The ACC’s been the Wild West this year, and that trend continued in Week 11. The Virginia Cavaliers sat atop the conference heading into their game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, but they found themselves back in the crowd after this matchup. How did a major upset impact the ACC in the race for the College Football Playoff?
What are the Chances of Virginia Making the College Football Playoff?
Tony Elliott’s team deserves the praise it has received so far this year. A team that needed to make a bowl game took things to another level, but this week gave them some adversity they couldn’t overcome.
First, they lost starting quarterback Chandler Morris, and then Wake Forest gave them their first conference loss. The Demon Deacons’ defense gave Virginia trouble even when Morris was in, but his absence became even more noticeable.
An offense that usually displayed efficiency struggled to move the ball, and the defense could only do so much to keep the Demon Deacons in check, too. So what’s next for the Cavaliers?
According to the PFSN College Football Playoff Meter (FPM), Virginia had a 27.4% chance to make the College Football Playoff ahead of their Week 11 clash with Wake Forest. A win would have increased their odds to 35%, confirming the aforementioned long road ahead of them. The loss, unfortunately, knocked their chances down to 13.1%.
The defeat puts them at 8-2 on the season with a conference record of 5-1. Still, their playoff hopes are alive given that they’re still tied for first place in the ACC. Their biggest problem remains the road ahead, a path that provides multiple even more difficult challenges.
Remaining Virginia Football Schedule
- at Duke
- vs. Virginia Tech
The Cavaliers have winnable games remaining, so it’s not impossible to see them play in the playoff. Duke’s a solid team, and has given multiple teams headaches this year in ACC play. Virginia Tech is a rival, so that game was always going to be a challenge in its own way.
Morris’ status for the rest of the season dictates the likelihood that this team can make a run at the playoff. He’s been a catalyst in the offensive resurgence, and the scary hit he took has fans wondering what his future looks like for 2025. If he can go, they’ll feel much better about their chances going forward.
Even if the Cavaliers win out and still make the ACC Championship Game, they still have their most formidable challenge remaining in that game. Depending on various results, they’ll have to play Georgia Tech, Pitt, SMU, or Louisville with so much on the line.
