ATLANTA — The race for the two coveted spots in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) title game is becoming clearer, although potential tiebreakers may still play a role in deciding which teams will compete for the championship.
Currently, first-place SMU can secure its place in Charlotte by defeating Virginia this Saturday. Miami and Clemson are also in the running for a spot in the championship match.
If No. 13 SMU (9-1, 6-0, No. 13 College Football Playoff ranking) suffers a loss to Virginia, it could result in a scenario where three teams each possess one conference loss, leading to a complicated situation. This looming possibility means that SMU’s head coach, Rhett Lashlee, remains cautious and avoids discussing the team’s near-qualification for the title game as they enter their inaugural conference season.
“No, we can’t let ourselves think that way,” Lashlee stated. “We have two games left, and the job is far from finished. Everyone understands the opportunities ahead of us. If we dwell on that too long, we risk losing focus on the present.”
Meanwhile, No. 11 Miami (9-1, 5-1, No. 8 CFP) needs to secure a victory against Wake Forest on Saturday to keep its hopes alive for competing in the ACC championship game, especially if SMU wins against Virginia. Clemson, ranked No. 17 (8-2, 7-1, No. 17 CFP), has already completed its conference schedule, and could find a place in the championship if Miami falters against Wake Forest.
The ACC champion will earn a guaranteed spot in the playoffs. However, achieving a second playoff berth for the league may be challenging, especially with SMU’s current No. 13 ranking in the CFP. The committee has signaled that the Mustangs must win the conference to have a chance at the 12-team playoff field.
Despite a setback with a 28-23 loss to Georgia Tech on November 9, Miami, with quarterback Cam Ward, remains the best opportunity for the ACC to secure more than one playoff spot. An ideal situation for the conference to potentially claim two playoff spots could arise if the Hurricanes perform well but narrowly lose to the Mustangs in the championship game.
Lashlee emphasizes the importance of focusing on the conference title. SMU will close its regular season against California next week, and the coach acknowledges the significance of their current position.
“We’ve placed ourselves here intentionally,” Lashlee remarked. “It’s what we set out to do. We talked at the season’s start about proving our worth and getting into a position to compete in November. We’ve accomplished that, but now we must finish the job.”
Lashlee continued, “We have an opportunity this Saturday to do just that, and I am focused on that goal.”
SMU remained undefeated in conference play after overcoming Boston College 38-28 last week, with quarterback Kevin Jennings throwing for three touchdowns. However, Louisville, Pitt, and Virginia Tech were all knocked out of title contention with their third conference losses last week.
Given that SMU, Miami, and Clemson don’t face one another, the potential for tiebreakers to determine which teams qualify for the championship is high. This notion doesn’t sit well with Pitt’s coach Pat Narduzzi, who has expressed a preference for the ACC’s previous two-division setup.
“I don’t want tiebreakers to come into play,” Narduzzi said recently. “With so many teams and long divisions, there’s a lack of direct competition. Reaching the championship via tiebreakers isn’t ideal.”