Wake Forest, Miami Secure Playoff Berths in ACC
The Demon Deacons and Hurricanes improved their records with decisive victories, positioning both teams for the 12-team postseason.
By James Foster ·
Wake Forest and Miami solidified their positions in the College Football Playoff field with strong performances this past Saturday. The two Atlantic Coast Conference teams moved closer to securing spots in the 12-team postseason bracket through wins over their respective opponents.
No. 11 Wake Forest defeated SMU 49-7 in Dallas, a result that ended the Mustangs' 10-game home winning streak. The Demon Deacons entered the game as slight underdogs but delivered a lopsided victory. Wake Forest now holds a 9-1 overall record and a 6-1 mark in ACC play. The team is ranked No. 13 in the College Football Playoff rankings. They will face Georgia Tech next week to further secure their standing.
No. 5 Miami responded to its earlier loss at Notre Dame by defeating Duke at home. The win extended the Hurricanes' ACC winning streak to 11 games, tying a school record. Miami is 9-1 overall and 7-0 in conference play. The team sits at No. 7 in the CFP rankings. Miami can clinch a berth in the Dec. 5 ACC championship game if North Carolina defeats Louisville. If Louisville wins, Miami must win one of its final two regular-season games to guarantee a spot.
The ACC sent two teams to the 12-team playoff in the 2024-25 season, with SMU and Clemson earning the final selections. Miami represented the league alone last year and advanced to the national championship game before losing to unbeaten Indiana.
In other conference action, No. 7 Alabama defeated Vanderbilt 21-6. Keelon Russell played despite a sprained left ankle, throwing for 217 yards and three touchdowns. He accounted for two of the touchdowns with passes to Lotzeir Brooks. The Crimson Tide led 7-3 at halftime and relied on a defensive performance to secure the win. Vanderbilt recorded 235 total yards and committed 14 penalties, which outnumbered their 10 first downs.
Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer praised Russell's effort. "He’s a tough kid. He really didn’t take any snaps all week," DeBoer said. "He’s got great heart, went out and made some big plays for us. I know our team loves what he brings to the table as a leader, and it showed today." Alabama hosts lower-division Chattanooga next week, which may allow Russell a rest.
More Sports · San Antonio news · Report a business · Got a Story?
