Hurricanes head to Charlotte to play for ACC championship

Miami departs for airport on quest to bring home conference crown

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes are headed to Charlotte, North Carolina, to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game.

Miami's players and coaches left the Hecht Athletic Center on Friday morning and boarded buses for Miami International Airport.

No. 7 Miami (10-1, 7-1 ACC) will face top-ranked Clemson (11-1, 7-1) after last week's 24-14 loss knocked the Hurricanes out of the No. 2 spot in the College Football Playoff poll.

Saturday's game will likely serve as a play-in game for one of the coveted top four spots to ensure a berth in the College Football Playoff.

While this will be Miami's first ACC Championship game appearance, it is familiar territory for the Tigers.

Clemson is playing for its third consecutive conference crown and fifth since 2009. The defending national champions have captured the last two ACC titles and are vying for a third consecutive for the first time since winning three in a row from 1986-88.

Miami will be hampered offensively with season-ending injuries to wide receiver Ahmmon Richards and tight end Christopher Herndon.

Clemson beat Miami 58-0 the last time the teams met in October 2015. It was the worst loss in Miami's history.

Local 10's coverage begins at 7 p.m. leading up to the game at 8 p.m.