I know it's not common or preferred, but what would you have had them do?
They both had an open slot due to opponents canceling. If they add "Bethune-Cookman", then their strength of schedule plummets.
I hope it never happens again, but I'm not mad at UVa/NC State. **** happens.
Again, ACC leaders and various university ADs need to plan out the rules and scenarios for tiebreakers...a bit better...a LOT better...
If you **** well know that a new "expansion" to 12 teams (and new rules) have been implemented, rules in which a P4 conference champion MIGHT be excluded, you have to take action to guard against that doomsday scenario, as it will cost you over $15M in revenue (and probably more in the future).
Make it clear in the "tiebreaker" language that only teams ranked in the Top 25 at a certain date may be considered for the championship game slots.
Period.
Problem fixed.
Duke would be "out" of the tiebreaker scenarios based on that simple change in language.