South Carolina controls their own destiny with latest College Football Playoff ranking

South Carolina officially knows what they need to do this weekend in order to get into the College Football Playoff. Honestly, the Gamecocks have known all along what they needed to do this weekend to get in, and that is beat Clemson, but with the latest rankings, it seems truly real.

The College Football Playoff committee released their most recent rankings, and they have the Gamecocks ranked No. 15, three spots up from their last ranking and, more importantly, just three spots behind rival Clemson.

There is bound to be movement within the top 12 of the playoff at this point, and the winner of No. 15 South Carolina and No. 12 Clemson could truly be a play-in game for the College Football Playoff. A win against Clemson would give South Carolina their fourth win over a ranked opponent out of seven games against ranked opponents.

Losses are definitely taken into account, and when it comes down to it, South Carolina lost to three ranked teams while another team ahead of them, like Alabama and Ole Miss, lost to unranked teams like Oklahoma, who USC beat, and Florida. Basically, South Carolina's losses look better than those teams ahead of them.

A win against Clemson is so crucial for the Gamecocks because if they lose, then all hope goes out the window, and it is time to get ready for a bowl game. While a win does not guarantee South Carolina a spot in the playoffs, it certainly gives the committee something to talk and think about. Clemson is currently in the field right now, which means they aren't taking a spot away from other teams that aren't conference champions.

South Carolina knows the rankings now, so really, it comes down to going out and getting the job done this weekend at Clemson, not just to have the satisfaction of beating a rival but even more to get in the playoff and take it away from a rival.