SMU, Virginia, Miami, Pitt, and Duke vie for ACC title with complex tiebreakers amid fairness concerns.

The ACC's 2025 college football season has reached a chaotic climax, with SMU, Virginia, Miami, Pitt, and Duke all still in contention for the title game amid a complex web of tiebreakers. The 17-team conference structure, lacking divisions, means outcomes hinge on head-to-head results and winning percentage against common opponents—favoring SMU due to a key win over Louisville, which Pitt lost to earlier. Coaches including Pat Narduzzi criticize the reliance on obscure tiebreakers, warning they can unfairly exclude strong teams. Despite Miami’s late surge and a win over Notre Dame, lingering losses hurt their CFP hopes. With no clear favorite and multiple paths to the championship, the final weekend promises unpredictability, underscoring growing concerns about fairness in expanded conferences.