Week 3 is vastly approaching, and this week fans will get to see the long awaited conference matchups. Is Clemson in serious trouble? Who can stop Miami? Is Dylan Lonergan for real? This week will tell us a lot when it’s all said and done. Right now, here is how the ACC stacks up.
17. Stanford (0-2, 0-0)
A 27-3 loss to BYU is telling, especially on offense. Stanford is a mess offensively and QB Ben Gulbranson has yet to throw a passing touchdown. Up next they face a hungry Boston College team, whose
defense should be more locked in after surrendering 42 points to Michigan State.
16. Virginia Tech (0-2, 0-0)
A 44-20 loss to Vanderbilt should tell you everything. Being outgained 307-21 in the second half in total yards seems impossible, but here we are. Brent Pry’s job security is slipping away as we speak.
15. Wake Forest (2-0, 0-0)
Now 2-0, Wake Forest heads into week 3 versus NC State. A win there could seriously boost confidence for their program against a superior conference opponent. Desmond Claiborne rushed for 193 yards and scored 3 rushing touchdowns in their 42-10 victory versus Western Carolina. If Wake Forest can utilize him correctly, they may have themselves a serious playmaker.
14. North Carolina (1-1, 0-0)
The Tar Heels bounced back after the week 1 debacle versus TCU. They started out strong on their first drive similar to week 1 but quickly fell apart again on offense. Luckily, their defense bailed them out and allowed only three points to Charlotte. Head Coach Bill Belichick knows football better than anyone else, but it’s becoming more and more apparent that the current state of football is passing him by.
13. Syracuse (1-1, 0-0)
Syracuse bounced back with a 27-20 victory versus UConn. Steve Angeli threw for 416 yards and 2 passing touchdowns in the victory, which is something the program definitely needed to avoid starting 0-2. Their run game hasn’t been efficient, with the team averaging 3.8 yards per carry between Yasin Willis and Will Nixon. Their lack of a pass rush also is concerning with only 1 sack so far this season, which was arguably the biggest concern heading into this year.
12. Virginia (1-1, 0-0)
Virginia had a commanding 24-14 halftime lead versus NC State before scoring only 7 more points for the remainder of the game, losing 35-31. Running back J’Mari Taylor has been nothing short of terrific so far, scoring 5 touchdowns this year and looks to be their main weapon on offense. However, being outscored 21-7 in the second half is not ideal. This was supposed to be a make or break year for head coach Tony Elliott, and a loss like this one only begs the question if he’s steering this ship in the right direction.
11. Duke (1-1, 0-0)
Turnovers plagued Duke in their recent loss to Illinois, 45-19. Duke was in the game at halftime only down one point 14-13, but their mistakes allowed Illinois to roll over them in the second half. Darian Mensah continues to produce – but the Blue Devils cost themselves a chance to have a statement win versus a ranked opponent.
10. Boston College (1-1, 0-0)
A win versus Michigan State would’ve been epic for the Eagles, but sadly they could not secure a win in OT. However, despite the loss, QB Dylan Lonergan has been nothing short of elite this year, and has built his case for being one of the best QB’s in the ACC. BC needs to balance out their offense more in the run game if they want to be more effective in as many facets of the game as possible. The same can be said for head coach Bill O’Brien, who needs to be better.
9. California (2-0, 0-0)
California defeated Texas Southern in their week 2 matchup 35-3. The story of their season is Freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who’s done everything you’d want out of a playcaller. A home game versus the Minnesota Golden Gophers is arguably California’s first big test this season – think of it as the Battle of Gold.
8. NC State (2-0, 0-0)
NC State comes off with a 35-31 comeback win versus Virginia. Running back Hollywood Smothers looks like the real deal, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and has scored 3 rushing touchdowns so far. CJ Bailey took care of the ball and looked more poised in this one despite throwing for less yardage. Maybe playing from behind motivates him? Up next the Wolfpack face Wake Forest – a great opportunity to gain even more momentum.
7. SMU (1-1, 0-0)
SMU had a win in their hands midway through the fourth quarter vs Baylor before giving up two touchdowns late, which forced the game to overtime. Their defense completely fell apart, especially in the air, and something worth noting. To be a true contending team, they have to close games like this out.
6. Pittsburgh (2-0, 0-0)
So far this season, Pittsburgh has dominated in their first two games by out scoring their opponents 106-26. Granted, Duquesne and Central Michigan are not on their level. However, their offense has been balanced and efficient. They allowed only 40 yards rushing last week on 41 carries, which is impressive to say the least. Their schedule will only get tougher from here, let’s see how they respond.
5. Clemson (1-1, 0-0)
It looked like Clemson was on their way to starting 0-2 before scoring 27 straight points to win versus Troy. Still, even with the win they have not looked right. A 42.8 QBR by Cade Klubnik is not going to cut it vs Georgia Tech, Louisville or Florida State. It could be early season jitters – but keep an eye on the Tigers this week in their matchup versus Georgia Tech.
4. Louisville (2-0, 0-0)
With 6 sacks and a game sealing interception, the Cardinals defense came up when it mattered most in their 28-14 win versus James Madison. Despite the defense playing strong, they struggled to find consistency on offense, outside of a 78 yard TD run by Isaac Brown.
3. Georgia Tech (2-0, 0-0)
So far, so good for the Yellow Jackets. They did begin their game vs Garner-Webb sloppy, but found their groove and defeated them 59-12. Backup QB Aaron Philo handled the pressure in his first career start by passing for 373 yards and 1 passing touchdown, and was named ACC Rookie of the Week. Up next they face a Clemson team that hasn’t lived up to their expectations. A win vs the Tigers could really add to the case of Georgia Tech being truly back on the college football map.
2. Florida St (2-0, 0-0)
Tommy Castellanos and the Seminole offense looked like a well oiled machine versus East Texas A&M. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is – if a team can rack up 77 points and 729 total yards of offense, that’s saying something. Not to mention they’ve allowed only 20 total points this year on defense. Up next they face Kent State followed by Virginia, and then the matchup many are waiting for on October 4th – a collision course with Miami.
1. Miami (2-0, 0-0)
Miami comes off a dominating 45-3 win vs Bethune-Cookman. At the moment, they look like the most locked in team in the ACC on both sides of the ball. It’s a small sample size, but if they can keep their early season momentum going, watch out.
