Why was Duke in the ACC Championship game?

Duke advanced due to complex tiebreaker rules when five teams had identical conference records, despite having the worst overall season record among them.

How did Miami secure a College Football Playoff spot?

Miami's head-to-head victory against Notre Dame in Week 1 was the crucial factor that secured their at-large bid into the expanded CFP field.

What changes should the ACC make to its tiebreakers?

The ACC is considering letting the CFP selection committee decide tiebreaker outcomes to prevent future playoff bid risks.

Home / Sports / Miami's CFP Berth Exposes ACC's Flawed Tiebreakers

Miami's CFP Berth Exposes ACC's Flawed Tiebreakers

9 Dec

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Summary

ACC's playoff hopes nearly dashed by complex tiebreaker rules.
Duke secured championship despite worst record among tied teams.
Conference urged to adopt CFP selection committee for tiebreakers.

Miami's CFP Berth Exposes ACC's Flawed Tiebreakers

The ACC's College Football Playoff aspirations teetered precariously due to a complex tiebreaker scenario, ultimately being salvaged by Miami's Week 1 victory over Notre Dame. This near-miss underscores the urgent need for the ACC to reform its tiebreaking protocols, especially as conference realignment looms.

A five-team bottleneck with identical conference records, including Miami, SMU, Pitt, Georgia Tech, and Duke, created confusion. Duke, despite holding the worst overall record and never being ranked by the CFP committee, advanced to the championship game based on a weak fifth tiebreaker, highlighting a system ripe for reform.

Experts suggest the ACC should mirror the American Conference's approach, allowing the CFP selection committee to decide in ambiguous tie situations. This would prevent future scenarios where a conference's playoff chances are threatened by internal tiebreaker disputes, ensuring the league's best interests are prioritized.