NC State loss ends ACC’s multi-team CFP hopes

Raleigh, NC – The Atlantic Coast Conference’s aspirations for placing multiple teams in the College Football Playoff this season have all but vanished following a stunning upset on Saturday, November 4th. Georgia Tech delivered a significant blow to the conference’s playoff picture, defeating NC State 30-20 at Carter-Finley Stadium, effectively consolidating the ACC’s playoff hopes around a single, undefeated contender: Florida State.

NC State, already on the fringes of playoff contention with a 5-3 record entering the contest, saw any lingering outside chances evaporate with the home loss to a struggling Georgia Tech squad now 4-5. The Yellow Jackets’ victory, a testament to their resilience under Head Coach Brent Key, saw them outperform the Wolfpack, whose inconsistent offensive display ultimately sealed their fate.

The defeat holds far greater implications for the ACC as a whole. Prior to the weekend, a slender possibility existed for a second ACC team to build a compelling playoff resume. However, with NC State’s playoff door now firmly shut, the conference is left with only one undefeated team: the Florida State Seminoles, who boast a pristine 9-0 record.

The landscape for the rest of the ACC further underscores the challenge. Louisville, at 7-1, suffered an early season loss to Pittsburgh, placing them in a precarious position for a playoff berth without an undefeated record and a strong conference championship win. North Carolina, once considered a potential challenger, has two losses after falling to both Virginia and Miami, effectively removing them from playoff consideration. Even traditional powerhouse Clemson finds itself in an uncharacteristic 4-4 season, far removed from the national conversation.

With the College Football Playoff committee selecting only four teams for its postseason tournament, the path for the ACC to secure even one spot, let alone two, has become singularly reliant on Florida State. The Seminoles must run the table, likely culminating in an undefeated ACC Championship season, to maintain a strong case against formidable contenders from other Power Five conferences such like the SEC, Big Ten, and Pac-12. Should Florida State suffer a single loss in their remaining regular season games against Miami and Florida, or in a potential ACC Championship game, the ACC’s playoff hopes for 2023 would likely dwindle to zero.

The upcoming CFP rankings, set to be released this Tuesday, November 7th, will undoubtedly reflect the reduced strength of the ACC’s collective playoff profile. While a 12-team playoff format looms in 2024, the current four-team structure demands near perfection, a standard that now rests solely on the shoulders of the Florida State Seminoles to uphold for the Atlantic Coast Conference.