For weeks, college football fans have considered the prospect of a five-loss Duke team being crowned champions of the ACC. That possibility could turn into a reality Saturday night in Charlotte, not far from where the Blue Devils play in Durham, North Carolina.
No. 17 Virginia, Duke’s opponent in the ACC title game, is a four-point favorite and beat the Blue Devils, 34-17, on the road just a few weeks ago. The Cavaliers have enjoyed a banner season, winning 10 games for the first time in program history. Now, they’re on the cusp of a College Football Playoff berth with a win this weekend.
But what happens if UVA loses? As established, a five-loss Duke team would win the ACC for the first time since 1989, well before the conference introduced a championship game. In a league in which Virginia, No. 12 Miami and No. 22 Georgia Tech all looked like contenders to earn a spot in the CFP at some point this season, that would be objectively odd.
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So would the Blue Devils then steal the Cavaliers’ spot in the 12-team playoff field? Not necessarily…