If UM wins at Pitt, there is a 100% chance we go into the ACC championship game ranked #1 because Bama lost to #10 Auburn that same weekend. If UM had been undefeated and lost a close game to Clemson, we still had a good chance of making the playoffs. On the flip side, even with the Pitt loss, UM is a lock for the playoffs if we beat Clemson.
As for the blowout loss, a lot of people forget how injured UM was going into that game. Herndon, UMs 2nd leading receiver and an essential part of the run game, was out. Michael Irving was the starting TE (the other TEs on the rooster were Brian Polendy and Scott Patchan). Ahmmon Richards was out. We lost one of the best run defenders in Demetrious Jackson earlier in the season. Clemson was missing a starting LB and CB. Clemson could still play its normal defense without those two players. UMs entire offense was f#cked without Herndon because he was Rosiers security blanket and an excellent blocker. Does UM still get blown out if we have a healthy Herndon, Walton, and Ahmon Richards? I think we would have kept it respectable.