There really is no sugarcoating it: the ACC is a bad football conference this year.
1. Clemson (8-0, 5-0 ACC) (Last Week: 1)
Last Week: at Florida State Seminoles (4-4, 2-4) – W 59-10
Next Week: vs Louisville Cardinals (2-6, 0-5)
The Tigers handed the Seminoles their largest home loss in school history on Saturday. The 1st quarter was actually pretty even, ending 0-0, before Trevor Lawrence threw back-to-back touchdowns to Tee Higgins, the first 14 of 45 straight points. This game doesn’t do anything to say that Clemson is more or less of a contender to take down Alabama, but it does say that their let down game probably already happened when they escaped against Syracuse.
2. Virginia (6-2, 4-1 ACC) (Last Week: 3)
Last Week: vs North Carolina Tar Heels (1-6, 1-4) – W 31-21
Next Week: vs Pittsburgh Panthers (4-4, 3-1)
Virginia continues to win and was rewarded this week by being ranked #23 in the AP poll. With Virginia Tech falling to Georgia Tech, the Cavaliers look like they actually might be the class of the Coastal. That definitely says more about the state of the Coastal than the state of Virginia football. But good for the Wahoos. I thought they would finish last in the Coastal and yet here they are after 8 games, bowl eligible and with a legitimate shot at playing in the ACC championship.
3. Boston College (6-2, 3-1 ACC) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: vs Miami Hurricanes (5-3, 2-2) – W 27-14
Next Week: at Virginia Tech Hokies (4-3, 3-1)
The Golden Eagles used the bye week effectively and looked masterful on their first two scoring drives against the Canes. The offense slowed up after that, but the defense never did and held the Canes to 305 yards of total offense and forced 2 turnovers. In two weeks, the Golden Eagles take on Clemson, but they can’t look past a Hokies team this week that will surely be fired up after their pitiful performance against the Yellow Jackets.
4. Syracuse (6-2, 3-2 ACC) (Last Week: 8)
Last Week: vs #22 North Carolina State Wolfpack (5-2, 2-2) – W 51-41
Next Week: at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-4, 1-3)
Syracuse was the winner of the most entertaining ACC game of the week when they held off
Ryan Finley and the Wolfpack offense. The Orange have now jumped into the AP poll at #22 as they head into a matchup with a terrible Wake Forest team. The one thing that is scary for Syracuse is how they seemingly give up big leads every week. This week they led 24-7, but late in the 4th quarter saw that lead shrink to 44-41. And this wasn’t anything new. The prior three weeks against UNC, Pittsburgh and Clemson, the Orange also saw multiple possession leads evaporate.
5. North Carolina State (5-2, 2-2 ACC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: at Syracuse Orange (6-2, 3-2) – L 51-41
Next Week: vs Florida State Seminoles (4-4, 2-4)
The hangover from the loss to Clemson was too much for the Wolfpack to overcome. The offense lit up the Orange defense, but the defense was absolutely terrible, giving up 561 yards of total offense. In one bright spot, Ryan Finley threw for 473 yards and 3 touchdowns after a less than stellar performance against Clemson.
6. Miami (5-3, 2-2 ACC) (Last Week: 4)
Last Week: at Boston College Golden Eagles (6-2, 3-1) – L 27-14
Next Week: vs Duke Blue Devils (5-3, 1-3)
I don’t even know what to say about this team. The offense is a disaster. It doesn’t matter who starts at QB, it’s just ugly. At this point, I’m in the camp that N’Kosi Perry may as well start so he can gain some experience for the future. This was a bad performance in all aspects. The Canes had an extra week to prepare for BC and looked like they did absolutely nothing to get ready. Please don’t lose to Duke this week.
7. Pittsburgh (4-4, 3-1 ACC) (Last Week: 9)
Last Week: vs Duke Blue Devils (5-3, 1-3) – W 54-45
Next Week: at #23 Virginia Cavaliers (6-2, 4-1)
The Panthers are sneaking into the Coastal picture and, with a win this week against the Cavaliers, would be at least tied for 1st after the weekend. After the loss to UNC, most people wrote off the Panthers, but that really is their only bad loss. Their other 3 losses are to Penn State, at Notre Dame, and at UCF. They generally beat the teams they should and play most other teams at least tough, if not close. Who would have thought at the beginning of the season that Pitt vs UVA would be the game of the week in the ACC?
8. Virginia Tech (4-3, 3-1 ACC) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (4-4, 2-3) – L 49-28
Next Week: vs #24 Boston College Golden Eagles (6-2, 3-1)
The Hokies defense forgot the game was on Thursday. Tobias Oliver, the backup QB for the Yellow Jackets, gashed the defense for 215 yards and 3 touchdowns, and GT finished with exactly 0 yards passing on only one attempt. The Hokies now fall back into a muddled Coastal race, where they control their own destiny, but they can’t be feeling too good after last week.
9. Duke (5-3, 1-3 ACC) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: at Pittsburgh Panthers (4-4, 3-1) – L 54-45
Next Week: at Miami Hurricanes (5-3, 2-2)
The sky is falling for Duke, who has lost 3 of 4, including 2 home games. The Blue Devils were outscored 19-3 in the 4th quarter on Saturday and gave up the game-winning touchdown with just 6 seconds left. What happened to the defense that looked so dominant at the beginning of the season?
10. Georgia Tech (4-4, 2-3 ACC) (Last Week: 12)
Last Week: at Virginia Tech Hokies (4-3, 3-1) – W 49-28
Next Week: at North Carolina Tar Heels (1-6, 1-4)
The Yellow Jackets picked up a huge road win on Thursday night when they took care of business against the Hokies. This was the first good win for GT on the season, and though they will need a miracle, they are still mathematically alive in the Coastal race. Georgia Tech threw for 0 yards in the victory, while running for 465 yards and averaging 6 yards per carry. That’s Georgia Tech football at its finest.
11. Florida State (4-4, 2-4 ACC) (Last Week: 10)
Last Week: vs #2 Clemson Tigers (8-0, 5-0) – L 59-10
Next Week: at North Carolina State Wolfpack (5-2, 2-2)
If Canes fans needed a silver lining this weekend, at least they got to watch the Seminoles get demolished by the Tigers. The performance was pathetic and resulted in the worst home loss in school history. Next up is a road game against NC State and I can’t imagine FSU slowing down Ryan Finley and that offense, or taking advantage of the weak defense.
12. UNC (1-6, 1-4 ACC) (Last Week: 11)
Last Week: at Virginia Cavaliers (6-2, 4-1) – L 31-21
Next Week: vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (4-4, 2-3)
UNC’s season is officially done. With only 4 games left (one game was cancelled from weather), the best the Tar Heels can do is finish with 5 wins. The team has still looked better since the bye, but they definitely ran out of steam against a far superior Virginia team. This week, they play for pride as they welcome the Yellow Jackets to town.
13. Wake Forest (4-4, 1-3 ACC) (Last Week: 13)
Last Week: at Louisville Cardinals (2-6, 0-5) – W 56-35
Next Week: vs #22 Syracuse Orange (6-2, 3-2)
Wake took care of business in Louisville, and now the question becomes can the Demon Deacons find two more wins on their schedule to become bowl eligible? I don’t think so, because frankly this team isn’t very good, but the schedule isn’t impossible with games against Syracuse (who always seems to be in close games) at home, and Pitt and Duke to round out the season.
14. Louisville (2-6, 0-5 ACC) (Last Week: 14)
Last Week: vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-4, 0-3) – L 56-35
Next Week: at #2 Clemson Tigers (8-0, 5-0)
The Cardinals did it. They managed to get blown out at home yet again, ensuring that they will need a miracle to not finish in last place in the Atlantic. In week 1 when Louisville was getting ready to take on Alabama, Bobby Petrino said he thought his team could win. I wonder if he still believes that as his team heads to Clemson to take on the #2 team in the country.
1. Clemson (8-0, 5-0 ACC) (Last Week: 1)
Last Week: at Florida State Seminoles (4-4, 2-4) – W 59-10
Next Week: vs Louisville Cardinals (2-6, 0-5)
The Tigers handed the Seminoles their largest home loss in school history on Saturday. The 1st quarter was actually pretty even, ending 0-0, before Trevor Lawrence threw back-to-back touchdowns to Tee Higgins, the first 14 of 45 straight points. This game doesn’t do anything to say that Clemson is more or less of a contender to take down Alabama, but it does say that their let down game probably already happened when they escaped against Syracuse.
2. Virginia (6-2, 4-1 ACC) (Last Week: 3)
Last Week: vs North Carolina Tar Heels (1-6, 1-4) – W 31-21
Next Week: vs Pittsburgh Panthers (4-4, 3-1)
Virginia continues to win and was rewarded this week by being ranked #23 in the AP poll. With Virginia Tech falling to Georgia Tech, the Cavaliers look like they actually might be the class of the Coastal. That definitely says more about the state of the Coastal than the state of Virginia football. But good for the Wahoos. I thought they would finish last in the Coastal and yet here they are after 8 games, bowl eligible and with a legitimate shot at playing in the ACC championship.
3. Boston College (6-2, 3-1 ACC) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: vs Miami Hurricanes (5-3, 2-2) – W 27-14
Next Week: at Virginia Tech Hokies (4-3, 3-1)
The Golden Eagles used the bye week effectively and looked masterful on their first two scoring drives against the Canes. The offense slowed up after that, but the defense never did and held the Canes to 305 yards of total offense and forced 2 turnovers. In two weeks, the Golden Eagles take on Clemson, but they can’t look past a Hokies team this week that will surely be fired up after their pitiful performance against the Yellow Jackets.
4. Syracuse (6-2, 3-2 ACC) (Last Week: 8)
Last Week: vs #22 North Carolina State Wolfpack (5-2, 2-2) – W 51-41
Next Week: at Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-4, 1-3)
Syracuse was the winner of the most entertaining ACC game of the week when they held off
Ryan Finley and the Wolfpack offense. The Orange have now jumped into the AP poll at #22 as they head into a matchup with a terrible Wake Forest team. The one thing that is scary for Syracuse is how they seemingly give up big leads every week. This week they led 24-7, but late in the 4th quarter saw that lead shrink to 44-41. And this wasn’t anything new. The prior three weeks against UNC, Pittsburgh and Clemson, the Orange also saw multiple possession leads evaporate.
5. North Carolina State (5-2, 2-2 ACC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: at Syracuse Orange (6-2, 3-2) – L 51-41
Next Week: vs Florida State Seminoles (4-4, 2-4)
The hangover from the loss to Clemson was too much for the Wolfpack to overcome. The offense lit up the Orange defense, but the defense was absolutely terrible, giving up 561 yards of total offense. In one bright spot, Ryan Finley threw for 473 yards and 3 touchdowns after a less than stellar performance against Clemson.
6. Miami (5-3, 2-2 ACC) (Last Week: 4)
Last Week: at Boston College Golden Eagles (6-2, 3-1) – L 27-14
Next Week: vs Duke Blue Devils (5-3, 1-3)
I don’t even know what to say about this team. The offense is a disaster. It doesn’t matter who starts at QB, it’s just ugly. At this point, I’m in the camp that N’Kosi Perry may as well start so he can gain some experience for the future. This was a bad performance in all aspects. The Canes had an extra week to prepare for BC and looked like they did absolutely nothing to get ready. Please don’t lose to Duke this week.
7. Pittsburgh (4-4, 3-1 ACC) (Last Week: 9)
Last Week: vs Duke Blue Devils (5-3, 1-3) – W 54-45
Next Week: at #23 Virginia Cavaliers (6-2, 4-1)
The Panthers are sneaking into the Coastal picture and, with a win this week against the Cavaliers, would be at least tied for 1st after the weekend. After the loss to UNC, most people wrote off the Panthers, but that really is their only bad loss. Their other 3 losses are to Penn State, at Notre Dame, and at UCF. They generally beat the teams they should and play most other teams at least tough, if not close. Who would have thought at the beginning of the season that Pitt vs UVA would be the game of the week in the ACC?
8. Virginia Tech (4-3, 3-1 ACC) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (4-4, 2-3) – L 49-28
Next Week: vs #24 Boston College Golden Eagles (6-2, 3-1)
The Hokies defense forgot the game was on Thursday. Tobias Oliver, the backup QB for the Yellow Jackets, gashed the defense for 215 yards and 3 touchdowns, and GT finished with exactly 0 yards passing on only one attempt. The Hokies now fall back into a muddled Coastal race, where they control their own destiny, but they can’t be feeling too good after last week.
9. Duke (5-3, 1-3 ACC) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: at Pittsburgh Panthers (4-4, 3-1) – L 54-45
Next Week: at Miami Hurricanes (5-3, 2-2)
The sky is falling for Duke, who has lost 3 of 4, including 2 home games. The Blue Devils were outscored 19-3 in the 4th quarter on Saturday and gave up the game-winning touchdown with just 6 seconds left. What happened to the defense that looked so dominant at the beginning of the season?
10. Georgia Tech (4-4, 2-3 ACC) (Last Week: 12)
Last Week: at Virginia Tech Hokies (4-3, 3-1) – W 49-28
Next Week: at North Carolina Tar Heels (1-6, 1-4)
The Yellow Jackets picked up a huge road win on Thursday night when they took care of business against the Hokies. This was the first good win for GT on the season, and though they will need a miracle, they are still mathematically alive in the Coastal race. Georgia Tech threw for 0 yards in the victory, while running for 465 yards and averaging 6 yards per carry. That’s Georgia Tech football at its finest.
11. Florida State (4-4, 2-4 ACC) (Last Week: 10)
Last Week: vs #2 Clemson Tigers (8-0, 5-0) – L 59-10
Next Week: at North Carolina State Wolfpack (5-2, 2-2)
If Canes fans needed a silver lining this weekend, at least they got to watch the Seminoles get demolished by the Tigers. The performance was pathetic and resulted in the worst home loss in school history. Next up is a road game against NC State and I can’t imagine FSU slowing down Ryan Finley and that offense, or taking advantage of the weak defense.
12. UNC (1-6, 1-4 ACC) (Last Week: 11)
Last Week: at Virginia Cavaliers (6-2, 4-1) – L 31-21
Next Week: vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (4-4, 2-3)
UNC’s season is officially done. With only 4 games left (one game was cancelled from weather), the best the Tar Heels can do is finish with 5 wins. The team has still looked better since the bye, but they definitely ran out of steam against a far superior Virginia team. This week, they play for pride as they welcome the Yellow Jackets to town.
13. Wake Forest (4-4, 1-3 ACC) (Last Week: 13)
Last Week: at Louisville Cardinals (2-6, 0-5) – W 56-35
Next Week: vs #22 Syracuse Orange (6-2, 3-2)
Wake took care of business in Louisville, and now the question becomes can the Demon Deacons find two more wins on their schedule to become bowl eligible? I don’t think so, because frankly this team isn’t very good, but the schedule isn’t impossible with games against Syracuse (who always seems to be in close games) at home, and Pitt and Duke to round out the season.
14. Louisville (2-6, 0-5 ACC) (Last Week: 14)
Last Week: vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-4, 0-3) – L 56-35
Next Week: at #2 Clemson Tigers (8-0, 5-0)
The Cardinals did it. They managed to get blown out at home yet again, ensuring that they will need a miracle to not finish in last place in the Atlantic. In week 1 when Louisville was getting ready to take on Alabama, Bobby Petrino said he thought his team could win. I wonder if he still believes that as his team heads to Clemson to take on the #2 team in the country.