US EditionThe era of supersized conferences can lead to supersized chaos. Just ask the wide-open ACC
A 17-team ACC schedule creates complicated tiebreakers with six teams vying for the title and College Football Playoff spots, the ACC office explained.
- The ACC issued an explainer this week as permutations for the title and CFP berths multiply, with a half-dozen teams having viable paths to Charlotte on the first Saturday in December.
- By expanding to 17 teams, conferences created unbalanced ACC schedules, and the College Football Playoff's expansion to 12 schools plus rising parity complicates playoff access.
- Head-to-Head meetings are the first tiebreaker, followed by winning percentage versus common opponents; Pitt Panthers could be the odd team out in a three-way tie due to the Louisville loss that sparked Mason Heintschel's emergence.
- Miami must win on Saturday at Pitt and get plenty of help to reach the ACC title game, though it could still earn a College Football Playoff at-large berth with a Notre Dame win.
- Coaches like Pat Narduzzi warn that reliance on inscrutable tiebreakers strains legitimacy, recalling Florida State's unbeaten CFP exclusion two years ago and advocating divisions to sort outcomes.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Will SMU's playoff hopes soar with ACC win?
There is one certainty for No. 25 SMU if the Mustangs are going to get into the College Football Playoff again. They would have to win the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game this time. Two nonconference losses in September and then a game-ending field goal by Wake Forest in October put the Mustangs (8-3, 6-1 ACC, No. 21 CFP) in a much different position than their impressive ACC debut last season. They didn’t lose a league game during t…
No. 25 SMU could be a playoff team again, but will have to get in and win ACC title game this time
DALLAS (AP) — There is one certainty for No. 25 SMU if the Mustangs are going to get into the College Football Playoff again. They would have to win the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game this time.
No. 25 SMU could be a playoff team again, but will have to get in and win ACC title game this time
DALLAS (AP) — There is one certainty for No. 25 SMU if the Mustangs are going to get into the College Football Playoff again. They would have to win the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game this time.
No. 25 SMU could be a playoff team again, but will have to get in and win ACC title game this time
No. 25 SMU could still make the College Football Playoff again. The Mustangs first have to get into the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, and win it this time. The Mustangs can clinch a spot in that ACC title game…
No. 25 SMU could be a playoff team again, but will have to get in and win ACC title game this time
DALLAS (AP) — There is one certainty for No. 25 SMU if the Mustangs are going to get into the College Football Playoff again. They would have to win the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game this time.
No. 25 SMU could be a playoff team again, but will have to get in and win ACC title game this time
No. 25 SMU could still make the College Football Playoff again. The Mustangs first have to get into the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, and win it this time. The Mustangs can clinch a spot in that ACC title game…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 71% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
