Can a Big Ten team get in the way of another Alabama-Clemson matchup this season?

Who won the national title last season?

Clemson.

What about two years ago?

Alabama.

Three years ago?

Clemson. Four? Alabama.

In three of the last four seasons, the two teams have played each other in the national title game. The one time they didn’t?

They played in the semifinal. So, will this year be different? Or are we going to see Clemson-Alabama No. 5?

If you look at any projections, Clemson is making the College Football Playoff this season. So is Alabama.

On Thursday, CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm released his college football bowl projections. Guess who is No. 1 and No. 2?

Alabama and Clemson, respectively. For what it’s worth, Oklahoma is No. 3 and Georgia is No. 4.

It may not be inevitable that both teams meet up again. After all, one could lose in the semifinal. That just doesn’t happen too often. However, if either of these teams ends up with one loss on the season, they would still make the playoff, right?

That almost seems like a guarantee — as would the two teams going undefeated of course as well.

Palm thinks it’s almost inevitable. But, could a Big Ten team end this streak? They would have to make the CFP first.

Something that conference hasn’t done the past two seasons.

Here are where Palm sees Big Ten teams ending up in the bowl season:

Rose Bowl: Ohio State-Washington

Cotton Bowl: Michigan-UCF

Gator Bowl: Wisconsin-Mississippi State

Citrus Bowl: Nebraska-Florida

Outback Bowl: Michigan State-Texas A&M

Redbox Bowl: Iowa-Washington State

Holiday Bowl: Penn State-Oregon

Pinstripe Bowl: Purdue-N.C. State

Quick Lane Bowl: Northwestern-Miami (OH)