ESPN's strength of record metric

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Computer Rankings take time to develop.

Clemson isn't going to be #1 by the time the season is over.

Its the Notre Dame win paying dividends for them.

If you look at the irish schedule you will see a lot teams who got upsets over ranked teams(Particularly in the AAC). Its those chains making them so high up in computer metric rankings.

1)Clemson beats Notre Dame beats USC beats Utah beats Michigan. (That's one insane computer ranking chain)
2)Clemson beats Notre Dame beats Texas beats Oklahoma beats Tennessee beats Georgia
3)Clemson beats Notre Dame beats Navy beats Memphis beats Ole Miss beats Bama beats LSU & Wisky



Likewise, the Big 12 could get left out again if OKstate or Baylor win the Big 12 with 1 loss.

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Look at the Massey Composite. Clemson is first in a bunch of polls. There aren't enough games left to impact the computers that much.

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The Big 12 and Ohio State have a lot of football left. The Big 12 is back-loaded this year.

Alabama, Utah, and Stanford have a couple big games left.

I think Bama is the only one who could realistically jump them in the computers but that unlikely. I think the playoff committee will put in the human element and make Clemson at #2.

I think its more so Clemson not having another big game until the ACC championship that causing them to drop. I'm not sure a Clemson loss, would end their championship hopes. They are that far ahead in the computer rankings and have the head to head over Notre Dame.

Notre Dame beats Stanford you can pencil in Clemson anyway.