Faculty Soccer Playoff forecast: How Miami’s win over Notre Dame advantages the ACC and Massive 12

Miami toppled a longtime foil, secured a first-class win and did its convention a large favor — all in 200 riveting minutes Sunday night time.

However the implications of Hurricanes’ 27-24 victory over Notre Dame lengthen far past the ACC’s borders and the Week 1 ledger.

Miami did the Massive 12 a strong, as nicely.

Though it’s mired in confounding, murky subjectivity, the Faculty Soccer Playoff choice course of is finally a numbers sport.

There are seven at-large spots obtainable, and the SEC and Massive Ten are more likely to gobble at the very least 5, simply as they did final yr.

In principle, each the ACC and Massive 12 would have affordable entry to the opposite two … if not for Notre Dame.

The Irish have their very own pathway, courtesy of the CFP administration committee that oversees the occasion’s format and choice coverage: End within the prime 12 of the ultimate rankings, and they’re in.

Whereas there isn’t any minimal victory whole required for a top-12 placement, Notre Dame seemingly is a lock for the CFP with an 11-1 report.

At 10-2, the state of affairs might get fascinating.

At 9-3, the door is (probably) closed.

Miami’s victory leaves the Irish with little margin for error over their closing 11 video games.

Granted, their schedule is embarrassingly comfortable this yr. The hardest highway sport is (take your choose) both a Week 5 journey to Arkansas or a Week 12 date at Pittsburgh.

The Irish play USC at house. They don’t face Clemson or Florida State as a part of the ACC partnership. They usually have a bye earlier than Texas A&M visits South Bend in two weeks.

So, sure: 11-1 is completely believable. They may not lose once more.

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Had the Irish overwhelmed Miami, a playoff berth would have been vastly extra probably than not, leaving the No. 2 groups within the ACC and Massive 12 to compete for a single at-large bid.

(Until the Massive Ten and SEC each produce three at-large groups — a risk that can not be ignored given their rising hegemony over the game.)

However Notre Dame’s weak schedule suggests a second loss would create a bubble state of affairs that dominates the media narrative within the weeks resulting in choice day.

Within the aftermath of the Miami loss, Notre Dame’s path has narrowed significantly. And the ACC and Massive 12 are clear beneficiaries.

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