The College Football Playoff field is mostly set. The bubble isn’t very big, but the central debate heading into the conference championship games seems clear: Will the committee elect to place three-loss Alabama into the field ahead of two-loss Miami — or even SMU if the Mustangs lose the ACC title game against Clemson?

OK, so we know SMU and Clemson will meet in the ACC championship game on Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern time in Charlotte, North Carolina.  We also know SMU is a sl

SMU has a better shot at being taken seriously by beating Clemson, with its brand-name credibility, than if Miami had qualified for the title game.