Cam Ward and the Miami Hurricanes look to keep their ACC and playoff hopes alive with a conference win over Syracuse.

The No. 6 Miami Hurricanes will try to secure a spot in the ACC championship game and tighten their grip on a College Football Playoff berth against Syracuse on Saturday.

SMU enters the last week of its regular season with some security, having already clinched a spot in the ACC championship game in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 7. The Mustangs became the first former Group of Five team to clinch a spot in a power-conference title game in their first year in the new conference.

Win, and the Hurricanes are in the conference title game against SMU. Lose, and the Miami is holding its breath to see if it can somehow sneak in as an at-large for the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Win this weekend in Syracuse and the Hurricanes are going to next weekend’s Atlantic Coast Conference title game. Lose to Syracuse, the title hopes are gone and so may be any realistic shot at the College Football Playoff.

Miami needs a win to clinch a berth in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game against SMU on Dec. 7 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and remain on track for a sp

Fittingly, the Cavaliers and Hokies end the season with a renewal of their instate rivalry with bowl eligibility on the line for both teams with matching records (5-6, 3-4).