Pitt’s upset of Georgia Tech pushes ACC to brink of CFP doomsday situation

The ACC’s Faculty Soccer Playoff doomsday situation is taking form following Pittsburgh’s 42-28 win at No. 16 Georgia Tech on Saturday night time, which eradicated the Yellow Jackets from title competition.

Regardless of No. 13 Miami’s victory at Virginia Tech, SMU’s 32-point blowout of Louisville and Duke’s win at North Carolina ended the Hurricanes’ shot at a convention championship. That leaves simply three groups vying for 2 spots within the Dec. 6 ACC Championship in Charlotte: No. 19 Virginia, Pittsburgh and SMU.

The issue within the playoff dialogue? Solely Virginia is ranked, whereas red-hot Group of 5 squads Tulane (9-2) and James Madison (10-1) proceed climbing within the committee’s eyes. Each convention frontrunners received on Saturday and management their very own destinies.

Virginia will clinch a spot within the ACC title recreation with a win over Virginia Tech. SMU can get in with a win over Cal. Pittsburgh will attain Charlotte if it beats Miami and both Virginia or SMU loses.

In different phrases, the Hokies have grow to be brokers of chaos within the ACC. Even when Pitt or SMU wins the league, there is no assure both will likely be ranked forward of the Group of 5 champions two weeks from now.

ACC standings after Week 13

When you’re a kind of crazies who roots for a convention within the playoff after your most well-liked group is excluded, here is what ACC followers have to hope occurs over the subsequent two weekends to all however assure entry: 

• Virginia wins out and takes the ACC crown — OR — James Madison suffers an surprising loss.

Something taking place outdoors of these two potentialities leaves every thing as much as the committee, whose aim is to place the 12 “greatest groups” within the playoff and never essentially the most deserving. And with the stipulation 5 of these bids are given as auto-conference champions, a doubtlessly unranked winner of the ACC is not going to have a lot of a say.

Keep watch over Tuesday night time’s rankings. The place SMU or Pittsburgh land in relation to numerous Group of 5 choices is extraordinarily essential transferring ahead.