Duke Crashes the ACC Championship-and Could Take the Conference Down with Them
Saturday brought a seismic shakeup to the ACC’s postseason hopes, and not the kind anyone in the league office wanted. With SMU stumbling in a high-stakes moment, the door swung wide open for Duke to clinch a spot in the ACC Championship Game. And now, the Blue Devils are one win away from turning the College Football Playoff landscape upside down.
Here’s the issue: Duke’s résumé just doesn’t stack up. At 7-5, with losses to Tulane and UConn, the Blue Devils aren’t sniffing a Playoff spot under normal circumstances.
But if they win the ACC title? That could leave the entire conference on the outside looking in-an unprecedented blow for a Power Five league in the Playoff era.
In a season where chaos has been the norm, Duke’s rise to the ACC Championship could be the plot twist that reshapes the final Playoff bracket. And while the ACC scrambles to salvage its postseason relevance, there are a handful of teams quietly rooting for Duke to finish the job-for their own shot at glory.
Teams That Should Be Cheering for Duke
Tulane Green Wave
Tulane doesn’t need much help, but they’ll take it. The Green Wave are in a strong position-win the American Championship, and they’re likely in the Playoff.
But a Duke win in the ACC would provide a little extra insurance. It would all but guarantee that Tulane doesn’t get leapfrogged by another Group of 5 contender like James Madison.
In a year where margins matter more than ever, that kind of clarity is golden.
North Texas Mean Green
Now here’s where things get interesting. North Texas is set to take on Tulane in the American title game, but their path to the Playoff is murkier.
They weren’t in the most recent CFP Top 25, and at 8-5, they’re a long shot. Still, a Duke win in the ACC would blow the door open.
If North Texas pulls off the upset and claims the American crown, they’d be 9-5-but with the ACC champion sitting at 8-5, the committee would have a real conundrum on its hands. It’s a long shot, but Duke winning would give North Texas a fighting chance.
James Madison Dukes
No team stands to benefit more from Duke’s Cinderella run than James Madison. The Dukes have been knocking on the door all season, and with just one loss, they’ve built a strong case-even if the committee has shown a clear preference for the American over the Sun Belt.
But if Duke wins the ACC? That changes everything.
The committee would be hard-pressed to justify picking a five-loss Power Five champ over a one-loss Group of 5 team. For James Madison, Duke pulling off the upset might be the break they’ve been waiting for.
Oregon Ducks
Oregon is sitting pretty at 11-1, and while they won’t be playing in the Big Ten Championship, they’re in prime position to lock up the No. 5 seed in the expanded Playoff. And if Duke wins the ACC?
That’s music to Dan Lanning’s ears. It means the Ducks are likely to face a Group of 5 team in the first round-whether it’s Duke, the American champ, or a Sun Belt squad.
Either way, Oregon would be heavy favorites to cruise into the second round. It’s not about disrespect-it’s about opportunity, and Oregon would love to take advantage of it.
Ole Miss Rebels
The Rebels are in a similar spot to Oregon, eyeing that No. 6 seed with a clear path to a favorable first-round matchup. If Duke wins the ACC, Ole Miss likely avoids a tougher Power Five opponent and instead hosts a Group of 5 team.
That’s a significant swing. Whether Lane Kiffin is on the sideline or not, the Rebels would be in prime position to advance.
A Duke victory in the ACC Championship could be the difference between a dogfight and a tune-up.
The Bottom Line
Duke’s surprise run to the ACC Championship Game is more than just a feel-good story-it’s a potential Playoff earthquake. If the Blue Devils pull off the upset, the ACC could become the first Power Five conference left out of the expanded Playoff entirely. That’s the nightmare scenario for the league-but a dream come true for a handful of teams still fighting for a seat at the table.
So while the ACC braces for impact, teams like Tulane, North Texas, James Madison, Oregon, and Ole Miss will be watching Duke closely-and quietly rooting for the Blue Devils to turn the Playoff picture on its head.