The ACC spent Week 10 doing what it’s done all season: refusing to make anything simple. The league’s title picture tightened again, the playoff path for Miami took a hit, and the bowl chase got even messier as the calendar keeps shrinking.
Miami’s run to the top of the rankings came to an end Saturday night with a 31-24 loss at Notre Dame. The Hurricanes are no longer unbeaten, but the defeat doesn’t knock them out of the ACC race. They still have three home games left - Duke, Virginia Tech and Boston College - and remain in control of their College Football Playoff fate.
That loss also opened the door a little wider behind them. Wake Forest now sits in the best position to meet Miami in the ACC Championship Game after pounding tiny Merrimack over the weekend.
The Demon Deacons get a huge test next week against SMU, and the Mustangs made sure they stayed in the conversation by handling Virginia Tech on Friday night in what was their most impressive performance of the season. If SMU wins, both teams would have two conference losses, but the Mustangs would own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Wake Forest.
And even that wouldn’t settle everything.
Outside of SMU, three other teams are sitting on just two conference losses, and all three kept themselves alive with wins Saturday. Clemson survived a defensive battle with Syracuse.
Duke rolled rival NC State on the road. Louisville had no trouble beating Georgia Tech.
If Wake Forest drops one of its final three games, any of those three teams would still be in the hunt for a spot in the ACC title game.
The bottom half of the league is still chasing the same simple number: six wins. Syracuse didn’t help its case with the loss to Clemson. The Orange now need road wins over NC State and Boston College, or else they’ll have to pull off an upset of Notre Dame.
Florida State’s bowl hopes are hanging by a thread after its win over Boston College. Under interim coach Rick Stockstill, the Seminoles need two victories in their final three games against Pitt, NC State and Florida.
Boston College and NC State both sit at four wins after losses this weekend. The Wolfpack, also led by an interim coach, still have a workable path with Syracuse, Florida State and North Carolina remaining, but they need to win two of those three. Boston College has the tougher road ahead with Notre Dame, Syracuse and Miami left, and it also needs two wins.
Virginia was off this week after losing three straight, and the Cavaliers still need two more victories to reach bowl eligibility. Their final stretch comes against Cal, North Carolina and Virginia Tech.
In Other News...
Syracuse Already Has A Quarterback Problem For 2027
Steve Angelis afternoon against Clemson was a snapshot of the uncertainty Syracuse has been living with at quarterback all season. In the 18-13 loss, Angeli finished 18 of 40 for 263 yards with a touchdown, a fumble and an interception, and the uneven outing came against the backdrop of performance issues and injury questions that have already pushed Fran Brown to rotate in Amari Odom and Malachi Nelson.
The bigger concern may be what this means beyond the current season. Even with eligibility rules still to sort through and the transfer portal always looming, Syracuse is already staring at a 2027 quarterback competition that could get crowded fast, and Brown may have to manage not just who starts next year, but who is still in the program when the time comes. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Freshman Suddenly Looks Like A Real Backcourt Factor
Ryan Moesch didnt need long to show why Syracuse is already leaning into his upside. After a rough debut, the freshman guard looked far more settled in the Oranges second game of the season, finishing with six points, seven assists and a solid defensive effort in a decisive win that gave the backcourt a much-needed lift.
Gerry McNamara had been candid about Moeschs first outing, but he also made it clear the freshmans potential was never in doubt. The next test comes against Indiana, and Syracuse will be watching to see whether Moeschs bounce-back is the start of something bigger or just an early-season flash of promise. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Left Clemson With One Clear Divide Between Winners And Losers
Syracuses trip to Clemson had all the ingredients of a road upset for long stretches, with the defense doing its part by limiting the Tigers to four field goals and keeping them out of the end zone. The Orange were physical enough to make the game uncomfortable, but the margin for error disappeared quickly once the offense started giving possessions away.
Garrett Angeli moved the ball well enough at times, finishing with 263 passing yards and a late touchdown, but two turnovers loomed over the night, including a fumble returned for a score and an interception in the end zone. Ahmad Miller was a bright spot again, carrying 20 times for 101 yards for his third 100-yard game in four weeks, another sign that Syracuse found some answers on the ground even as the overall result left the offense with plenty to clean up. [Read more 🡒]