Undefeated Oregon secured the top spot in the College Football Playoff, as expected, while underdog Clemson pulled off a thrilling last-second victory to claim a spot in the 12-team postseason bracket. The dramatic turn of events unfolded as No. 17 Clemson overcame a three-touchdown deficit to defeat No. 8 SMU with a 56-yard field goal at the final whistle, earning a spot in the playoffs.
The selection committee faced a challenging decision between including the three-loss Alabama Crimson Tide with a strong SEC resume or the two-loss SMU Mustangs, who displayed remarkable resilience in their game against Clemson. The committee's choice will impact the number of teams from the SEC and ACC in the tournament.
