The ACC has put themselves in position to potentially spoil IU’s playoff bid with SMU (9-1; 7-1 ACC) ranked at No. 9 — the Mustangs have already clinched a spot in the ACC title game — and Clemson (9-2; 7-1 ACC) ranked at No. 12 and the first team left out of the field.

The Southeastern Conference's losses were almost everyone else's gain in the College Football Playoff rankings, with SMU nudging its way into the top 12 and Indiana staying in the mix

Clemson doesn't have the strongest case for the College Football Playoff, but it just needs a case better than Indiana's. And it's getting closer.