Duke’s overtime victory over No. 17 Virginia in the ACC Championship Game was not only a milestone for Duke but also a stark warning for other major conferences. This win has placed the ACC in a challenging situation, where it may not have a representative in the College Football Playoff, which is nearly unfathomable in a 12-team field where the best five conference champions get automatic bids.

Duke, with a record of 8-5 and unranked by the committee last week, faces challenges as other conference champions, like Tulane and James Madison, are ranked. This predicament illustrates the ACC’s ongoing issues, which could also affect other conferences like the Big 12, Big Ten, or SEC unless urgent reforms are made before next season.

Duke secured its spot in the championship after a tie among five teams, culminating in the ACC’s decision based on its tiebreaker system, which surprisingly does not consider College Football Playoff rankings. Conversely, the American conference ensures its champion is determined in part by its standing in the playoff rankings, leading to better outcomes.

Had the ACC implemented a similar approach, the championship matchup could have featured No. 12 Miami against No. 17 Virginia, ensuring playoff inclusion for either outcome, thus eliminating debates from this season’s Miami vs. Notre Dame scenario.

Overall, college football has increasingly focused on the College Football Playoff, resulting in massive leagues that prioritize revenue over tradition, leading to a decrease in crucial inter-conference matchups. This season showed that fields often separate early, although ties among teams in the SEC could have resulted in unpredictable outcomes had playoff rankings been factored into the tiebreaker systems.

In essence, for the future of conferences, it is crucial to integrate playoff rankings into the tiebreaker criteria; these changes are vital to maintain the sport’s integrity and competitive balance.