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ACC Football News & Notes: Two Teams Remain Undefeated.

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As we reach the Columbus Day holiday weekend, the Atlantic Coast Conference can boast two teams that are among 16 that are still unbeaten in college football. One is probably not a surprise as for the seventh time in the last eight years the #5 Clemson Tigers are undefeated at 5-0. What could be a bit of a shocker is that for the first time since 1987, the #22 Syracuse Orangemen are also unbeaten at 5-0. Clemson will look to keep this going on Saturday night on the road at Boston College while Syracuse has the weekend off. Here is more news from the ACC.

 

There are four conference teams that are ranked this week with Clemson leading the way at number five. At #14 is North Carolina State which has been ranked for 12 consecutive weeks in the AP Top 25 poll. It’s the longest streak for the Wolfpack since 22 straight back in 1992-93. Wake Forest is at #15 this week and they have the longest active streak in the AP Top 25 poll at 18 consecutive weeks. This mark is also a school record. Syracuse, at #22, is in the AP Top 25 poll for the first time since 2019. This week the Demon Deacons will play non-conference football as they will host Army. For the rest of the league, it is all about conference football.

 

Louisville (2-3, 0-3) will kick things off on Saturday afternoon on the road at Virginia (2-3, 0-2) Both teams are looking to win number one in league play. The Cavaliers have won the last two meetings between the two schools. Both quarterbacks in this one will be chasing school records. Cardinals QB Malik Cunningham is now just three touchdowns shy of tying Lamar Jackson’s record for rushing TD in a season by a quarterback. Virginia QB Brennan Armstrong is one TD pass away from tying Matt Schaub’s school record at 56. Virginia is 4-1 all-time vs Louisville in Charlottesville.

 

Virginia Tech (2-3,1-1) heads to Pittsburgh (3-2, 0-1). The Panthers are 5-4 vs the Hokies since joining the ACC back in 2013. Overall, the Panthers are 7-4 vs Virginia Tech going back to their days in the Big East. Both teams have been good on defense so far. Virginia Tech is fourth in the league in total defense while Pittsburgh is fifth. The Hokies are finishing up a two-game Coastal Division road trip. Pittsburgh is finishing up a three-game home stand.

 

North Carolina (4-1, 0-1) is in Miami (2-2, 0-0). The Tar Heels lead the series at 14-11. In league play, UNC is 10-8 and is looking to defeat Miami for the fourth straight time which would be the first time in school history. Miami is 8-7 in games played at home. Tar Heels QB Derek Maye is the league Quarterback and Rookie of the Week. It’s the third time already this season that Maye has been named Rookie of the Week. Last week, Maye was 28-of-36 for 363 yards and three touchdowns against Virginia Tech. He also ran for two more scores. So far this year, Maye has thrown 19 touchdowns the most by a UNC quarterback in his first five games. Miami’s Key’Shawn Smith is second in the country in kickoff returns at 40.1 per kick. He is third in the conference and 15th nationally in all-purpose yards with 145 per game.

 

Duke (4-1,1-0) is at Georgia Tech (2-3,1-1). This is the longest continuous rivalry on the Yellow Jacket schedule. GT is looking for their third straight win vs the Blue Devils. Georgia Tech is 30-14 all-time vs Duke. There are Yellow Jacket names all over the weekly award list. LB of the Week is Charlie Thomas, and Specialist of the Week is PK Gavin Stewart who hit field goals from 40, 37, 33, and 30 in last week’s upset win over then #24 Pittsburgh. Running back Hassan Hall was named Running Back of the Week. Blue Devils QB Riley Leonard has completed passes at a 72% clip, which is the best in the league and eighth nationally.

 

Florida State (4-1, 2-1) goes to #14 North Carolina State (4-1, 0-1). The Wolfpack have won four of the last five meetings. The Seminoles hold a 10-9 edge on the road at Raleigh. Saturday night will be the 24th time that this game will be played with at least one team ranked. Florida State’s QB Jordan Travis was 23-of-35 for 281 yards and three touchdown passes in the win over Wake. The three TD throws tied a career-high. He is eighth nationally averaging 9.73 yards per throw. N.C. State linebacker trio of Payton Wilson (11 tackles), Isaiah Moore (nine tackles, 2.5 for loss), and Drake Thomas (eight tackles) all finished last week’s game with eight or more tackles The Wolfpack defense is second in the league, and 15th nationally in total defense at 280 a game.

 

Clemson (5-0, 3-0) heads up to Boston College (2-3, 1-2) for a nationally televised game for the second straight year. The Tigers bring an 11-game winning streak to Chestnut Hill. They have also won the last 11 meetings between the two schools. They are 5-4 vs BC at Chestnut Hill and 13-4 since the Eagles joined the ACC. The Tigers lead the country in the red zone offense converting all 28 times they have been there. WR Zay Flowers was named Receiver of the Week for his 151-yard two-score game vs Louisville last week. QB Phil Jurkovec was 18-of-21 for 304 yards and three touchdowns. It was his eighth career 300-yard game and the second this year for BC.

 

The only non-conference game has #15 Wake Forest (4-1,1-1) hosting Army (1-3). Wake has won 10 of the last 11 games vs the Black Knights. They are 6-1 all-time in Winston-Salem against the Army. QB Sam Hartman has thrown 87 career touchdowns. He moved into the Top-5 in ACC history with 10,462 career passing yards.

 

That’s all for this week. We will be back next week with more from the ACC.

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