Dabo Swinney, Clemson’s head coach, weighed in on South Carolina’s potential inclusion in the College Football Playoff (CFP) following their impressive 2024 season. While Swinney didn’t make outright predictions, he expressed respect for South Carolina’s performance, stating, “I think they can certainly play with anybody.” His comments came during a press conference leading up to the ACC Championship Game, where Clemson will face SMU.
South Carolina is on the CFP bubble with a 9-3 record (5-3 SEC) and a six-game winning streak, including a school-record four straight wins against ranked teams. Their recent 17-14 victory over Clemson at Memorial Stadium added to their case. Despite this, the Gamecocks are idle this week, leaving their fate in the hands of the CFP selection committee.
Swinney acknowledged the complexity of the CFP system, which awards automatic bids to the five highest-ranked conference champions and first-round byes to the top four teams. He emphasized the need to “recognize the nation” under the current system, suggesting that South Carolina’s inclusion would align with its principles.
Clemson, despite losing to South Carolina, secured a spot in the ACC title game after Syracuse upset Miami. A win in the championship would grant Clemson an automatic CFP berth and possibly a first-round bye. South Carolina’s hopes, meanwhile, rest on the committee’s assessment of their strength of schedule and late-season surge.
