Second Ranked Clemson Tigers Upset Loss to Syracuse Shakes Up NCAA Title Picture

The reigning NCAA football champion Clemson Tigers are going to need a lot of luck if they are to defend their title come January 2018.

Unheralded Syracuse sprung the 27-24 upset which nobody saw coming. Whether it will knock the Tigers out of the playoffs is unlikely, it is a non-conference opponent and Clemson can still win the ACC if they can beat NC State in three weeks.

Missed kicks, an injury to star quarterback Kelly Bryant and bad coaching decisions like a miserably failed fake punt all were factors in the loss as well as a home team looking to spring a shocker – which they did.

The back and forth game was pretty much decided on that botched fake, late in the fourth quarter which allowed the Orangemen to seal the deal as the Carrier Dome erupted.

The loss also will allow the Alabama Crimson Tide to take a stranglehold on the rankings and are a near certainty to grab the number one playoff seed.

If Bryant is out for an extended period it could be problematic despite a relatively easy schedule down the stretch.

It was an unlucky Friday the 13^th for another top ten team as Washington State was whacked 37-3 by California.