The wildness that is college football continues. 9 AP top 25 teams lost. Clemson fell out of the top 25 despite a win leaving Wake and NC State as the only ACC teams left in the Top 25. Alabama throttled Ole Miss and Georgia did the same to Arkansas. This week made it even more clear, if it wasn’t clear already, that it is Alabama, Georgia and then everyone else. Honestly we don’t even need a CFP this year. Just let those guys play for the natty because those 2 teams are so far ahead of everyone else that it isn’t even funny. Notre Dame lost to Cincy (hell yeah Bearcats) bringing their hopes at the CFP to an end and giving Cincy another win against a legitimate program. Cincy only has one game left against a team currently ranked in the top 25 (#24 SMU). The biggest test for both Alabama and Georgia will be Auburn. Bama still has to play Arkansas but after what Georgia did to them… I don’t see the game as a big of a threat as I once did. Florida looked good against Bama but then lost to Kentucky. Georgia has to face them both. Iowa has an easy schedule with their only game against a ranked opponent being this upcoming weekend against Penn St. The game is at Iowa. If Iowa can get past Penn St. and not slip up then they will be the CFP representative for the Big Ten. Penn St has a much harder road with 4 games against ranked opponents. Ohio St has 3 games left against ranked opponents but already has one loss. Oklahoma could easily slip up against Texas or Oklahoma St (both rivalry games). Again not that it matters all that much who the #3 and #4 ranked teams are for the CFP. Pencil in Alabama and Georgia unless something crazy happens.
9 AP top 25 teams lost
#3 Oregon
#8 Arkansas
#9 Notre Dame
#10 Florida
#12 Ole Miss
#15 Texas A&M
#18 Fresno State
#20 UCLA
#21 Baylor
Top 7
Alabama (5-0) notable games left: #13 Arkansas and #16 Auburn
Georgia (5-0) notable games left: #18 Auburn, #16 Kentucky, #20 Florida
Iowa (5-0) notable games left: #4 Penn St.
Penn St. (5-0) notable games left: #3 Iowa, #7 Ohio St, #9 Michigan, #11 Michigan St
Cincinnati (4-0) notable games left: #24 SMU
Oklahoma (5-0) notable games left: #21 Texas, #12 Oklahoma St
Ohio State (4-1) notable games left: #4 Penn St, #11 Michigan St, #9 Michigan
So how does the ACC factor into all of this? Well the short answer is that they don’t. Clemson beat Boston College but fell out of the top 25 and it now appears that the Atlantic division may be between Wake and NC State. Imagine an ACC championship game in Charlotte between 2 NC teams. It is not out of the realm of possibilities that North Carolina can still win the coastal. Pitt seems like the front runner, but is just now getting into their conference schedule. They also have to play Clemson. Clemson isn’t the team of years past, but they are still Clemson. Virginia Tech has played only one conference game (the seasoner opener against us). If we win out then we still have a shot. One more conference loss though and those chances are definitely gone.
ACC Scores
#23 NC State barely escapes Louisiana Tech 34-27
Wake Forest gets past Louisville 37-34
Clemson beats Boston College 19-13
Pittsburgh throttles Georgia Tech 52-21
Florida State finally gets their first win by beating Syracuse 33-30
ACC Coastal Standings
Pitt (1-0) ACC games left: Virginia Tech, Clemson, Miami, Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, Syracuse
Virginia Tech (1-0) ACC games left: Pitt, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Duke, Miami, Virginia
North Carolina (2-2) ACC games left: FSU, Miami, Wake Forest, Pitt, NC State
Virginia (1-2) ACC games left: Louisville, Duke, Georgia Tech, Pitt, Virginia Tech
Georgia Tech (1-2) ACC games left: Duke, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Miami, Boston College
Duke (0-1) ACC games left: Georgia Tech, Virginia, Wake Forest, Pitt, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Miami
Miami (0-1) ACC games left: North Carolina, NC State, Pitt, Georgia Tech, FSU, Virginia Tech, Duke
The 38-7 win over Duke on Saturday was a solid victory and it was much needed. Duke isn’t a great team and hadn’t played any good teams (until Saturday) and it showed, but whenever you beat your rival in that fashion it builds momentum. One thing that has become painstakingly obvious is that this team is just going to have O-line issues. Howell was sacked 5 times on Saturday and 22 times so far this season. An experienced line that was supposed to be a strength is definitely a weakness and it is just as confusing to the coaching staff as it is to us fans. The coaching staff did a little plug and play with different guys on the line to try to find a group that would work. I foresee this being a trend the rest of the season. A bad offensive line can make a great QB look average. Just look at Sam Darnold in Carolina vs. in New York. You have to protect your greatest asset. With the offense line struggles, the immediate passing game needs to become a bigger part of the offense.
Howell had a solid day. He went 18-32 for 321 YDs, and 3 TDs. He had 13 carries for 29 yards with only a 2.2 yard average. Chandler’s ability to catch the ball out of the backfield was something everyone pointed to when he transferred. It was good to see him reel off a big play as a receiver with his 75 yard score. Downs was his usual self with 8 recs for 168 yards and 1 TD. The concerning thing is the stats after Downs. Chandler was the second leading receiver with 87 yards, but only 2 catches. Antione Green and Emery Simmons each had 1 catch for 7 yards. Khafre Brown didn’t record a catch.
The backup running back carousel continues as Caleb Hood is now injured and was out on Saturday. DJ Jones got the bulk of the carries behind Chandler. He had 7 carries for 30 yards and a 4.3 yard average. Constancy behind Downs and Chandler is crucial as the season continues. Everyone knows Downs is going to be targeted. Khafre Brown was supposed to be our second WR, but his performance this season so far has been underwhelming and that is putting it nicely.
The defense played much better than they did in Atlanta. Holmberg was held to just 184 yards through the air. He had 1 TD to 1 INT. He had -6 yards rushing yards thanks to 5 sacks from the defense. Duke’s offense is predictable and it's amazing what can happen when you adequately prepare for a game. Durant still had 19 carries and 114 yards. He is one of the best backs in the league, so I will give credit where credit is due. That was just going to happen. Cam’Ron Kelly stepped up and led the team in tackles with 7. He also had our only INT. Trey Morrison, Tony Grimes, and Ja’Qurious Conley all had 6 tackles. Myles Murphy had another solid performance with 5 tackles. He registered 1 of the team’s 5 sacks. Those sacks came from 5 different players. The defense better prepare to see both McKenzie Milton and Jordan Travis this upcoming Saturday.
Sitting at 3-2 isn’t ideal obviously but the home games against FSU and Miami give us a good chance to be 5-2 before we get a week off before traveling to Notre Dame.
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