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Miami tiebreakers versus Clemson, Pittsburgh and SMU

The tiebreakers for Clemson, Miami, Pittsburgh and potentially SMU are complex after Georgia Tech beat the Hurricanes 28-23 in Atlanta today.

By Alan Rubenstein

Nov 9, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) drops back to pass against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the fourth quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Nov 9, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) drops back to pass against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the fourth quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images / Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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Mega conferences will often take away head-to-head as a tiebreaker for a spot in championship games. With at least 16 teams in the Power Four Conferences teams play each other far more infrequently. Miami is tied with Clemson and Pittsburgh with one loss each.

The Miami loss at Georgia Tech dropped the Hurricanes to 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the ACC. Clemson is 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the ACC after its 24-14 win over Virginia Tech on Saturday. Pittsburgh is 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the ACC ahead of its game versus 4-4 Virginia on Saturday night.

Miami holds the tiebreaker over Clemson. The Hurricanes beat Louisville and Clemson lost to the Cardinals. Pittsburgh plays Clemson and Louisville in its last two games. If Miami and Pittsburgh both finish 7-1 in the ACC they would each have wins over Louisville. Pittsburgh would own the tiebreaker as explained by Christopher Carter.

Carter who hosts the Locked on (Pittsburgh) Steelers podcast gave an in-depth explanation of the ACC tiebreakers on X. The tiebreaker as explained by Carter would come down to opponents' ACC records. Pittsburgh opponents are 23-18 and Miami opponents are 20-26.

"Tiebreakers would come down to ACC opps' conference record. *CURRENTLY* Pitt has an edge there.

Pitt's ACC opps: 23-18
Miami's ACC opps: 20-26

The differences come down to Pitt having a 5-0 SMU team with 3 winnable games in front of them, and a Clemson team already with 5 wins.

The ACC team Miami has faced with the best record that's not on Pitt's schedule is Georgia Tech, who's now 4-3."

- Christopher Carter Locked on Steelers

Miami finishes the season versus Wake Forest on November 23 after a bye week and at Syracuse on November 30. Miami needs to win those games and have Pittsburgh or SMU lose once to earn a berth in the ACC Championship Game. The tiebreaker between Miami and SMU would depend on who the Mustangs lose to.

SMU plays Boston College, at Virginia and versus California. SMU has already beaten Florida State, Louisville and Duke among common opponents with Miami. A loss to California would give Miami the tiebreaker with SMU. A loss to either Boston College or Virginia would give Miami and SMU the same records versus common opponents.

Entering the prime-time games on Saturday SMU opponents are 17-28 in the ACC. That would allow Miami to win the tiebreaker with SMU and would mean Miami and Pittsburgh would play in the championship game using the criteria Carter mentioned above. The full ACC tiebreaker can be found here.

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