With only a few weeks left in the 2017 college football season, everything is magnified and that is true of the latest rankings from the College Football Playoff committee. While the team at No. 1 overall, the Alabama Crimson Tide, came as no surprise, there was a bit of shock when it came to Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers getting the nod at No. 2. In fact, committee chair Kirby Hocutt was forced to repeatedly defend that decision in the immediate aftermath of the announcement and the fallout has been swift from all corners of the college football world.
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To that end, FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt did not exactly agree with placing Clemson ahead of undefeated No. 3 Miami and he called the committee's choice "absolutely laughable" as a result.
"Clemson at No. 2 ahead of Miami and Oklahoma is laughable. Absolutely laughable." — @joelklatt is frustrated with the #CFBPlayoff Rankings pic.twitter.com/ZIx3Pqy2p8
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) November 15, 2017
Klatt is definitely not alone in this belief and, quite honestly, the decision from the committee fails the common sense test. Yes, Clemson's lone loss (to a mediocre Syracuse team) came without starting quarterback Kelly Bryant available for the entire 60 minutes but the Tigers were trailing when Bryant left the action and, in the end, a defeat has to matter to some degree. Throw in the fact that Miami now has a signature win (in dominant fashion) on its profile and the decision makes even less sense.
Everything will be sorted out when Clemson and Miami face off in the ACC Championship Game but, for now, there are some frustrated analysts around the country and Joel Klatt is one of them.