URGENT UPDATE: The ACC Championship race is heating up as No. 12 Miami dominates No. 22 Pittsburgh 38-7 at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday, sending ripples through the conference standings and potentially positioning the Hurricanes for a shot at the title against Virginia.
With this decisive victory, Miami improves to 10-2 overall and 6-2 in conference play. Meanwhile, No. 18 Virginia secured its spot in the championship game with a 27-7 win over Virginia Tech. However, the outcome of other games could lead to a dramatic shift in who competes in the championship.
As it stands, No. 21 SMU faces a precarious situation, trailing California 31-21 late in the fourth quarter. If SMU loses, the conference will see a rare five-way tie at 6-2 among Miami, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Duke, and SMU.
Currently, Duke holds a 7-5 overall record and would win the tiebreaker to face Virginia in the ACC Championship, which could impact the College Football Playoff (CFP) picture significantly. However, experts are debating whether the ACC may override this tiebreaker in favor of Miami, which could enhance the conference’s chances of landing a team in the CFP.
“This might be an unpopular take… but if I’m the ACC and Cal upsets SMU, I override the tiebreakers and put Miami in the ACC championship game against Virginia,” tweeted NBC Sports analyst Nicole Auerbach.
Sports commentator Gaby Urrutia from 247 Sports echoed this sentiment, noting that the Big Ten previously made a similar decision. In 2020, they placed Ohio State into the championship game despite not meeting the six-game minimum rule, allowing them to compete against Northwestern.
The stakes are high for the ACC. A Duke victory in the championship could see the CFP committee overlook the conference in favor of higher-ranked teams, leaving Miami, which has a stronger chance of advancing, on the sidelines. The ACC’s decision will be closely scrutinized, especially after the Week 14 results unfold.
As the college football landscape shifts, all eyes will be on the ACC’s next moves and the implications for Miami’s postseason aspirations. Will the conference prioritize competitive analysis as it did in the past? The next few hours could redefine the playoff picture.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story, as NCAA dynamics continue to evolve rapidly.
