Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Week 16 Top 25 preview: Playoff bids likely on line for Clemson, Ohio State

Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams fends off Clemson safety Nolan Turner on his way to a first-quarter touchdown on Nov. 7 in South Bend, Indiana.  (Associated Press)
By Eric Olson Associated Press

Clemson and Ohio State go into the weekend with the most at stake, and Texas A&M waiting in the wings if it takes care of business.

Nine Football Bowl Subdivision conferences are holding championship games Friday and Saturday. A smattering of other games will be played, all rescheduled to this week because of COVID-19 issues.

Titles games in the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten are most likely to impact the College Football Playoff.

Clemson (9-1, No. 3 CFP) meets Notre Dame (10-0, No. 2) in the ACC game and would lock up a sixth straight playoff appearance with a win. The Tigers might sneak in with a close loss, though no two-loss team has been selected. The Irish, short of getting blown out, probably are in regardless.

Ohio State (5-0, No. 4) should claim a playoff spot with a win over Northwestern (6-1) in the Big Ten.

Alabama (10-0, No. 1) is on track to be the playoff’s top seed if it beats Florida (8-2) in the SEC. The Crimson Tide are as good as in, even if the Gators upset them.

Texas A&M (7-1, No. 5) would be first in line to fill a spot if Clemson or Ohio State is bounced out of the top four – as long as it wins at Tennessee (3-6) in a game rescheduled from Nov. 14.

The playoff field will be announced Sunday.

Best game

No. 4 Clemson vs. No. 2 Notre Dame

Notre Dame won the regular-season meeting 47-40 in two overtimes. DJ Uaigalelei quarterbacked Clemson that day because Trevor Lawrence was in the COVID-19 protocol. Lawrence will be back. He has lost only once as a starter, and that was in last season’s national championship game against LSU.

The Irish’s defensive line arguably is best in the nation and held Travis Etienne to 28 yards on 18 carries in the first game, his lowest total in three years.

Heisman watch

Heisman Trophy voters have until Monday to submit their ballots. Those who are undecided can use the SEC championship game to sort things out. The three top contenders will be on the field.

The favorite, Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, has thrown for 3,321 yards, completing 76% with 27 touchdowns and just three interceptions.

DeVonta Smith, Jones’ favorite target, has caught 83 balls for 1,327 yards. With 15 touchdown catches, he would tie Amari Cooper for the school single-season record with one against Florida.

A big performance Saturday might allow Gators quarterback Kyle Trask to make up ground he lost in the LSU game. Trask is far ahead of the next-closest QB in passing yards (3,717) and TD passes (40). Though he was intercepted twice last week, he has thrown just five picks for the season.

Numbers to know

0: Sacks allowed by Buffalo.

16: Notre Dame’s win streak, longest in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

19: Cincinnati’s home win streak entering the American Athletic Conference championship game against Tulsa at Nippert Stadium.

102: Points allowed by Northwestern, fewest through seven games since 1995.

1912: The most recent year Iowa State won a conference championship.

Hot seat

Houston’s Dana Holgorsen might be in real trouble if not for the fat five-year, $20 million contract he signed upon his hiring two years ago.

The Cougars are 3-4 and have accepted an invitation to play Hawaii in the New Mexico Bowl on Thursday. Holgorsen is 7-12 in two seasons, 4-8 in the American Athletic Conference, and is testing the patience of Cougars fans.