This time, Cam Ward couldn’t save the Canes.
Miami’s hopes of making the 12-team College Football Playoff field could now come down to winning its first ACC championship — and there’s no guarantee the Hurricanes will even get there.
Georgia Tech knocked fourth-ranked Miami out of the top spot in the league with a 28-23 victory at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta.
It was Georgia Tech’s first win over an AP top-five opponent since a 2009 victory against Virginia Tech, and the Yellow Jackets accomplished it without throwing the football much at all.
Haynes King made his first start in nearly a month and attempted only five passes due to a banged-up throwing shoulder. With King ailing, Georgia Tech ran the ball 48 times for 271 yards and threw it only 16 times for 99 yards. True freshman Aaron Philo entered the game in key throwing situations and made plays to help out, finishing with 67 yards and one touchdown pass.
The Yellow Jackets kept the ball out of Ward’s hands most of the game and frustrated Miami’s top-ranked scoring offense on third down and in the red zone. The Hurricanes turned it over three times on downs in Georgia Tech territory.
Georgia Tech pulled off the upset without leading rusher Jamal Haynes, who exited in the first quarter with a concussion after only three carries.
Ward finished 25 of 39 for 348 yards and three touchdowns. Miami got the ball back at its own 17-yard line with just under two minutes remaining, but Ward was hit from behind and fumbled the football on the second play of the series.
U better believe it❕#StingEm 🐝 pic.twitter.com/oXOyG7nFsf
— Georgia Tech Football (@GeorgiaTechFB) November 9, 2024
What does this mean in the ACC and Playoff race?
If the first CFP rankings were any indication, Big Ten and SEC teams will be given the benefit of the doubt in the battle for at-large berths due to their strength of schedule.
Entering the weekend, Miami’s SOS ranked 65th, according to The Athletic’s Austin Mock.
As it stands, 13th-ranked SMU is the only remaining unbeaten team in conference play, and the Mustangs are in the driver’s seat to make it to the league title game in Charlotte.
Miami (9-1, 5-1 ACC), Clemson (6-2, 5-1) and Pittsburgh (7-1, 3-1) each have one league loss. The Hurricanes do not play Clemson or Pittsburgh, but the Panthers host Clemson on Nov. 16.
If Miami finishes tied with Clemson or Pittsburgh — and behind SMU — the first tiebreaker to determine who advances to Charlotte would be the winning percentage against common opponents.
Miami and Pittsburgh’s common opponents are Louisville, Cal and Syracuse.
Miami and Clemson’s common opponents, meanwhile, are Florida State, Louisville, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
The Hurricanes host Wake Forest on Nov. 23 and wrap up the regular season at Syracuse. Clemson plays at Virginia Tech on Saturday and plays its final two games against nonconference opponents at home (The Citadel and South Carolina).
Pittsburgh hosts Virginia on Saturday night and then travels to Louisville on Nov. 23 and Boston College on Nov. 30.
What does this do to Ward’s Heisman hopes?
There’s no doubt this opens the door for Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel to steal the spotlight from Ward.
Ward engineered double-digit comeback wins over Virginia Tech (27-17), Cal (35-10) and Duke (28-17) earlier this season but came up short against Georgia Tech.
Ward entered Saturday’s game on pace with the last three Heisman Trophy winners in terms of passing yardage and total touchdowns. But he likely needed to lead the Hurricanes to an unbeaten regular season and conference title to separate himself from the pack.
(Photo of Cam Ward: Brett Davis / Imagn Images)
