Guest column: UNC football could crash the playoffs with three more wins

With three more wins, North Carolina is destined for the College Football Playoff.

Before chaos fell upon college football on Saturday, UNC’s championship chances appeared all but impossible. But after trouncing ACC foes Duke and Miami to extend its nine-game winning streak, North Carolina (9-1) is staking its claim among the nation’s elite.

And when the dust settles, the No. 17 Tar Heels could secure a semifinal spot.

In the next three weeks, every team in the top 12 will likely face another highly-ranked foe. As a result, five of these top-12 squads are guaranteed at least one loss during that stretch — while the Big Ten, Big-12 and SEC champions that emerge from the ruins are almost assured a playoff berth.

And if North Carolina runs the table, the committee could hardly dismiss a one-loss ACC champion riding a 12-game winning streak for a team with a loss in the final weeks.

Only No. 4 Notre Dame (9-1) would pose a true threat to the Tar Heels’ title hopes. But UNC could claim a distinct advantage — a win over No. 1 Clemson (10-0).

While the Tar Heels are seen as longshots to usurp the ACC behemoth in the conference championship, perhaps no team is better suited to unseat Heisman-hopeful Deshaun Watson and his unbeaten crew.

UNC owns the nation’s ninth-best scoring offense and the 21st-best scoring defense, while Clemson’s units both place in the top 16. The Tar Heels boast the fifth-highest scoring margin in the country — the Tigers sit at seventh.

The fourth-most efficient passing attack meets the third-most efficient passing defense. The 25th-ranked rushing offense versus the 25th-ranked rushing defense. Even the penalty totals are a dead heat.

But in a potentially high-scoring affair, North Carolina’s most dire weakness — its bottom-20 rushing defense — would prove less important than its 13th-ranked pass efficiency defense.

And despite its abysmal punting situation, UNC’s elite turnover margin and superior return game could swing the field position battle in its favor.

Fittingly, North Carolina’s season could end the same place it started — in Charlotte, playing underdog in a neutral-site showdown with a South Carolinian adversary.

But this time, a national title could be on the line.

Chalk it up to fate.

@CJacksonCowart