SMU joins Miami atop ACC standings as Mustangs throttle Pitt, Clemson falls at home to Louisville

The ACC title picture cleared up a bit on Saturday night as No. 20 SMU crushed No. 18 Pitt 48-25 and dwindled the number of unbeaten ACC teams to just two. If the Mustangs win their final three games, they will be on a collision course with No. 5 Miami for the ACC Championship Game.

Pitt and No. 11 Clemson were the other teams unbeaten in ACC play entering Week 10 action. Clemson fell 33-21 against Louisville, however, and Pitt was ensnared early by SMU, which used a 24-point second quarter to take command. 

Brashard Smith ran for 161 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Mustangs (8-1, 5-0 ACC), who now have an uncomplicated path to the ACC Championship Game during their first season in the league. If the Mustangs win their final three games (vs. Boston College, at Virginia, vs. Cal), they are guaranteed a spot.

SMU certainly looked the part of a league favorite and potential College Football Playoff team while scoring on five of its seven possessions in the first half against Pitt. It was a complete effort from the Mustangs, who held Pitt to 1 of 7 on third down attempts in the first half.

Had Clemson handled Louisville on Saturday night, the possibility of a three-way tie atop the conference standings would have remained in play. But if Clemson and Pitt are going to factor into the league championship game now, they will need either SMU or Miami to take a loss.

Both SMU and Miami are likely to be favored in their final three games. But if either of do take a loss, it would reignite various tiebreaker scenarios from within a group of one-loss teams vying for a spot in the ACC title game.