Top nonconference opponents are a thing of the past for Clemson if the College Football Playoff committee puts no weight on strength of schedule.Opening the season as the Tigers did against then-No. 1 Georgia in September, for example, might not be as high on Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney’s list of priorities if there is no reward in the committee’s evaluation process for teams that take the risk to play other heavyweights.But Swinney recognizes his team is far more battle-tested because it took on the Southeastern Conference power.”We could have scheduled XYZ University and everybody would be real happy on the bus ride back. But I think they had good perspective after that game,” Swinney said Friday on the eve of playing No. 8 SMU in the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, N.C. “They kept going and have earned the right to be here.”Swinney said he views SMU as the best in the 17-team conference and would anticipate the Mustangs have the standing resume to earn a spot in the playoff even if they lose to the Tigers on Saturday. No. 18 Clemson, already with three losses, won’t have the same luxury in Swinney’s estimation.