Pittsburgh beat No. 2 Clemson 43-42 on Saturday, a shocking upset that knocked another Power 5 team from the ranks of the unbeaten.
Alabama became the first Power 5 team to reach 10-0. Clemson was the first unbeaten to loss. Washington and Michigan followed.
MORE: Watch Pitt knock off Clemson with a 48-yard field goal
How does Clemson’s loss affect the College Football Playoff picture? Here are three immediate impacts of the Tigers’ loss:
Should Louisville make the playoff over Clemson?
No. Not yet, anyway. Clemson beat Louisville head-to-head and can clinch a spot in the ACC championship game with a win at Wake Forest next week. The Cardinals have the Heisman Trophy front-runner in Lamar Jackson, but it would be hard to take away that head-to-head victory in this case.
What if Clemson makes ACC title game and loses?
Then Louisville — who beat Wake Forest after a slow start on Saturday — would be in the running if they take care of business in their last two games. The committee likely would take an 11-1 Louisville team over a two-loss Clemson in that event, especially considering the best teams in the ACC Coastal Division — North Carolina and Virginia Tech — have three losses.
Who does Clemson’s loss benefit the most?
Ohio State and Louisville. The Buckeyes could climb to No. 2 in the next set of rankings, especially after Michigan's loss to Iowa. Louisville, another one-loss team, is squarely back in that conversation. Clemson likely still will be ranked in tthe top four on Tuesday. At least we think that's the case.
