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Week 3 of the college football season brings the long-awaited launch of Atlantic Coast Conference play. Thursday night kicks off a slate of five league contests, beginning with a rivalry match between Syracuse and Pittsburgh. Action continues Friday night when Wake Forest hosts No. 5 Miami, before three additional conference matchups round out the Saturday ACC slate.
The ACC continues to feature prominently in the national rankings heading into the weekend. In the Associated Press Top 25, Miami leads the conference at No. 5 with four first-place votes, followed by SMU at No. 16, Louisville at No. 23, and Virginia at No. 25. The LBM Coaches Poll mirrors that presence, placing Miami at No. 5, SMU at No. 16, and Virginia at No. 25.
AP Poll: September 13 📈 pic.twitter.com/7Qm8LeswW8
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) September 13, 2026
Syracuse at Pittsburgh (Thursday): The Panthers and Orange meet for the 82nd time, with Pittsburgh holding a 45-33-3 advantage in the all-time series. The Panthers have dominated recent history, winning 20 of the last 24 meetings, including 11 straight on home turf. Pitt quarterback Mason Heintschel enters Thursday completing 70 percent of his passes for 665 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions through two non-conference games. Meanwhile, the Pitt defense has been stingy against the run, allowing just 47 total rushing yards combined against Miami (OH) and UCF.
Thursday night marks the beginning of a grueling stretch for Syracuse, as the Orange kick off a 35-day stretch away from home—their longest road trip since 2024 and the third-longest away stretch in college football this season. Facing their first true road test of the year, the Orange look to extend an impressive streak, having won their first road game of the season in each of the last five years. Syracuse’s aerial attack remains its primary weapon, leading the ACC with 84 pass attempts through two weeks.
No. 5 Miami at Wake Forest (Friday) Fresh off an explosive offensive performance, Miami travels to Winston-Salem led by ACC Rookie of the Week Javian Mallory. In last week’s blowout win over Florida A&M, Mallory exploded for 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries. As a unit, the Hurricanes racked up 430 rushing yards and a staggering 856 total yards of offense, setting an ACC single-game record with 42 first downs.
They’ll face a confident Wake Forest squad led by ACC Quarterback of the Week Gio Lopez. Lopez propelled the Demon Deacons to a road win at Purdue, throwing for 225 yards and a touchdown while adding 59 rushing yards and two scores on the ground—including a three-yard keeper on a crucial two-point conversion. The performance marked the second multi-rushing touchdown game of Lopez’s career.
North Carolina at Clemson (Saturday): North Carolina makes its first trip to Death Valley since 2023. Through two games, the Tar Heels’ defense has surrendered just 13 total points—tied for the second-fewest in the conference and fifth-best nationally. UNC’s front seven has also registered seven sacks, ranking second in the ACC and 11th in the country. The Tar Heels are seeking their first conference-opening victory since 2023.
Clemson is expected to turn to 19-year-old true freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds. Reynolds becomes the ninth true freshman to start at quarterback in Clemson history. Historically, the Tigers hold a 20-15 record in games started by a true freshman signal-caller.
No. 16 SMU at No. 24 Louisville (Saturday). The lone Top-25 matchup on the ACC slate takes place in Louisville. SMU has been dominant in league action since joining the conference, posting a 28-6 overall record in conference play and a 15-2 mark in the ACC since 2024. Quarterback Kevin Jennings boasts a 21-7 record as the Mustangs’ starter, most recently throwing for 337 yards and five first-half touchdowns in a victory over UC Davis.
SMU enters Saturday 4-0 all-time against Louisville and holds a 14-3 record in its last 17 regular-season road games. Conversely, Louisville’s defense has struggled against the Mustangs historically, surrendering 30 or more points in three of their four all-time meetings.
Stanford at Duke (Saturday): Stanford travels east searching to snap an 11-game road losing streak, the longest away slide in program history. The Cardinal have played clean football through two weeks, turning the ball over zero times. Running back Micah Ford leads the ground attack with three rushing touchdowns on 36 carries (third-most in the ACC), while linebacker Matt Rose anchors the defense with 21 tackles, ranking second in the conference. Stanford has beaten the Blue Devils three straight years, dating back to 1972.
Duke enters the matchup riding high off a 31-27 victory over Big Ten opponent Illinois. Quarterback Walker Eyet has thrown for 337 yards on the season, while running back Nate Sheppard has paced the offense with 374 rushing yards through two games.
Author Profile
- John is VP of NGSC Sports and head of our New England operations. He covers sports in the America East, Big East, ACC, Hockey East conferences.
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