CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Larry Fedora believes his North Carolina Tar Heels deserve a place in the College Football Playoff if they snap Clemson’s 15-game winning streak Saturday night in the ACC championship game.
“I most definitely do,” the fourth-year Tar Heels coach said Friday during a news conference. “If we beat the No. 1 team in the nation, then I believe this team deserves to be in the College Football Playoff.”
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney agrees.
“We’ve got three top-10 teams in this league,” said Swinney, also referring to Florida State. “I don’t think there’s any question that the ACC should be in one of them (national semifinal) games. But what do I know? I just hope we’re the one there.”
A win Saturday would be a big boost for the résumé of the eighth-ranked Tar Heels (11-1, 8-0 ACC, No. 10 CFP), given the national stage, but it wouldn’t guarantee them entry into the playoff. They probably would need outside help to leapfrog the teams ahead of them.
But first there is the matter of beating Clemson (12-0, 8-0 ACC, No. 1 CFP).
Earning their first ACC championship in 35 years means the Tar Heels will have to slow sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson, the Tigers’ ACC player of the year and a Heisman Trophy candidate.
Swinney said Watson is the “complete package,” comparing him to former New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera.
Watson has never lost a game as Clemson’s starting quarterback.
“He really doesn’t have a weakness,” Swinney said. “He makes mistakes, but you’re going to have to beat him. I mean, he’s not going to beat himself.”
Championship Saturday
AMERICAN
No. 20 Temple at Houston, 10 a.m.
CONFERENCE USA
Southern Miss at W. Kentucky, 10 a.m.
SEC
No. 18 Florida vs. No. 2 Alabama, 2 p.m.
MOUNTAIN WEST
Air Force at San Diego State, 5:30 p.m.
PAC-12
USC vs. No. 7 Stanford, 5:45 p.m.
ACC
No. 8 N. Carolina vs. No. 1 Clemson, 6 p.m.
BIG TEN
No. 5 Michigan State vs. No. 4 Iowa, 6 p.m.
