Miami leads ACC race with 6-0 mark as Wake Forest faces SMU
The Hurricanes sit atop a crowded conference field while other leaders like Utah and Georgia hold firm.
By Oliver Bennett ·
The University of Miami maintains the top spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings despite suffering its first defeat of the season. The Hurricanes dropped a game to Notre Dame but still hold a 6-0 record in conference play. Their position at the head of the ACC table creates a clear target for rivals seeking the league crown.
A high-stakes matchup is scheduled for Saturday when Wake Forest travels to Dallas to face SMU. The Demon Deacons currently sit at 5-1 in the conference. A win for SMU would strengthen their case for the championship game and further complicate the title chase. Wake Forest holds a head-to-head victory over Louisville, another team vying for the lead.
Conference officials have adjusted the tiebreaker process for the current season. Advanced analytics rankings were moved higher in the pecking order following last year's championship race. These metrics could play a decisive role in determining the final standings if multiple teams finish with identical records.
The Big 12 race features Utah as the leader. The Utes are 6-0 in conference play and hold a one-game advantage over Texas Tech. The Red Raiders survived a 53-48 loss to West Virginia last week. Texas Tech faces a difficult schedule with road games at Oklahoma State and Baylor in consecutive weeks. Those results may determine if they reach the title game.
Georgia leads the Southeastern Conference after reclaiming the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 poll. The Bulldogs are 6-1 in conference play. Alabama and Kentucky follow at 5-2. No top five contenders in the SEC are scheduled to play each other in the remaining weeks. Tiebreakers and upsets will likely decide the winner.
The Big Ten race remains volatile due to quarterback injuries across the league. UCLA leads the conference with a 6-0 record. Indiana trails by one game. Seven teams currently have two conference losses. USC hosts Indiana in a game that could tighten the standings for Ohio State and Oregon, both of which sit at 4-2.
Boise State controls the reconstituted eight-team Pac-12. The Broncos are 5-0 and hold a two-game lead over Oregon State. Oregon State travels to Boise on Nov. 14. A win for Boise State would nearly secure a berth in the conference championship game. North Texas leads the American Athletic Conference at 5-0 after UTSA lost to Florida Atlantic.
