Your guess is as good as mine.
1. Clemson (6-0, 3-0 ACC) (Last Week: 1)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: vs #16 North Carolina State Wolfpack (5-0, 2-0)
4 top 10 teams went down last weekend and no one benefits more than the Tigers, who sat at home and watched the madness while moving up to #3 in the polls. This week they take on the Wolfpack in a game that should determine the Atlantic representative in the ACC title game.
2. North Carolina State (5-0, 2-0 ACC) (Last Week: 3)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: at #3 Clemson Tigers (6-0, 3-0)
The Wolfpack move up to #2 because Miami sucked on Saturday. There really is no defending keeping Miami ahead of NC State at this point, and with how the rest of the ACC is playing, there is a huge gap between NC State and the rest of the bunch. A win this week would put NC State in the driver’s seat to win the Atlantic.
3. Miami (5-2, 2-1 ACC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: at Virginia Cavaliers (4-2, 2-1) – L 16-13
Next Week: Bye
Call me a homer, call me whatever you want, but I’m only dropping the Hurricanes one spot for their loss to a far inferior Cavaliers team. Is a loss to Old Dominion more forgivable than a loss at Virginia? Is a 17-point home loss to the team that lost to Old Dominion any better? How about a 17-point home loss to Purdue? Meanwhile, Syracuse is on a 2-game losing streak and the Cavaliers lost to Indiana. So yeah, Miami drops to just #3.
All that being said, that game was pitiful. The defense did all they could early on and N’Kosi Perry and the offense did absolutely nothing with the opportunities presented. I’ll put my neck out there and say Mark Richt made the right decision putting Malik Rosier into the game. Perry couldn’t put together a drive, and once Rosier came in, the playbook opened up. Rosier led a very slow and methodical 93-yard scoring drive to pull the Canes within 3. Yes, there was absolutely no tempo to the drive, but it resulted in points, and I honestly don’t know if Perry could have done that. Not yet. I still think Perry has a lot of potential, but if the Canes want to go to the ACC championship game, I don’t see him as the player who leads us there. As crazy as it is, this season is not lost and Miami can still win the Coastal. Virginia is most likely not going to win out in ACC play. The sky is falling but Miami can stop it by winning out.
4. Virginia Tech (4-2, 3-0 ACC) (Last Week: 4)
Last Week: at North Carolina Tar Heels (1-4, 1-2) – W 22-19
Next Week: Bye
While most Miami fans were watching the Canes lose, they missed out on the Hokies bid to achieve an even worse conference road loss. Ryan Willis led an 18 play, 98-yard drive that resulted in a game winning one-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Keene to help the Hokies escape with a 22-19 victory. Virginia Tech got incredibly lucky. UNC was about to score a touchdown when the defense forced a fumble as Michael Carter tried to bull his way into the end zone. The Hokies are the only undefeated Coastal team left in conference play, but with how they played against UNC, I can’t move them ahead of Miami just yet.
5. Boston College (5-2, 2-1 ACC) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: vs. Louisville Cardinals (2-5, 0-4) W 38-20
Next Week: Bye
After quickly jumping out to a 14-0 lead, the Eagles found themselves trailing the Cardinals 20-14 early in the 2nd quarter. The Eagles took the lead back but held just a 4-point lead until the 4th quarter. Think about that: the Eagles were at home playing a team that had just lost by 35 at home to a bad Georgia Tech team. The Eagles were again without AJ Dillon, but with how the defense looked in the first half, the Eagles have far more problems than just their injured running back.
6. Virginia (4-2, 2-1 ACC) (Last Week: 8)
Last Week: vs #16 Miami Hurricanes (5-1, 2-0) – W 16-13
Next Week: at Duke Blue Devils (5-1, 1-1)
Bronco Mendenhall finally got his first victory over a top 25 team as the Cavaliers survived 3 Bryce Perkins interceptions to ensure victory over the 16th ranked Canes. The defense shut down the Canes’ offense with the exception of two drives, one 75 yards and one 93 yards, and Virginia was able to take advantage of late Canes penalties to hold on for the victory. And now, thanks to the Cavaliers, the ACC Coastal is all messed up. With a win over Duke this week, Virginia could prove that they are a contender to represent in the ACC championship game.
7. Duke (5-1, 1-1 ACC) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-4, 1-3) – W 28-14
Next Week: vs Virginia Cavaliers (4-2, 2-1)
Did anyone see the offensive pass interference that wasn’t called on Georgia Tech’s first touchdown? How a referee could miss that call is beyond me. Two arms fully extended, pushing a defender to the ground. What in the world? Anyway, Duke took care of Georgia Tech in the second half, forcing 3 turnovers and scoring 3 touchdowns in 1:49. Duke only possessed the ball for 23:40, but even though they were dominated in that facet of the game, the defense never broke and the Yellow Jackets weren’t able to do much.
8. Syracuse (4-2, 1-2 ACC) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: vs North Carolina Tar Heels (1-4, 1-2)
The Orange were off this week but drop in the rankings because Virginia and Duke both won. And just because they were on a bye doesn’t mean their 2-game losing streak disappears.
9. Pittsburgh (3-4, 2-1 ACC) (Last Week: 9)
Last Week: at #5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-0) – L 19-14
Next Week: Bye
What a valiant effort by the Panthers, who went into South Bend and had the Fighting Irish on the ropes. The Panthers didn’t turn the ball over all game and the defense intercepted Ian Book twice to keep the game close. Maurice Ffrench’s 2nd half kickoff return for a touchdown made it seem like Pitt was going to pull off the unthinkable, but Notre Dame scored two late touchdowns to take the lead and the Kenny Pickett led offense had no answers to spark a late comeback.
10. Florida State (3-3, 1-3 ACC) (Last Week: 10)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-3, 0-2)
The Seminoles had a week to heal their wounds after the defeat in Miami and are probably smiling knowing that Miami lost to an average Virginia team. They’re also probably sad realizing they lost to a team that lost to Virginia.
11. UNC (1-4, 1-2 ACC) (Last Week: 11)
Last Week: vs Virginia Tech Hokies (4-2, 3-0) – L 22-19
Next Week: at Syracuse Orange (4-2, 1-2)
Now that’s how you lose a game. UNC had Virginia Tech, up 5, with the ball on the two-yard line and 6 minutes left in the game. And then running back Michael Carter fumbled, and the defense, which had been sound all game, gave up an 18 play, 98-yard touchdown drive that took the victory from the Tar Heels and gave it to the Hokies. The Tar Heels started true freshman Cade Fortin, who didn’t turn the ball over and threw for 97 yards before leaving with an injury. Nathan Elliott came in in relief and looked much better than his last outing against Miami, going 11/15 for 147 yards and 1 touchdown. This was a backbreaking loss for UNC who would have found themselves in a 6-way tie for first in the Coastal with a win. Instead, they’ve pretty much sealed their fate.
12. Wake Forest (3-3, 0-2 ACC) (Last Week: 12)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: at Syracuse Orange (4-2, 1-2)
The Demon Deacons had a bye last week and yet, word is, they still gave up 4 touchdowns.
13. Georgia Tech (3-4, 1-3 ACC) (Last Week: 13)
Last Week: vs Duke Blue Devils (5-1, 1-1) – L 28-14
Next Week: Bye
The Yellow Jackets hung around for the first 2 and a half quarters and then imploded. They turned the ball over 3 times which led to 3 Duke touchdowns in 1:49. Yeah, that’s a surefire way to blow a game, especially when your offense is really good at having the ball, but not very good at moving it into the end zone.
14. Louisville (2-5, 0-4 ACC) (Last Week: 14)
Last Week: at Boston College Eagles (5-2, 2-1) – L 38-20
Next Week: Bye
In a week that was topsy-turvy to say the least, it was nice to see the Cardinals continue to do what they do best. They certainly looked better against the Eagles than they did against the Yellow Jackets, but either way, the Cardinals lost and will head into the bye needing to win 4 of their last 5 to be bowl eligible. 3 of their games are against Clemson, NC State, and Kentucky, so Louisville can definitely make vacation plans for December.
1. Clemson (6-0, 3-0 ACC) (Last Week: 1)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: vs #16 North Carolina State Wolfpack (5-0, 2-0)
4 top 10 teams went down last weekend and no one benefits more than the Tigers, who sat at home and watched the madness while moving up to #3 in the polls. This week they take on the Wolfpack in a game that should determine the Atlantic representative in the ACC title game.
2. North Carolina State (5-0, 2-0 ACC) (Last Week: 3)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: at #3 Clemson Tigers (6-0, 3-0)
The Wolfpack move up to #2 because Miami sucked on Saturday. There really is no defending keeping Miami ahead of NC State at this point, and with how the rest of the ACC is playing, there is a huge gap between NC State and the rest of the bunch. A win this week would put NC State in the driver’s seat to win the Atlantic.
3. Miami (5-2, 2-1 ACC) (Last Week: 2)
Last Week: at Virginia Cavaliers (4-2, 2-1) – L 16-13
Next Week: Bye
Call me a homer, call me whatever you want, but I’m only dropping the Hurricanes one spot for their loss to a far inferior Cavaliers team. Is a loss to Old Dominion more forgivable than a loss at Virginia? Is a 17-point home loss to the team that lost to Old Dominion any better? How about a 17-point home loss to Purdue? Meanwhile, Syracuse is on a 2-game losing streak and the Cavaliers lost to Indiana. So yeah, Miami drops to just #3.
All that being said, that game was pitiful. The defense did all they could early on and N’Kosi Perry and the offense did absolutely nothing with the opportunities presented. I’ll put my neck out there and say Mark Richt made the right decision putting Malik Rosier into the game. Perry couldn’t put together a drive, and once Rosier came in, the playbook opened up. Rosier led a very slow and methodical 93-yard scoring drive to pull the Canes within 3. Yes, there was absolutely no tempo to the drive, but it resulted in points, and I honestly don’t know if Perry could have done that. Not yet. I still think Perry has a lot of potential, but if the Canes want to go to the ACC championship game, I don’t see him as the player who leads us there. As crazy as it is, this season is not lost and Miami can still win the Coastal. Virginia is most likely not going to win out in ACC play. The sky is falling but Miami can stop it by winning out.
4. Virginia Tech (4-2, 3-0 ACC) (Last Week: 4)
Last Week: at North Carolina Tar Heels (1-4, 1-2) – W 22-19
Next Week: Bye
While most Miami fans were watching the Canes lose, they missed out on the Hokies bid to achieve an even worse conference road loss. Ryan Willis led an 18 play, 98-yard drive that resulted in a game winning one-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Keene to help the Hokies escape with a 22-19 victory. Virginia Tech got incredibly lucky. UNC was about to score a touchdown when the defense forced a fumble as Michael Carter tried to bull his way into the end zone. The Hokies are the only undefeated Coastal team left in conference play, but with how they played against UNC, I can’t move them ahead of Miami just yet.
5. Boston College (5-2, 2-1 ACC) (Last Week: 5)
Last Week: vs. Louisville Cardinals (2-5, 0-4) W 38-20
Next Week: Bye
After quickly jumping out to a 14-0 lead, the Eagles found themselves trailing the Cardinals 20-14 early in the 2nd quarter. The Eagles took the lead back but held just a 4-point lead until the 4th quarter. Think about that: the Eagles were at home playing a team that had just lost by 35 at home to a bad Georgia Tech team. The Eagles were again without AJ Dillon, but with how the defense looked in the first half, the Eagles have far more problems than just their injured running back.
6. Virginia (4-2, 2-1 ACC) (Last Week: 8)
Last Week: vs #16 Miami Hurricanes (5-1, 2-0) – W 16-13
Next Week: at Duke Blue Devils (5-1, 1-1)
Bronco Mendenhall finally got his first victory over a top 25 team as the Cavaliers survived 3 Bryce Perkins interceptions to ensure victory over the 16th ranked Canes. The defense shut down the Canes’ offense with the exception of two drives, one 75 yards and one 93 yards, and Virginia was able to take advantage of late Canes penalties to hold on for the victory. And now, thanks to the Cavaliers, the ACC Coastal is all messed up. With a win over Duke this week, Virginia could prove that they are a contender to represent in the ACC championship game.
7. Duke (5-1, 1-1 ACC) (Last Week: 7)
Last Week: at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-4, 1-3) – W 28-14
Next Week: vs Virginia Cavaliers (4-2, 2-1)
Did anyone see the offensive pass interference that wasn’t called on Georgia Tech’s first touchdown? How a referee could miss that call is beyond me. Two arms fully extended, pushing a defender to the ground. What in the world? Anyway, Duke took care of Georgia Tech in the second half, forcing 3 turnovers and scoring 3 touchdowns in 1:49. Duke only possessed the ball for 23:40, but even though they were dominated in that facet of the game, the defense never broke and the Yellow Jackets weren’t able to do much.
8. Syracuse (4-2, 1-2 ACC) (Last Week: 6)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: vs North Carolina Tar Heels (1-4, 1-2)
The Orange were off this week but drop in the rankings because Virginia and Duke both won. And just because they were on a bye doesn’t mean their 2-game losing streak disappears.
9. Pittsburgh (3-4, 2-1 ACC) (Last Week: 9)
Last Week: at #5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-0) – L 19-14
Next Week: Bye
What a valiant effort by the Panthers, who went into South Bend and had the Fighting Irish on the ropes. The Panthers didn’t turn the ball over all game and the defense intercepted Ian Book twice to keep the game close. Maurice Ffrench’s 2nd half kickoff return for a touchdown made it seem like Pitt was going to pull off the unthinkable, but Notre Dame scored two late touchdowns to take the lead and the Kenny Pickett led offense had no answers to spark a late comeback.
10. Florida State (3-3, 1-3 ACC) (Last Week: 10)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-3, 0-2)
The Seminoles had a week to heal their wounds after the defeat in Miami and are probably smiling knowing that Miami lost to an average Virginia team. They’re also probably sad realizing they lost to a team that lost to Virginia.
11. UNC (1-4, 1-2 ACC) (Last Week: 11)
Last Week: vs Virginia Tech Hokies (4-2, 3-0) – L 22-19
Next Week: at Syracuse Orange (4-2, 1-2)
Now that’s how you lose a game. UNC had Virginia Tech, up 5, with the ball on the two-yard line and 6 minutes left in the game. And then running back Michael Carter fumbled, and the defense, which had been sound all game, gave up an 18 play, 98-yard touchdown drive that took the victory from the Tar Heels and gave it to the Hokies. The Tar Heels started true freshman Cade Fortin, who didn’t turn the ball over and threw for 97 yards before leaving with an injury. Nathan Elliott came in in relief and looked much better than his last outing against Miami, going 11/15 for 147 yards and 1 touchdown. This was a backbreaking loss for UNC who would have found themselves in a 6-way tie for first in the Coastal with a win. Instead, they’ve pretty much sealed their fate.
12. Wake Forest (3-3, 0-2 ACC) (Last Week: 12)
Last Week: Bye
Next Week: at Syracuse Orange (4-2, 1-2)
The Demon Deacons had a bye last week and yet, word is, they still gave up 4 touchdowns.
13. Georgia Tech (3-4, 1-3 ACC) (Last Week: 13)
Last Week: vs Duke Blue Devils (5-1, 1-1) – L 28-14
Next Week: Bye
The Yellow Jackets hung around for the first 2 and a half quarters and then imploded. They turned the ball over 3 times which led to 3 Duke touchdowns in 1:49. Yeah, that’s a surefire way to blow a game, especially when your offense is really good at having the ball, but not very good at moving it into the end zone.
14. Louisville (2-5, 0-4 ACC) (Last Week: 14)
Last Week: at Boston College Eagles (5-2, 2-1) – L 38-20
Next Week: Bye
In a week that was topsy-turvy to say the least, it was nice to see the Cardinals continue to do what they do best. They certainly looked better against the Eagles than they did against the Yellow Jackets, but either way, the Cardinals lost and will head into the bye needing to win 4 of their last 5 to be bowl eligible. 3 of their games are against Clemson, NC State, and Kentucky, so Louisville can definitely make vacation plans for December.
