ATLANTIC
Florida State (6-0, 4-0) – If there was any question about who was the best team in the ACC, the Seminoles answered the doubt with a statement win at Clemson. Freshman quarterback Jameis Winston solidified himself as a top Heisman Trophy candidate, as Florida State leaped to second in the BCS standings.
Clemson (6-1, 4-1) – The Tigers were shocked at home Saturday night with a 51-14 loss to division rival Florida State. Clemson fumbled the ball on two of its first three drives, which gave the Seminoles a 21-0 lead in the first, and the lead only grew from there. Despite the loss, the Tigers only fell to No. 9 in the BCS rankings and will look to rebound against Maryland on Saturday.
Boston College (3-3, 1-2) – Coming off a bye week, the Eagles look to bring their conference record back to .500 against UNC-Chapel Hill. Close losses to Florida State and Clemson can be forgiven, but Boston College will be truly tested against No. 14 Virginia Tech on Nov. 2.
Wake Forest (4-3, 2-2) – The Demon Deacons opened eyes with an impressive win against conference foe Maryland on Saturday. No. 7 Miami will test the Deacons on Saturday in Miami.
Maryland (5-2, 1-2) – After being excused for a blowout loss to Florida State and a one-point win against Virginia, the Terrapins proved that the hype was not real with a 24-point loss to Wake Forest. The road ahead doesn’t look any easier for Maryland, as they travel to Clemson on Saturday.
Syracuse (3-4, 1-2) – After a dominant rushing performance at N.C. State, the Orange was held to 75 yards rushing and zero points against a revitalized Georgia Tech team. Syracuse has a bye ahead to reflect on what went wrong before hosting Wake Forest on Nov. 2, which will be a big game for both teams in terms of bowl eligibility.
N.C. State (3-3, 0-3) – This week’s bye will likely do wonders for the injury-plagued Wolfpack. Head football coach Dave Doeren named graduate student quarterback Brandon Mitchell as the starter for Saturday’s game, and others are likely to be eligible to suit up as well. Unfortunately for NCSU, its next matchup is against the second ranked team in the nation: Florida State.
COASTAL
Miami (6-0, 2-0) – The Hurricanes showed a few cracks in their armor Thursday night against UNC-Chapel Hill, relying on a late fourth quarter drive to squeak out the last second win. Still, a win is a win, and the victory vaulted Miami to No. 7 in the BCS rankings.
Virginia Tech (6-1, 3-0) – Since their opening loss to Alabama, the Hokies have been on a roll. Virginia Tech has held its opponents to an average of 15 points per game, which is fifth best in the nation. The Hokies are coming off a bye week, and the rested team will to try to continue its win streak against Duke.
Georgia Tech (5-2, 3-2) – From seemingly out of nowhere, the Yellow Jackets shutout an unsuspecting Syracuse team on Saturday. Georgia Tech totaled 394 yards on the ground, building on its rushing yards per game average that ranks fifth in the nation. The Jackets take on Virginia this Saturday to try and build on their recent success.
Pittsburgh (4-2, 2-2) – ACC newcomer Pittsburgh is holding its own in the conference so far this year, with the team’s only two losses coming to ranked opponents. With two road games back-to-back coming up for the Panthers, including one against conference foe Georgia Tech on Nov. 2, they will have to perform for a shot at the postseason.
Duke (5-2, 1-2) – Down 22-0 late in the second quarter, Duke managed to score 35 unanswered points on Saturday against a reeling Virginia squad. Surprising many this season with strong offensive play, the Blue Devils have certainly made a strong case as the best football team in the state of North Carolina. Its skill will be tested at Virginia Tech on Saturday.
Virginia (2-5, 0-3) – The Cavaliers could nearly taste their first ACC victory of the season, but instead they were handed their fourth straight loss. With Virginia’s only wins coming against Brigham Young and Virginia Military Institute, the team must pull together for its last five, three of which are against teams ranked in the top-10 in the BCS standings.
UNC-Chapel Hill (1-5, 0-3) – A dropped catch in the endzone with no time left on the clock was the difference between the Tar Heels pulling off the biggest upset in college football this season and losing their third straight ACC contest. UNC-CH will try to match that same energy that they had Thursday night if they want to come out on top in any games this season.
