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SMU upset by Cal, sets up ACC title game between Duke and Virginia

Danby: Daniel Hager16 hours agoDanielHagerOn3

Thanks to Cal‘s stunning 38-35 upset victory over No. 21 SMU Saturday night, the ACC Championship Game has been set. No. 18 Virginia (10-2, 7-1) will clash against Duke (7-5, 6-2) for the second time this season next Saturday night in Charlotte.

This will mark the second ever ACC Title Game appearance for both Virginia (2019) and Duke (2013). Neither program has ever been crowned ACC Champion.

SMU trailed Cal 31-14 early in the fourth quarter, but stormed back and took a late 35-31 lead. The Golden Bears jumped back in front courtesy of a two-yard rushing touchdown from running back Kendrick Raphael with 42 seconds remaining, and held on for the win following a missed 52-yard field goal attempt by SMU kicker Sam Keltner.

The two programs met earlier this season on Nov. 15, with Virginia coming out on top 34-17 in Durham. Cavalier quarterback Chandler Morris shredded the Blue Devil defense, passing for 316 yards and two touchdowns. Running back J’Mari Taylor also enjoyed one of his best games of the season, rushing for 133 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.

“Very disappointing night. We were thoroughly outclassed in every category by Virginia tonight,” Duke head coach Manny Diaz said following that 17-point loss. “You have to give them full credit. That is as well as they have played all year. I think their quarterback [Chandler Morris] was outstanding and had terrific control throughout the course of the game. Coupled with one of the poor performances of our season, certainly offensively through three quarters.”

Virginia actually held a 31-3 lead in that game, but two fourth quarter Duke touchdowns made the score look even closer than it was. The Cavaliers out-gained Diaz’s team 540-255 in the win, and recorded 11 more first downs (22-11). If Virginia can take care of business of the Blue Devils for the second time this season, it would punch its first ever ticket to the College Football Playoff. It would be an unbelievable accomplishment for head coach Tony Elliott, who was on the hot seat following a 5-7 record last season.

This season meanwhile has been an absolute roller coaster for Duke, as it opened the season with a win over Elon and then suffered back-to-back losses to then-No. 11 ranked Illinois and Tulane. It then won six of its eight ACC games, but was knocked off by UConn 37-34 on Nov. 8. That loss didn’t affect their ACC Championship resume, but it certainly affects their College Football Playoff resume.

If Duke is able to knock off Virginia in Charlotte, it would (against all odds) punch its ticket to the College Football Playoff unless two Group of Five programs were to sneak past it in the College Football Playoff Rankings. A few of these potential culprits include North Texas (11-1), Tulane (10-2), and James Madison (11-1).