After dropping to No. 22 in ESPN’s College Football Power Index (FPI) following Week 1, the Clemson Tigers are on the rise again.
That’s what happens when you deliver the type of performance the Tigers did in Saturday’s 66-20 win over Appalachian State.
ESPN’s updated FPI rankings Sunday saw Clemson jump eight spots to No. 14 this week, one spot ahead of No. 15 Oklahoma and one spot below Oregon. It’s also higher than where Dabo Swinney’s team ranked in the preseason FPI.
Among ACC teams, the Tigers rank third behind Louisville at No. 11 and Miami at No. 12. Within the Top 25 of ESPN’s FPI, only one team had a bigger jump than Clemson. Boston College, which essentially mercy-ruled Florida State near the end of the fourth quarter on Labor Day Weekend before posting a 56-0 shutout over Duquesne, climbed 10 spots to No. 24.
The updated FPI now gives Clemson a 31.5 percent chance of reaching the College Football Playoff, up from 14.5 percent after the Tigers’ Week 1 loss to Georgia. Their chances of winning the ACC also rose from 13 percent to 26.7 percent, the best of any team in the conference.
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Louisville and Miami have the highest odds of reaching the playoff overall, according to the FPI. ESPN grades Miami’s playoff chances at 40.1 percent with Louisville at 36.3 percent.
There’s also a new No. 1 in ESPN’s FPI. Texas overtook Georgia for the top spot after the Longhorns’ lopsided road victory at Michigan. Alabama (No. 3), Ohio State (No. 4) and Tennessee (No. 5) round out the top five.
With a bye week upcoming, Clemson returns to action Sept. 21 in Death Valley when the Tigers host NC State. Kickoff time and broadcast information have yet to be announced.
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