ESPN analyst Greg McElroy has openly questioned Clemson football’s inclusion in the College Football Playoff rankings at No. 23. Reacting to the initial CFP Top 25 rankings, McElroy expressed his confusion, saying, “I still am trying to figure out why Clemson…is in the top 25,” and pointed out that Clemson’s best win this season is against NC State, a 5-4 team.
McElroy doesn’t believe this record justifies a Top 25 ranking, especially when teams like Missouri (No. 24) are also under scrutiny. He noted that Missouri has at least a win over Vanderbilt, whereas he feels NC State hasn’t shown that level of quality.
McElroy also highlighted Clemson’s inconsistency this season, especially after a recent loss to Louisville, which hurt their ACC Championship and playoff aspirations. He acknowledged other ACC teams like Miami (No. 4), SMU (No. 13), and Pittsburgh (No. 18), suggesting that Clemson’s résumé doesn’t stack up comparably. Clemson will look to rebound in their next game against Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium, aiming to strengthen their case amid CFP discussions.
This week’s CFP Top 25 is the first of six weekly rankings, with the final reveal scheduled for December 8, Selection Day.