The ACC Championship Game race is heating up after Week 12, with six teams still fighting for two spots in Charlotte. But the conference faces a perception problem nationally.
No ACC team cracked the top 10 in the latest power rankings. Miami leads the way at No. 15, followed by Georgia Tech at No. 16.
The ACC champion gets an automatic College Football Playoff berth. However, they’re projected to enter as the No. 11 overall seed, which could mean a lower seeding among conference champions.
Conference champions in the top five get first-round byes if seeded 1-4. If the ACC champion ranks lowest among the five conference winners, they won’t get a bye but will still host a first-round playoff game.
Last season proved the ACC can get multiple teams in. Both SMU and Clemson made the playoffs. Clemson won the ACC Championship Game to secure their spot. SMU lost that game but still earned a berth with a strong regular season record and higher ranking than Alabama.
Current Standings
| Team | Record | Week 12 Result |
| No. 16 Georgia Tech | 9–1 (6–1 ACC) | Defeated Boston College, 36–34 |
| No. 19 Virginia | 7–3 (5–1 ACC) | Defeated Duke, 34–17 |
| SMU | 7–3 (5–1 ACC) | OFF |
| No. 22 Pittsburgh | 7–3 (5–1 ACC) | Lost to No. 9 Notre Dame, 37–15 |
| No. 15 Miami | 8–2 (4–2 ACC) | Defeated NC State, 41–7 |
| Duke | 5–5 (4–2 ACC) | Lost to Virginia, 34–17 |
Georgia Tech and Virginia currently lead the standings at 6–1 and 5–1 in conference play respectively. Pittsburgh, SMU, Miami, and Duke remain in the hunt.
Only one conference loss separates the top six teams. Every game has championship implications.
Louisville was eliminated after losing to Clemson in Week 12. That dropped the field from seven to six contenders, with Duke facing the longest odds.
Championship Scenarios
Georgia Tech clinches with a win over Pittsburgh. They’d finish 7–1 in ACC play and secure the first spot in Charlotte.
Virginia clinches by beating Virginia Tech, combined with SMU losing to Louisville or Cal, and Pittsburgh losing to Georgia Tech or Miami. Virginia would finish 7–1 and earn a berth.
Miami needs wins over Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh, plus specific results from other games to create favorable tiebreakers.
Pittsburgh can clinch by winning out with specific losses from SMU and Virginia Tech, or by finishing 7–1 alongside Virginia.
SMU has the most complex path. They need wins over Louisville and Cal, Virginia Tech beating Virginia, Pittsburgh beating Georgia Tech, and Miami defeating Pittsburgh. SMU would hold tiebreakers over Miami, Virginia, and Georgia Tech in that scenario.
The final week will determine which two programs advance to Charlotte. With so many teams still alive, Week 13 promises a dramatic finish to the regular season.
Meanwhile, the SEC’s dominance continues with five teams in the top 10, overshadowing the ACC’s depth nationally.
