ACC Football News & Notes: Conference Play is Almost Here

Read Time:3 Minute, 49 Second

Some history was made last weekend in the Atlantic Coast Conference. On top of that, a record number of points were scored in last weekend’s set of games. This weekend, there are six conference games on tap as the ACC begins to move away from non-conference action and into league play. Let’s take a look at what the last weekend in September has in store for the ACC.

The #17 ranked Clemson Tigers (2-0, 1-0) made history last weekend. Their 59-35 win over North Carolina State was the program’s 800 all-time victory. They become the first program in the ACC and the 14th in FBS to reach that milestone. Four other schools also have a shot at joining the 800-win club. Virginia Tech (775), Georgia Tech (759), Syracuse (745), and Pittsburgh (765) all have a good chance of reaching that milestone. This weekend, the Tigers will host the Stanford Cardinal (2-1, 1-0) for the first time as a league member. They have met twice before with each team winning a game.

The record number of points scored by teams in the league last weekend was 743 to be exact. Seven schools had 40-point games while the Panthers jumped all over Youngstown State to the tune of 73-17. Only one school, California scored less than 10 points (9). The conference had three teams ranked in the AP top 25. Miami at #7, Louisville at #16, and Clemson at #17. These are the same three that were ranked a week ago. For Clemson and Louisville, they each moved up four spots this week. For the Hurricanes, this marks the third week in a row in the Top-10.

There are five non-conference games this weekend. The big one will take place in South Bend, IN as the 16th-ranked Cardinals (3-0, 1-0) meet Notre Dame. The series between the two is tied at 2-2. Both the defense and the offense of the Cardinals are ranked in the top 20 nationally. The offense is ranked 14th in total offense at 502.3 yards a game and 12th in scoring offense at 47.3 points a game. The defense has allowed only 46 first downs so far. That’s the best in the league and 14th in FBS. For the Irish, this begins a stretch of playing five of its next six games vs the league.

In conference play, the #7 Miami Hurricanes (4-0) begin league play at home vs Virginia Tech (2-2). The Friday night matchup features a QB in Cam Ward who is off to a great start for Miami. Last weekend, he reached 15,000 passing yards for his career. He is the 13th player to reach that number. The Hurricanes boasted the second-best passing offense in FBS (405 yards) while their defense is the FBS leader in sacks per game at four. The Hokies have been a very good passing defense so far. They rank second in the league in pass defense (160 yards a game). In the red zone, they have allowed only a 68.4% success rate, also second-best in the league. On offense, running back Bhayshul Tuten leads the ACC and is sixth nationally with seven rushing touchdowns. He had three vs Rutgers.

Florida State (1-3, 1-2) picked up their first win of the year last Saturday. This week, they are back on the road at SMU (3-1). The first time they will meet as league members. This will be the fourth home game in a row for the Mustangs. SMU is tied for the nation lead in defensive touchdowns with three. They lead the league and are fourth in the country in fumbles recovered with five. The Seminoles Shyheim Brown is second in the ACC and ninth nationally in tackles per game averaging 10.7. He is fifth in the country and second in the league in solo tackles per game at 6.3.

North Carolina (3-1) has won the last five times vs Duke (4-0). The Blue Devils perfect non-conference record is just the fourth time in program history they have started this way. WR Jordan Moore has now caught a pass in 30 straight games. That is tied for the longest in the ACC. RB Omarion Hampton is 12th in program history with 2,466 yards on the ground. He needs 121 yards to crack the Top-10 All-Time in program history.

Next week we begin to focus on conference play in the ACC.