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ACC Football News & Notes: Clemson Tops the League

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A familiar name is on top of the ACC standings as we end September and begin October. The Clemson Tigers (3-1, 2-0) are back on top of the conference standings and they have a one-game lead over the field. This week, the #15 ranked team in the country heads out on the road to take on the Florida State Seminoles (1-4, 1-2). Over the years, these two have had some great battles. Even though the records don’t reflect it, another heavyweight battle is expected on Saturday. This is one of eight conference games on the docket for this week. One other is a non-league game with Syracuse heading on to face #25 UNLV. Let’s see where the league is after the first month of the season.

The league still has three teams in the AP Top 25. Miami at #8, Clemson at #15, and Louisville at #22. For the Hurricanes, this marks the fourth week in a row that Miami (5-0, 1-0) has been ranked in the Top 10. They did drop a spot from 8 to 9 after their tough home win over Virginia Tech. The same three teams are ranked in the LBM Coaches Poll.

Three teams are unbeaten as the second month begins. The Duke Blue Devils (5-0, 1-0), are unbeaten for the first time since 1994. In 94, Duke started 7-0 and played in the Hall of Fame Bowl. Since the end of the 2023 season, Duke has won seven straight games, the longest active streak in the ACC (Pittsburgh Panthers 4-0). It is the first time they have started a season 4-0 since 2000. They would finish that season at 7-5. The Panthers finished undefeated in non-league play for the first time in program history. They last opened a year at 5-0 in 1991. Miami’s start has fans remembering the 2017 season when Miami began 5-0. They went 10-0 before finishing that year 10-3. They would play for the league championship, a game they would lose to Clemson.

In league action this weekend, SMU (4-1, 1-1) heads to Louisville (3-1, 1-0). This is the third meeting between the two and the Mustangs have won the first two. The last meeting took place in 1984. When the SMU offense scores 30 points they usually win. In the last 21 games when reaching that number the team is 20-1 under head coach Rhett Lasklee. Louisville is coming off a loss to Notre Dame. QB Tyler Shough set a new school record with 86 pass attempts without an interception.

Wake Forest (1-3, 0-0) is at NC State (3-2, 0-0) and these two teams have met a lot over the years with the Wolfpack holding a 69-42-6 record. Five of the last seven games have been decided by 10 points or less. Wake’s Nick Anderson leads the league in both total and solo tackles. He is averaging 12.3 tackles and 6.5 solo. The offense is the fifth-best in the conference averaging 460 yards a game. The Wolfpack defense has shown an ability to score touchdowns early on. They have crossed the goal line three times in five games. Darvin Vann leads the ACC in forced fumbles with three.

Boston College (4-1, 1-0) is on its way to Virginia (3-1, 0-1). The Eagles are 7-1 vs the Cavaliers. Both teams can run the ball with each team averaging 175 yards on the ground. Each team is ranked in the top seven in the league. Virginia’s Antonio Cary is 11th in FBS in tackles and second in the league with 10.3 tacklers a game. BC’s defense is the third-best scoring defense in the ACC allowing 15 points a game.

Pittsburgh (4-0, 0-0) is at North Carolina (3-2, 0-1) and the Tar Heels have won eight of the last ten games, including the last two. Both teams are very good in the red zone scoring 94.4% of the time. That is tied for the best rate in the league. Both can also run the ball as UNC averages a league-best 200.6 yards a game. They have had a 100-yard rusher in their five games to date. Pittsburgh’s Desmond Reid is 10th in the nation averaging 7.25 yards a carry. He has 319 yards on the ground to date.

Virginia Tech (2-3, 0-1) heads out west to meet Stanford (2-2, 1-1). This is only the second time these two have met. The last time was back in 2011 in the Orange Bowl with Stanford winning 40-12. The Cardinals’ defense has the league’s best rushing defense allowing just 76.3 yards a game. The Hokies have the best rusher in the league as Bhayshui Tuten leads the conference with eight rushing touchdowns. He is second with 532 yards on the ground.

Clemson is at Florida State. With a win on Saturday night, Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney would move past Seminoles Bobby Bowden for the most wins in the league. Both have 173. The Tigers’ offense has gotten on track in the last three games averaging 40 points a game and winning those games by double-digits. Over their last three games, the Seminoles’ defense has combined for 28 tackles for losses. They also have recorded 13 sacks and three turnovers.

Miami (5-0 1-0) also heads west to meet California (3-1, 0-0) The only other time these two met was back in 2008 in the Emerald Bowl which Cal won 24-17. Their defense leads the nation in interceptions with 10 and is allowing just 12.8 points a game. That’s the best in the league and 12th in the country. Miami’s QB Cam Ward leads the nation with 18 passing touchdowns and ranks second with 1,782 yards through the air. He is third with 356.4 passing yards a game and first in points responsible for, 122.

Duke (5-0, 1-0) is at Georgia Tech (3-2, 1-2). The Yellow Jackets have won the last three meetings. Their offensive line has been good at protecting their quarterback. They have not allowed a sack so far. They are one of three teams in the nation and only one in the Power-4 conferences that can make that claim. Duke’s running back Star Thomas ran for 166 yards on 30 carries with two TDs to earn ACC Running Back of the Week honors

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

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John Doucette
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