West Point
|
11-1 | 361 | 0 | 23 |
+5
|
17/NR |
| 19 |
 Iowa State
|
10-3 | 355 | 0 | 16 |
-3
|
10/NR |
| 20 |
 Missouri
|
9-3 | 282 | 0 | 20 | – | 8/NR |
| 21 |
 Illinois
|
9-3 | 275 | 0 | 21 | – | 21/NR |
| 22 |
 Colorado
|
9-3 | 228 | 0 | 22 | – | 18/NR |
| 23 |
 Memphis
|
10-2 | 166 | 0 | 24 |
+1
|
23/NR |
| 24 |
 UNLV
|
10-3 | 140 | 0 | 19 |
-5
|
19/NR |
| 25 |
 Syracuse
|
9-3 | 129 | 0 | 25 | – | 25/NR |
Others Receiving Votes
Texas A&M 50; Duke 40; Louisville 17; Kansas State 16; Marshall 14; Ohio 8; Tulane 6; Louisiana 6; Jacksonville State 3; Georgia Tech 3; LSU 1; Iowa 1;