No. 4 Miami, No. 13 SMU Sit Unbeaten and Tied at ACC and as Surprise Options for 12-Team Playoff

The Atlantic Coast Conference's guaranteed berth in the College Football Playoff could include a surprise representative. Maybe a couple.

Unbeaten and fourth-ranked Miami (9-0, 5-0), predicted this summer by media to finish third in the ACC behind defending champion Florida State and Clemson, is rated No. 4 as a projected league champion among the 12 teams announced in Tuesday night’s initial bracket.

One of just five unbeaten Football Bowl Subdivision teams, the Hurricanes could earn a first-round bye if they go on and win the title unless the Mustangs or Tigers beat them to it.

“I think the hunger grows,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said this week.

“I think we understand what a blessing it is to be in November and to be playing very significant football.” 슬롯사이트 순위

League newcomer SMU (8-1, 5-0) sits just outside at No. 13 and is hoping to crack the field.

It’s the highest playoff ranking ever for the Mustangs, who are enjoying their first season back as a Power 4 school after winning the American Athletic championship last fall.

“I think it means that our program belongs at this level and our program is capable of competing at this level, which we all believe,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said after beating Pitt last week.

The Mustangs have a bye before hosting Boston College.

The first rankings include three other ACC teams including No. 23 Pitt (7-1, 3-1, No. 18 CFP); No. 25 Louisville (6-3, 4-2, No. 22 CFP), which returned to the poll this week after beating Clemson 33-21; and the 19th-ranked Tigers (6-2, 5-1, No. 23 CFP), who are just a half-game behind in the hunt for the championship they’ve claimed six times since 2015.

FSU? The one-win Seminoles are just above ACC newcomer Cal at the bottom of the standings.

ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain believes having its top five teams in the rankings speaks volumes about the league’s depth and the respect it has earned as a result.

For all the initial recognition of FSU and Clemson, he noted that there was just as much curiosity in what Miami could achieve with Ward, who arrived in south Florida after passing for 6,963 yards and 48 touchdowns the previous two seasons at Washington State.

Ward is now considered the Heisman Trophy favorite.

“It’s good to see a team like Miami, who we all thought in the offseason about the run they could go on,” he said.

“When you look at who they’ve acquired and (having) a big-time coach who came home and a lot of expectations, for them to deliver on that is truly amazing.”

Meanwhile, the two new faces sharing first place are focused on staying healthy and maintaining high-scoring offenses led by dynamic quarterbacks.

Ward has guided college football’s top attack at 556.9 yards and 47.4 points per game.