Playoff bids likely on line for Clemson, OSU

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 will hold 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 (100, 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 ever 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.