6 College Football Playoff (CFP) ranked team, Tennessee of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and the No.
7 CFP ranked team, Clemson of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
[6] Tennessee received a New Year's Six bid after finishing the regular season ranked higher than Power 5 champions Kansas State, Utah, and Clemson.
They then lost two of their final four games, suffering defeats by Georgia and South Carolina.
Clemson qualified for the ACC Championship Game, where they defeated North Carolina, 39–10.