Will the ACC’s top team please step forward? In fact, if you’re out there, give the College Football Playoff selection committee a nudge as well.
No. 14 Virginia and No. 15 Louisville, the league’s two representatives in the initial College Football Playoff Rankings, both suffered defeats last night against Wake Forest and Cal, respectively, complicating the ACC Championship race further as the season nears its conclusion.
Meanwhile, No. 17 Georgia Tech sat out after their first loss this season against NC State, and No. 18 Miami managed to defeat Syracuse after falling out of the top 10 with two losses in three weeks.
The disappointment was palpable for Louisville against Cal, with home fans expressing frustration after a last-minute possession from midfield ended poorly. During overtime, a chop block penalty took away a first down, allowing Cal to clinch the game with a fourth-and-goal touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele.
Strength of schedule metrics highlight a mixed performance for the league this season. Duke, sitting at 5-4, remains in contention for the league title with a couple more wins required this month.
How did the ACC find itself in this position following a strong start with Florida State’s win over Alabama and Clemson’s near-upset of LSU? This week’s selection committee placed three Big 12 teams ahead of the ACC’s top-ranked team and considered two-loss Notre Dame, who lost to Miami earlier in the season, ahead of the Hurricanes.
This lack of trust from the selection committee is evident, especially with five auto-bids in the upcoming 12-team playoff format, meaning if any non-power league teams rank higher than the ACC’s champion, they will secure playoff spots alongside frontrunners from the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12.
As observed, each of the current seven SEC teams still vying for playoff contention ranks within the top 25 for strength of schedule, while the average for six Big Ten teams under consideration sits at 35.1.
In a year where scheduling strength is emphasized more than ever, the argument for additional entries from the SEC or Big Ten posing a threat to the ACC’s playoff expectations remains clear, with a struggling Group of Five also looking for their shot at playoff auto-bids, including teams like North Texas and San Diego State.
In summation, none of these candidates were ranked by the selection committee in the initial poll, but a potential 12-0 scenario for a champion from one of the Group of Five leagues may offer a more enticing portfolio than what the ACC brings to the table.
If Georgia Tech can maintain its winning streak, they might improve their chances significantly, which will contribute to the ongoing unpredictability within the conference this season.