No. 2 Miami's stunning loss opens ACC floodgates for four other teams

No. 2 Miami fell at home on Friday night to Louisville by three points, 24-21, and that has opened the door for other Atlantic Coast Conference teams to make their moves in the league race during the bevy of Week 8 games on Saturday.

The Hurricanes (5-1 overall, 1-1 in the ACC) are still in the conversation for the conference crown and a bid to the 12-team College Football Playoff. However, Miami's upset setback in the Sunshine State also gives the four teams that remain unbeaten in ACC competition an opportunity to stay ahead of the Hurricanes.

Miami's loss to Louisville provides opportunity for other ACC teams

A close defeat at the hands of Louisville (5-1 overall, 2-1 in the ACC) isn't the end of the world. The Cardinals will likely be ranked in the next set of top-25 polls that come out on Sunday. However, Miami should be concerned about redshirt senior quarterback Carson Beck throwing no touchdown passes, and four interceptions, against Louisville.

No. 12 Georgia Tech, No. 18 Virginia, Duke and SMU all have no losses in conference clashes. On Saturday, the Yellow Jackets travel to the Blue Devils, so one of them will fall from the ranks of the unblemished in ACC play.

The Mustangs head to Clemson, which has won two straight. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, host Washington State in a non-conference battle.

Squads with one ACC loss include Louisville, California, Pittsburgh and Miami. All those teams remain in the hunt for a potential berth in early December's ACC championship game in Charlotte, N.C.

Even though the Hurricanes fell on their turf on Friday night, they still could end up being the top group in the conference, although Beck has to make better decisions with his throws.

Also on Friday evening, Cal defeated a lackluster North Carolina squad, 21-18, out in Berkeley. The Golden Bears are one of the biggest surprises to date in the league, along with Virginia. The Golden Bears were projected to finish at No. 15 in the ACC standings. With the home win over the Tar Heels, Cal is 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the ACC.

Pittsburgh, which has captured two in a row, will play at Syracuse on Saturday evening. The Orange are struggling these days, having dropped two consecutive games by wide margins.

It will be interesting to see how far Miami drops in the AP and Coaches polls on Sunday. The Hurricanes still have an impressive resume, with three top-25 victories. But they are no longer the runaway favorite in the ACC race.