For Penn State and Clemson , preseason aspirations of getting to the College Football Playoff as respective champions of the Big Ten and ACC deteriorated quickly this fall, resulting in a coach firing at one of the programs and finger-pointing at the other.

The Nittany Lions and Tigers are among the 16 teams within Power Four conferences in need of one win -- or two -- over the season's final two weeks to reach bowl eligibility. Considering both were penciled in as playoff locks three months ago, fighting for scraps down the stretch was unexpected, but neither team appears to have thrown in the November towel.

We're expecting all available bowl slots with specific conference tie-ins to be filled next month without the need for any 5-7 teams in the postseason. In that case, Academ

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