ACC Power Rankings after Week 12: Miami Hurricanes keep strong case for CFP spot in 12-team field

The ACC is fighting a reality that it might only send one school to the 12-team Playoffs this year. There is still one plausible two-team scenario, but otherwise, the league's top three teams are still battling for one likely spot, given their positioning in the CFP rankings.

Miami is in the best shape and has made a strong case for itself after Week 12, but the rest of the conference is as up and down as it has been all year. Here's the rundown of the ACC as it stands:

ACC Power Rankings after Week 12

SMU and Rhett Lashlee still have a solid shot at the CFP this year. (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

#17 Florida State (1-9)

FSU was off this week and remains stuck at the bottom of the standings. Their only winning game came against the California Golden Bears in Sept. (14-9). With two games left on their schedule, even a sweep won't change their fate this campaign.

#16 Stanford (3-7)

The Stanford Cardinal get a jump off an impressive comeback 38-35 win over Louisville on Sunday. Their bowl chances are already gone, but credit goes to Stanford for fighting until the end of the season.

#15 Wake Forest (4-6)

A loss to North Carolina pretty much guarantees that the Demon Deacons will have a losing season. With games against Miami and Duke ahead, leaves the school with just a 1.4% shot at six wins per ESPN's FPI.

#14 NC State (5-5)

The Wolfpack were off this week and remain slightly more likely to miss a sixth win against Georgia Tech than to get it. It's been a disappointing season, but a bowl trip could salve things a bit.

#13 Virginia (5-5)

A loss to Notre Dame wasn't surprising, but it does narrow the opportunities for a sixth win. ESPN gives UVA just a 39.5% shot at this point.

#12 Boston College (5-5)

The loss to SMU wasn't unexpected, and BC is still on pace to reach a bowl and put together a solid season. North Carolina and Pitt are both solid, but BC has the advantage of playing at home for both games.

#11 California (5-5)

A home loss to Syracuse drops the Bears a few notches. The home game with Stanford looks a little more imposing after the Cardinal's upset of Louisville, but Cal is probably still going to go bowling.

#10 Virginia Tech (5-5)

Tech was off this week and remains in the same spot, hanging around the middle of the league. With Duke and UVA ahead, a bowl game is almost certain for the Hokies.

#9 North Carolina (6-4)

UNC outlasted Wake Forest to punch its bowl ticket. In a rough season, Mack Brown and his team have done a good job of staying the course and battling to a respectable outcome.

#8 Georgia Tech (6-4)

Tech was off this week and now has an early game with NC State before finishing the regular season at Georgia. A potential 7-5 campaign -- given their brutal schedule -- has been very impressive for the Yellow Jackets.

#7 Louisville (6-4)

Giving up a two-touchdown lead in the final ten minutes at Stanford on Sunday certainly drops Louisville a few spots. Forget about the playoff, which is now semi-officially a three-team race in the ACC.

#6 Duke (7-3)

The Blue Devils were off this week and have another week to think about what might have been. Duke's margin for missing the top three in the ACC was very slim, which is a glass half-full/half-empty type of situation.

#5 Syracuse (7-3)

The Orange won at Cal and improved their spot in the ACC's bowl pecking order substantially. No CFP shot here, but still an impressive season.

#4 Pittsburgh (7-3)

Pittsburgh fell off an unbeaten season in a hurry, but still remains near the upper echelon of the ACC. That said, two more road games with Louisville and Boston College raise the possibility of Pitt finishing 7-5, which will certainly drop them several spots in the rankings.

#3 Clemson (8-2)

On Sunday, the Tigers outlasted Pittsburgh in a game that wasn't as close as the 24-20 score might suggest. The Tigers upped their chances at the ACC title and the playoff berth, but only a bit. Clemson still needs some luck down the stretch to see those chances come to fruition. Their FPI rating is 15.3%, more than 10% higher than the schools below them.

#2 SMU (9-1)

The Mustangs got past Boston College and remain in the thick of the ACC picture. ESPN gives them a 36% shot to win the league and a 41% chance at the playoff. Simply put, it suggests that SMU has to win the ACC to make the playoffs. However, their FPI rating is lower than Clemson's at 13.9%.

#1 Miami (9-1)

Miami was off this week, but they remain the ACC's best (and nearly only) hope for a second playoff bid. The Hurricanes can win out and claim the league title, which would put them in the playoff. But an 11-1 Miami team losing to SMU in the ACC title game could put both teams in the playoff. It's not a great chance, but it's the ACC's best shot at two playoff teams.