Clemson’s College Football Playoff (CFP) hopes took a hit this past week as an unpredictable wave of upsets and standout performances shook the landscape of college football. The Tigers, who have been perennial playoff contenders, now find themselves facing a critical stretch that could determine their postseason fate.

At the start of the season, Clemson was expected to challenge for another ACC title and potentially a top-four CFP seed. However, the team’s performance has been inconsistent. Early losses put them on the back foot, and while they’ve fought back to remain in contention, the unpredictability of this past weekend has added even more complexity to their CFP hopes.

The weekend saw several top-ranked teams either falter or be pushed to their limits. Powerhouses like Georgia, Ohio State, and Michigan continue to dominate, but Clemson’s competition for one of the coveted four playoff spots is now more intense than ever. Even teams previously thought to be out of the picture, like Oklahoma or Texas, are making strong cases for their own CFP inclusion, throwing the race into chaos.

For Clemson, their margin for error is now razor-thin. Despite an offense led by quarterback Cade Klubnik showing flashes of brilliance, mistakes at key moments have been costly. Dabo Swinney’s squad must now navigate a tough stretch of games against strong ACC opponents, with little room for slip-ups. The Tigers’ defense, typically a strength, has also struggled to maintain consistency, particularly in high-pressure situations, leading to doubts about their ability to close out tight games.

Adding to their woes, several upsets this weekend have reshaped the rankings in unexpected ways. Teams like Washington and Oregon continue to climb the rankings, showcasing explosive offenses and strong defenses that have caught the attention of the CFP selection committee. Meanwhile, Clemson’s resume, which lacks a marquee win over a top-five opponent, may pale in comparison to these surging programs.

One potential silver lining for Clemson is that the ACC remains a competitive conference, and a conference title would bolster their playoff credentials. However, they’ll need to win out convincingly and hope for some help along the way — namely, losses by other top teams ahead of them in the rankings. The CFP committee has shown a preference for teams with dominant finishes and signature wins late in the season, so Clemson will need to impress in its final games to stay in the hunt.

Ultimately, Clemson’s CFP seeding is in jeopardy following a week full of shocks, and their path forward is fraught with challenges. The Tigers need a near-perfect finish to their season, and even then, their playoff fate may lie in the hands of how other teams perform in the coming weeks. For Swinney and his squad, the pressure is on like never before.