Last year a member of the ACC Florida State got hosed, jobbed, cheated whatever adjective you want to use out of a deserving playoff bid. They were a 13-0 P5 Champion that went 2-0 against the mighty SEC, and overcame a season-ending injury to QB Jordan Travis to win the ACC. I believe that and will always believe that. This FSU football season is irrelevant to what happened last year, and so was the bowl loss to Georgia.
With that said, ACC football fans and programs had a rightful fear that the 12 Team expanded playoff would become the SEC / Big 10 invitational. It certainly looked like it was headed that way too… until Saturday, when #5, #7, #9, #14, #15, #16 Teams all lost.
Nationally the ACC was seen as a big winner.
Big winners today:
– ACC: runner-up & 3rd-place team (SMU, Miami, Clemson) in CFP contention
– Georgia: secured SECCG bid
– Notre Dame: with win at USC, will likely host a CFP game
– Tennessee: went from bad to good side of CFP bubble
– Indiana: we *think* will remain in top 12— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 24, 2024
The new AP and Coaches polls have Miami 8/7, SMU 9, and Clemson 12. The CFP Playoff rankings when they come out on Tuesday are expected to be very similar.
Three ACC teams are in a position to make the playoffs, and the likelihood of multiple ACC playoffs went from maybe 5-10% prior to Saturday closer to 70%-75%, but it’s largely up to those ACC teams not the playoff committee now.
Let’s start with Miami. Miami has a very tricky game at Syracuse. The Orange are certainly capable of beating the Canes, but if Miami wins they virtually assure themselves a playoff bid as an 11-1 conference champion participant.
SMU must defeat Cal at home to enter the playoff at 11-1 and in the top 10. Two 11-1 teams in the top 10? I don’t see the loser getting left out barring an absolute blowout.
Clemson should they beat a top 15 South Carolina enhances their at-large hopes with a 10-2 record, 4 game winning streak including a victory over a ranked SEC Team. If this scenario plays out, 3 ACC teams could make the playoffs. It’s a near certainty at least 2 make it.
If each goes L, L, L, then we’re back to 1 ACC team.
This is one time if the ACC teams face plant with one the greatest football opportunities it’s ever had, it cannot blame the committee, SEC bias, or ESPN… well I don’t think so at least. A small part of me still worries that the committee will succumb to P2 pressure, but honestly I think this year the ACC can control their own narrative, by just taking care of business on the field.
That’s where it should decided anyways.
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