ACC Football: A Look Ahead in the Conference

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The calendar has now turned to the month of October, most non-conference games are done with. Time for the head to head match up, time for the conference to get into high gear.

The Clemson Tigers have been without a doubt a team that if you can avoid them, do so. If you are a ranked team, stay away from them. Here’s why. With last Saturday night’s win at Virginia Tech, the Tigers streak of beating ranked teams now stands at eight straight. In September, Clemson played three teams that, when the game was played, were ranked in the top 15. Auburn, Louisville, Virginia Tech all suffered defeats at the hands of the Tigers. It marks the first time since the AP Poll was established that one team beat three ranked teams in the month of September.

Duke Head Coach David Cutcliffe became the sixth active head coach in the ACC to reach the 100 win mark. On September 29, Cutcliffe reached the milestone when his Blue Devils beat North Carolina 27-17

In that game, Blue Devil Senior Cornerback Bryon Fields recorded his fourth career interception return for a touchdown. The 61-yard return for a pick-6 ties him with Virginia’s Randy Neal (1991-94), and Wake Forest ‘s Alphonso Smith (2005-08).

Pittsburgh WR Quadree Henderson is as dangerous a return man as there is in the league and maybe the country. He returned his sixth kick return for a touchdown VS Georgia Tech on Sept. 29. The 80-yard return was his fourth kickoff return for a score. He also had two punt returns for a touchdown.

Virginia went on the road on Sept. 28 to take on a Boise State team that doesn’t lose at home to non-conference foes very often. But the Cavaliers’ 42-23 win gave the Broncos their first home loss in 17 years to an out of league opponent. It was also the first win for Virginia west of the Mississippi River since 1999 when they defeated BYU 45-40. Virginia is 3-1 for the first time since 2007.

Syracuse wide out Steve Ishmael leads the nation in receptions per game at months end. He is averaging 11.3 a game and is one of three ACC receivers ranked in the top seven in receptions per game. NC State Jaylen Samuels (9.5), Virginia Tech Cam Phillips (8.5) are the other two.

Boston College has played the seventh toughest schedule through four games in 2017. The combined record of the Eagles first four matchups are 8-1 to start the season.

This past weekend several schools across the landscape of the league wore special patches in honor of the AFCA’s Coach to Cure MD program. This is the 10th year coaches around the country join together to raise funds and awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Fans are encouraged to donate by texting “CURE” to 50555 or visiting Coach-toCureMD.org

Next week we will be back with more from the ACC.