ACC Football News & Notes: Looking Back at a Wild Month of September

The first month of conference football is in the books, and September provided plenty of fireworks for the Atlantic Coast Conference. As October kicks off, four ACC teams remain undefeated: Duke, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, and Miami. However, only the Hurricanes have cracked the AP Top 25 poll.

Duke’s Blue Devils have won eight straight games dating back to last season. During their 4-0 start this year, they have outscored opponents by a staggering 145-44 margin. Virginia Tech, coming off a gritty road win at Boston College, is 4-0 for the first time since 2017, with two of those victories coming on the road against Power Four opponents. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s defense has been a dominant storyline, allowing just 8.5 points per game while supporting an offense that boasts a plus-123 scoring margin (157-34).

Quarterback play across the conference has been among the best in the country. ACC signal-callers have produced an FBS-leading 19 300-yard passing performances and six 400-yard games through four weeks. Seven ACC quarterbacks have already surpassed 1,000 passing yards—the most of any conference in the nation—with five ranking in the top 20 nationally in total offense. Four quarterbacks have thrown at least 11 touchdown passes: Tulane transfer Darian Mensah (14), Mason Heintschel (13), Kevin Jennings (12), and Beau Pribula (11).

Another one for the Mensah resume 📈 pic.twitter.com/2OnlEHHz3J

— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) September 27, 2026

Mensah, in particular, is putting together a historic start. His 14 touchdown passes lead the nation, and he also ranks first in completion percentage (88.7%), passing efficiency (228.2), and Total QBR (93.9). Having thrown just 12 incompletions on more than 50 pass attempts, Mensah is the only FBS quarterback since 2004 to achieve that mark through four games. He also completed at least 85% of his passes with three or more touchdowns and zero interceptions in each of his first four starts, becoming just the sixth FBS quarterback this century to do so.

On the ground, Duke running back Nate Sheppard leads the national rushing race with 644 yards, averaging 161.0 rushing yards and 178.5 all-purpose yards per game. Sheppard ranks second in the country in total touchdowns (nine), averaging 13.5 points per game, and fifth in rushing touchdowns (six). Sheppard has eclipsed 100 rushing yards in all four games this season—a feat matched nationally only by Florida’s Jadan Baugh.

Defensively, six ACC teams rank inside the top 25 nationally in total defense. Miami leads the group at No. 2 overall while holding the nation’s No. 1 run defense. Pittsburgh ranks No. 3 nationally in scoring defense, while Virginia Tech leads the FBS in tackles for loss per game (11.3) and ranks third in sacks per game (4.25). Individual leaders across the conference also top national leaderboards in passes defended, interceptions, sacks, tackles for loss, and field goals made.