Because of the way the College Football Playoff bracket is constructed, Indiana is the last team in the 12-team field. Two teams ranked lower than Indiana would make the field as projected conference champions.

The ACC has put themselves in position to potentially spoil IU’s playoff bid with SMU (9-1; 7-1 ACC) ranked at No. 9 — the Mustangs have already clinched a spot in the ACC title game — and Clemson (9-2; 7-1 ACC) ranked at No. 12 and the first team left out of the field.