This is where the conference and playoff picture gets clearer. No. 9 SMU cemented itself as the ACC leader, going undefeated in its eight conference games. Before this final week game, No. 6 Miami and No. 12 Clemson were the two highly hyped ACC teams to enter the conference title game. But Mario Cristobal’s plight in their final game paved the way for the Tigers to relive their glorious days. 

With the 17-14 loss to South Carolina on Saturday, Clemson is now a 3-loss team. But even with a 9-3 record, they’ve officially secured a spot in the ACC Championship game. Miami, on the other hand, just fell 10-2 after their latest 42-38 upset defeat in the hands of Syracuse. They’re just a 2-loss team. But why did they fall behind the Tigers?

To be in the conference title race, it’s necessary to perform well against ACC opponents. After their loss, Clemson’s only path to the big game was if Miami faced an upset defeat. And their prayers have been answered. After their last fall, the Hurricanes may have only two losses, but they’re both conference losses to Georgia Tech and Syracuse. 

It’s a different kind of loss for Dabo Swinney and Clemson, though. Despite their three losses, they’re 7-1 in the ACC with their only conference loss to Louisville. This has officially earned them a spot in the conference championship game against SMU at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on December 7. But what about Miami? Do they still have goals to play for?

Can Miami still make it to the playoffs?

Of course, the goal is always to win. But successful teams at the end of the regular college football season have more playoff motivation to win games. The initial goal of Miami was to beat Syracuse, play in the conference title game, and hopefully secure a first-round playoff bye. But it was easier said than done. And it may not be just the ACC Championship title they’ve missed. 

The Hurricanes might have blown off their playoff chances after messing up their best chance against Syracuse with a three-TD lead at the JMA Wireless Dome. They entered the game with a 79% chance of making it to the playoffs, as per ESPN’s Playoff Predictor. It drastically fell to 32% after the Syracuse fall. But they might still have an outside chance to make the playoffs as an at-large team. We’ll have to wait for the CFP committee to release their updated rankings on December 3.