What happened: SMU fell eight spots to No. 24 in the US LBM Coaches Poll following a 30-27 road defeat against Syracuse on Saturday. The Mustangs led late before Syracuse quarterback Noah Meyers completed a game-winning touchdown pass with 17 seconds remaining. The setback snapped SMU's four-game winning streak and knocked the program out of the AP Top 25.

Why it matters: The defeat drops SMU to 4-2 in conference play, tightening the margin in an ACC title race led by undefeated Miami and No. 14 Wake Forest. At 6-2 overall, the Mustangs sit on the fringe of the national picture ahead of Tuesday's initial College Football Playoff rankings release.

What to watch: SMU hosts Virginia Tech at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Friday, Nov. 6, at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN to open a closing stretch featuring Wake Forest, No. 6 Notre Dame, and Stanford.