Last week, Miami beat FSU and thus world peace is one step closer to being achieved. Meanwhile, NC State knocked off BC proving themselves as Clemson’s biggest competition in the Atlantic. Right now, there is a definitive top 3 and then the rest of the conference is an absolute mess.
This week, 5 ACC teams have byes, while 8 of the 9 in play will be taking on conference foes.
1. Clemson (6-0, 3-0 ACC) (Last Week: 1)
Last Week: at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-3, 0-2) – W 63-3
Next Week: Bye
If there were any questions about the Tigers after they almost lost at home to Syracuse, they answered them by absolutely destroying Wake Forest on the road in their most lopsided victory of the season. It was the best all-around performance by the Tigers this year as the offense scored a season high 66 and the defense gave up a season low 3 points. Clemson piled up 698 yards in the victory, and Travis Etienne averaged 16.7 yards per carry while scoring 3 touchdowns.
2. Miami (5-1, 2-0 ACC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: vs Florida State Seminoles (3-3, 1-3) – W 28-27
Next Week: at Virginia Cavaliers (3-2, 1-1)
First of all, the announcement of Ahmmon Richards’ career ending injury is simply devastating. You never want to see a young player with so much talent have their career cut short, no matter who they play for. I wish him all the best.
Now to the game at hand. It was ugly, but it was a win and for the first time since 2004, the Hurricanes took down the Seminoles in Miami. This game didn’t say much for how good Miami is, rather it says how bad FSU is. The Canes defense was dominant in the second half, forcing two turnovers that set up 2 touchdowns in 42 seconds. N’Kosi Perry may have thrown 4 touchdowns, but the redshirt freshman looked far from great in his second start, and first where something was asked of him, going just 13-32 for 204 yards. The offense will need to be better if the Canes want to win the Coastal and have any shot at the ACC title.
3. North Carolina State (5-0, 2-0 ACC) (Last Week: 3)
Last Week: vs Boston College Eagles (4-2, 1-1) – W 28-23
Next Week: Bye
The Wolfpack took a 28-3 lead deep into the 3rd quarter before they unthinkably almost blew it all away. I really don’t know what to make of this team. Yes, they’re undefeated, but they turned the ball over 4 times against the Eagles, and won by just 5 despite gaining 22 more first downs than BC. They will have a bye week to clean up some of the sloppy play before they travel to Clemson for a game that will likely decide the Atlantic representative in the ACC championship.
4. Virginia Tech (3-2, 2-0 ACC) (Last Week: 4)
Last Week: vs #6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-0) – L 45-23
Next Week: at North Carolina Tar Heels (1-3, 1-1)
Either Brian Kelly gave the greatest halftime speech of all time, or the Hokies just simply forgot they were supposed to play for 60 minutes. In the first half, VT was step-for-step with the Fighting Irish, even scoring a last second touchdown to enter the half down just 1 after what could have been a devastating fumble recovery touchdown. The Hokies looked determined to stay with Notre Dame until the very end, but the 2nd half was a disaster. The Hokies were outscored 28-7 in the final half, and now likely won’t play another ranked opponent until they take on Miami on November 17. The Hokies can still win the Coastal, but it seems that is their ceiling for the season.
5. Boston College (4-2, 1-1 ACC) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: at #23 NC State Wolfpack (5-0, 2-0) – L 28-23
Next Week: vs. Louisville Cardinals (2-4, 0-3)
Anthony Brown and BC mounted a valiant comeback that ultimately fell just short in Raleigh. Playing without AJ Dillon, it was expected that the Eagles would have a hard time competing with the Wolfpack. The defense did turn over Ryan Finley twice after he had thrown only 1 interception all season, though. Luckily for BC, they get Louisville at home, which is essentially a bye week, then they get their actual bye week before they welcome the Hurricanes to town. Two weeks of rest for AJ Dillon could make that game very interesting.
6. Syracuse (4-2, 1-2 ACC) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: at Pittsburgh Panthers (3-3, 2-1) – L 44-37
Next Week: Bye
What do you even say about what happened in Pittsburgh on Saturday? The Orange, who looked so good through 5 weeks, came out flat. After a weather delay, they rebounded and looked poised to deliver a knockout blow to the Panthers. Instead, they let the Panthers back into the game, and gave up a last second field goal which forced overtime. After the defense gave up an easy touchdown, Eric Dungey threw one of the dumbest passes you may ever see on first down which resulted in an interception and Panther victory. Just when you think Syracuse has actually turned the corner…
7. Duke (4-1, 0-1 ACC) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-3, 1-2)
The bad news: with the Yellow Jackets picking up a win at Louisville, the Blue Devils come out of their bye week as the only team in the Coastal without an ACC win. The good news: the Blue Devils get GT this week as they try to ascend the Coastal standings.
8. Virginia (3-2, 1-1 ACC) (Last Week: 8)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: vs #16 Miami Hurricanes (5-1, 2-0)
Nothing to report in Virginia. The Cavaliers had an extra week to prepare for Miami, and it will be interesting to see how Bryce Perkins attacks a Hurricane defense that has caused 8 turnovers in the last 2 weeks.
9. Pittsburgh (3-3, 2-1 ACC) (Last Week: 12)
Last Week: vs Syracuse Orange (4-2, 1-2) – W 44-37
Next Week: at #5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-0)
Alright Pittsburgh, I see you. Pitt rallied back from an early two touchdown deficit to take a 10-point lead, which they saw turn into a 7-point hole yet again. But the Panthers hung in there forcing overtime, and pulled out a huge conference win over the Orange. Pitt now quietly sits at 2-1 in ACC play. Qadree Ollison rushed for 192 yards, while Darrin Hall added another 107. The defense leaves a lot to be desired but made enough stops on Saturday to get the win.
10. Florida State (3-3, 1-3 ACC) (Last Week: 10)
Last Week: at #17 Miami Hurricanes (5-1, 2-0)
Next Week: Bye
Well there goes any shot at redeeming your season. Miami just played as bad as they could have and they still won. All FSU had to do was put together any sort of drive in the 2nd half, but they couldn’t. Also 4 of their last 6 games are against ranked opponents, which barring a miracle, means that at most FSU would end up with 5 wins. Maybe they’ll schedule another cupcake to become bowl eligible. Though with this team, I wouldn’t trust them to pull out the win.
11. UNC (1-3, 1-1 ACC) (Last Week: 11)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: vs Virginia Tech Hokies (3-2, 2-0)
UNC comes off their bye to take on an up and down Hokies team. If VT was able to beat a Daniel Jones led Duke team on the road, I can’t imagine them having any trouble with UNC no matter who is starting at QB.
12. Wake Forest (3-3, 0-2 ACC) (Last Week: 9)
Last Week: vs #4 Clemson Tigers (6-0, 3-0) – L 63-3
Next Week: Bye
Wake took a page out Louisville’s book and decided to play dead in front of their home crowd. The defense gave up 698 yards of total offense. 698! The refs should have either called this one at halftime, enforced the mercy rule, or just implemented a running clock, because the Demon Deacons were pitiful. Is it crazy that Wake only had 1 turnover all game and they still lost by 60?
13. Georgia Tech (3-3, 1-2 ACC) (Last Week: 13)
Last Week: at Louisville Cardinals (2-4, 0-3) – W 66-31
Next Week: vs Duke Blue Devils (4-1, 0-1)
In the victory, the Yellow Jackets almost scored more points than plays they ran (67-66). TaQuon Marshall threw the ball only twice all game, but GT racked up 542 yards rushing in the rout. What does this mean for Georgia Tech going forward… who knows? They’re inconsistent, but a win over Duke this week could work wonders in proving they are a contender in the Coastal.
14. Louisville (2-4, 0-3 ACC) (Last Week: 14)
Last Week: vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-3, 1-2) – L 66-31
Next Week: at Boston College Eagles (4-2, 1-1)
And that’s how you solidify your position as the worst team in the ACC. My favorite stat from Friday night’s massacre was that Georgia Tech threw for only 12 yards all game and still scored 66 points. The Yellow Jackets rushed 65 times for 542 yards. 542! Someone call Louisville’s defensive coordinator and tell him that GT is going to run and he should call a play to stop it.
This week, 5 ACC teams have byes, while 8 of the 9 in play will be taking on conference foes.
1. Clemson (6-0, 3-0 ACC) (Last Week: 1)
Last Week: at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-3, 0-2) – W 63-3
Next Week: Bye
If there were any questions about the Tigers after they almost lost at home to Syracuse, they answered them by absolutely destroying Wake Forest on the road in their most lopsided victory of the season. It was the best all-around performance by the Tigers this year as the offense scored a season high 66 and the defense gave up a season low 3 points. Clemson piled up 698 yards in the victory, and Travis Etienne averaged 16.7 yards per carry while scoring 3 touchdowns.
2. Miami (5-1, 2-0 ACC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: vs Florida State Seminoles (3-3, 1-3) – W 28-27
Next Week: at Virginia Cavaliers (3-2, 1-1)
First of all, the announcement of Ahmmon Richards’ career ending injury is simply devastating. You never want to see a young player with so much talent have their career cut short, no matter who they play for. I wish him all the best.
Now to the game at hand. It was ugly, but it was a win and for the first time since 2004, the Hurricanes took down the Seminoles in Miami. This game didn’t say much for how good Miami is, rather it says how bad FSU is. The Canes defense was dominant in the second half, forcing two turnovers that set up 2 touchdowns in 42 seconds. N’Kosi Perry may have thrown 4 touchdowns, but the redshirt freshman looked far from great in his second start, and first where something was asked of him, going just 13-32 for 204 yards. The offense will need to be better if the Canes want to win the Coastal and have any shot at the ACC title.
3. North Carolina State (5-0, 2-0 ACC) (Last Week: 3)
Last Week: vs Boston College Eagles (4-2, 1-1) – W 28-23
Next Week: Bye
The Wolfpack took a 28-3 lead deep into the 3rd quarter before they unthinkably almost blew it all away. I really don’t know what to make of this team. Yes, they’re undefeated, but they turned the ball over 4 times against the Eagles, and won by just 5 despite gaining 22 more first downs than BC. They will have a bye week to clean up some of the sloppy play before they travel to Clemson for a game that will likely decide the Atlantic representative in the ACC championship.
4. Virginia Tech (3-2, 2-0 ACC) (Last Week: 4)
Last Week: vs #6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-0) – L 45-23
Next Week: at North Carolina Tar Heels (1-3, 1-1)
Either Brian Kelly gave the greatest halftime speech of all time, or the Hokies just simply forgot they were supposed to play for 60 minutes. In the first half, VT was step-for-step with the Fighting Irish, even scoring a last second touchdown to enter the half down just 1 after what could have been a devastating fumble recovery touchdown. The Hokies looked determined to stay with Notre Dame until the very end, but the 2nd half was a disaster. The Hokies were outscored 28-7 in the final half, and now likely won’t play another ranked opponent until they take on Miami on November 17. The Hokies can still win the Coastal, but it seems that is their ceiling for the season.
5. Boston College (4-2, 1-1 ACC) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: at #23 NC State Wolfpack (5-0, 2-0) – L 28-23
Next Week: vs. Louisville Cardinals (2-4, 0-3)
Anthony Brown and BC mounted a valiant comeback that ultimately fell just short in Raleigh. Playing without AJ Dillon, it was expected that the Eagles would have a hard time competing with the Wolfpack. The defense did turn over Ryan Finley twice after he had thrown only 1 interception all season, though. Luckily for BC, they get Louisville at home, which is essentially a bye week, then they get their actual bye week before they welcome the Hurricanes to town. Two weeks of rest for AJ Dillon could make that game very interesting.
6. Syracuse (4-2, 1-2 ACC) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: at Pittsburgh Panthers (3-3, 2-1) – L 44-37
Next Week: Bye
What do you even say about what happened in Pittsburgh on Saturday? The Orange, who looked so good through 5 weeks, came out flat. After a weather delay, they rebounded and looked poised to deliver a knockout blow to the Panthers. Instead, they let the Panthers back into the game, and gave up a last second field goal which forced overtime. After the defense gave up an easy touchdown, Eric Dungey threw one of the dumbest passes you may ever see on first down which resulted in an interception and Panther victory. Just when you think Syracuse has actually turned the corner…
7. Duke (4-1, 0-1 ACC) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-3, 1-2)
The bad news: with the Yellow Jackets picking up a win at Louisville, the Blue Devils come out of their bye week as the only team in the Coastal without an ACC win. The good news: the Blue Devils get GT this week as they try to ascend the Coastal standings.
8. Virginia (3-2, 1-1 ACC) (Last Week: 8)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: vs #16 Miami Hurricanes (5-1, 2-0)
Nothing to report in Virginia. The Cavaliers had an extra week to prepare for Miami, and it will be interesting to see how Bryce Perkins attacks a Hurricane defense that has caused 8 turnovers in the last 2 weeks.
9. Pittsburgh (3-3, 2-1 ACC) (Last Week: 12)
Last Week: vs Syracuse Orange (4-2, 1-2) – W 44-37
Next Week: at #5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-0)
Alright Pittsburgh, I see you. Pitt rallied back from an early two touchdown deficit to take a 10-point lead, which they saw turn into a 7-point hole yet again. But the Panthers hung in there forcing overtime, and pulled out a huge conference win over the Orange. Pitt now quietly sits at 2-1 in ACC play. Qadree Ollison rushed for 192 yards, while Darrin Hall added another 107. The defense leaves a lot to be desired but made enough stops on Saturday to get the win.
10. Florida State (3-3, 1-3 ACC) (Last Week: 10)
Last Week: at #17 Miami Hurricanes (5-1, 2-0)
Next Week: Bye
Well there goes any shot at redeeming your season. Miami just played as bad as they could have and they still won. All FSU had to do was put together any sort of drive in the 2nd half, but they couldn’t. Also 4 of their last 6 games are against ranked opponents, which barring a miracle, means that at most FSU would end up with 5 wins. Maybe they’ll schedule another cupcake to become bowl eligible. Though with this team, I wouldn’t trust them to pull out the win.
11. UNC (1-3, 1-1 ACC) (Last Week: 11)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: vs Virginia Tech Hokies (3-2, 2-0)
UNC comes off their bye to take on an up and down Hokies team. If VT was able to beat a Daniel Jones led Duke team on the road, I can’t imagine them having any trouble with UNC no matter who is starting at QB.
12. Wake Forest (3-3, 0-2 ACC) (Last Week: 9)
Last Week: vs #4 Clemson Tigers (6-0, 3-0) – L 63-3
Next Week: Bye
Wake took a page out Louisville’s book and decided to play dead in front of their home crowd. The defense gave up 698 yards of total offense. 698! The refs should have either called this one at halftime, enforced the mercy rule, or just implemented a running clock, because the Demon Deacons were pitiful. Is it crazy that Wake only had 1 turnover all game and they still lost by 60?
13. Georgia Tech (3-3, 1-2 ACC) (Last Week: 13)
Last Week: at Louisville Cardinals (2-4, 0-3) – W 66-31
Next Week: vs Duke Blue Devils (4-1, 0-1)
In the victory, the Yellow Jackets almost scored more points than plays they ran (67-66). TaQuon Marshall threw the ball only twice all game, but GT racked up 542 yards rushing in the rout. What does this mean for Georgia Tech going forward… who knows? They’re inconsistent, but a win over Duke this week could work wonders in proving they are a contender in the Coastal.
14. Louisville (2-4, 0-3 ACC) (Last Week: 14)
Last Week: vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-3, 1-2) – L 66-31
Next Week: at Boston College Eagles (4-2, 1-1)
And that’s how you solidify your position as the worst team in the ACC. My favorite stat from Friday night’s massacre was that Georgia Tech threw for only 12 yards all game and still scored 66 points. The Yellow Jackets rushed 65 times for 542 yards. 542! Someone call Louisville’s defensive coordinator and tell him that GT is going to run and he should call a play to stop it.
