Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
UM-Clemson game is for a spot in the final four.
’Canes will truly see how they stand
They could easily rename this year’s Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.
When the Miami Hurricanes and Clemson Tigers meet Saturday in Charlotte, it may as well be referred to as a national quarterfinal. The winner will likely have the inside track toward one of the four College Football Playoff spots.
“The winner of this league is definitely going to be in the playoffs and deservedly so,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.
Added Miami coach Mark Richt, “Just proud of the team for getting here and now we’ve got to find a way to win.”
The matchup originally lost some of its luster when the Hurricanes were upset last Friday by Pittsburgh in the final game of the regular season. With top-ranked Alabama falling to Auburn the following day, UM returned to the national-championship picture.
Clemson will likely take the No. 1 spot when the CFP standings are released Tuesday evening while the second-ranked Hurricanes will fall from the top four. The Tigers have solidified their resume since losing at Syracuse Oct. 13. They have won five consecutive games, including two against ranked opponents.
In all, Clemson has eight wins against bowl-eligible teams. One of those victories came the second week of the season against No. 6 Auburn, which has a slim chance of entering the top four after knocking off Alabama. The Tigers are going for their third ACC championship in a row. They can also secure a third consecutive berth in the playoffs with a victory. Clemson has played for the national title the last two years, defeating Alabama last year and losing to the Crimson Tide the previous season.
“We’ll find out Saturday, that’s for sure,” Richt said. “Clemson, being the great caliber team that they are and have been for the past couple of years, it will be a great measuring stick to see where we’re at quite frankly.”
The teams haven’t played each since Clemson won 58-0 in 2015. It is the worst loss in UM history. The one bright spot for the Hurricanes from the game was it led to the firing of former coach Al Golden and began the process of courting Richt. In two years, Richt has led UM back to national prominence.
The Hurricanes have their first 10-win season since 2003. The program is 14 years removed from being in the national championship discussion.
“That’s night and day,” Swinney said. “The last time we played them, they had a lot of talent but for whatever reason that day, everything just went our way. Give Mark a lot of credit. He’s really pulled it all together.”
Still, UM didn’t do itself any favors by falling to a struggling Pittsburgh team. College football analysts across the country were already critical of the Hurricanes’ success.
The Hurricanes also learned Sunday they lost tight end Chris Herndon for the season because of a knee injury sustained in the Pittsburgh loss. Michael Irvin II, son of the former Hurricanes great and Pro Football Hall of Famer, will replace him in the starting lineup.
“I think he knows when everybody is relying on him more than in the past,” Richt said or Irvin II. “I think it will help him play even better.”
Although they looked dominant in wins against Notre Dame and Virginia Tech, they won four consecutive one-possession games the previous weeks. While Clemson is guaranteed a spot with a victory, the Hurricanes would still be at the mercy of the selection committee and have to monitor games featuring other teams still in contention.
Richt also said quarterback Malik Rosier would start in Saturday’s game. In a search of a spark, Richt inserted backup Evan Sherriffs in the fourth quarter against Pittsburgh.