UPDATE: The College Football Playoff (CFP) landscape is in turmoil as the ACC faces a shocking upset that could alter the playoffs. In a stunning turn of events, the California Golden Bears defeated SMU, eliminating the Mustangs from the ACC championship and paving the way for Duke to face Virginia next weekend. This unexpected twist leaves the ACC on the brink of a potential disaster.
With Duke currently unranked and carrying five losses, a victory in Charlotte could mean a disastrous outcome for the ACC. If the Blue Devils win, they might miss out on the playoff due to their lower ranking compared to champions from other conferences, which raises the stakes significantly. The implications are staggering: the CFP grants automatic bids to the highest-ranked conference champions. If Duke’s performance against Virginia leads them to be ranked below teams from the Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC, the ACC champion could fail to qualify.
Conversely, a Virginia victory would solidify their spot in the playoff, as they are currently ranked 18th and previously defeated Duke by 17 points. The ACC now finds itself teetering on the edge of what could be an embarrassing failure.
Meanwhile, the championship games are set to unfold with very different stakes. The Big Ten Championship featuring Ohio State against Indiana holds little significance, as both teams have already secured their spots in the playoffs. The SEC showdown, however, is critical. Alabama faces Georgia in Atlanta, with Alabama needing a strong performance to maintain their playoff hopes after a narrow 27-20 victory over Auburn.
The selection committee will release its crucial rankings on December 7, 2023, just days before the final playoff selections. As it stands, Alabama’s potential inclusion in the playoff, even with a loss, could be the source of significant controversy.
In the Big 12, Texas Tech prepares to battle BYU, which could either secure an automatic playoff berth or result in only one Big 12 team being represented in the CFP once again. The stakes could not be higher for these teams as they vie for a coveted playoff spot.
As the clock ticks toward the Heisman Trophy voting deadline on December 9, 2023, anticipation is building. The Heisman Trust will open online voting just before the championship games, ensuring that voters can consider the performances during this critical weekend.
Key candidates expected to make the trip to New York for the ceremony on December 14 include Fernando Mendoza from Indiana, Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame, Julian Sayin from Ohio State, and Diego Pavia from Vanderbilt. With Mendoza and Sayin set to compete against each other in their championship game, their performances could sway the votes significantly.
Adding to the urgency, the college coaching carousel is heating up. Several schools are making moves, with Virginia Tech, Stanford, and Oklahoma State among those filling their head coaching vacancies. Meanwhile, high-profile programs like Penn State and LSU are still searching for their next leaders, and a flurry of decisions could be made as early as this weekend.
Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates on these developing stories that could change the landscape of college football. The next few days promise to be filled with dramatic twists and unexpected turns as teams fight for their playoff lives and individual accolades.
