7–5 Duke Faces Virginia in ACC Championship, Not No. 12 Miami

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7–5 Duke Faces Virginia in ACC Championship, Not No. 12 Miami

Duke University, with a record of 7–5, has reached the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship game, set to take place at Bank of America Stadium. The team, which is currently unranked, will face off against No. 16 ranked Virginia, boasting a 10–2 record.

Duke’s Path to the ACC Championship

Duke’s journey to the ACC title game comes after a tumultuous season. The Blue Devils started with a disappointing 1–2 record, suffering defeats against No. 11 Illinois and Tulane. However, they managed to rebound by winning three consecutive conference games, jumping to 3–0 in ACC play.

Despite a mid-season slump, where they lost three out of four games—including to No. 19 Virginia—they remained in contention for a shot at the championship. To qualify, Duke required favorable outcomes from other games in the conference. They achieved this by defeating North Carolina 28–21 on November 22. The following weekend’s results worked in their favor, with a convincing 49–32 victory over Wake Forest and losses by Miami and SMU.

Virginia’s Championship Aspirations

Virginia enters the championship game with high hopes. A victory would likely secure the Cavaliers their first-ever College Football Playoff (CFP) appearance. They have positioned themselves well with their strong performance throughout the season.

The Loser’s Circle: Miami’s Disappointment

The biggest casualty of this ACC title scenario is the Miami Hurricanes, who also hold a 10–2 record and are ranked No. 12 in both the CFP and AP polls. Despite a robust season, Miami’s chances for the CFP appear grim, especially if Virginia clinches the championship.

Understanding the Tiebreaker

Five teams, including Duke and Miami, finished the regular season with 6–2 records in ACC play. Here’s how the tiebreaker favored Duke:

Duke played the toughest conference schedule, facing opponents with a .500 win percentage.
The combined records of Duke’s conference opponents stood at 32–32, surpassing Miami’s 28–36.
This unique situation necessitated a deep dive into the conference records and win percentages to determine Duke’s qualification for the title game.

No Guarantees for Playoff Selection

Even if Duke secures the ACC championship, playoff selection is not guaranteed. The NCAA allocates automatic bids for the highest-ranked conference champions. Thus, if Duke wins but No. 25 James Madison also wins its championship, the Dukes may take the coveted playoff spot instead.