The month of November started with a bang for the ACC: Florida State fired Willie Taggart on Sunday. Before that took place, though, several of the league’s teams were in action on Saturday. Let’s discuss what went down in this week’s ACC Football Power Rankings.
No. 1 Clemson
Clemson will, unsurprisingly, be favored by several touchdowns this week when the Tigers travel to NC State.
NC State opens as a 32 pt underdog vs Clemson. This is the biggest that NC State has ever been a HOME underdog.
Largest underdog spread ever was in 2013 @ FSU (34.5)
— Josh Goodson (@joshwgoodson) November 3, 2019
Next Up: at NC State
No. 2 Wake Forest
In the absence of injured linebacker Justin Strnad, several Wake Forest defenders stepped up in the blowout win over NC State, including cornerback Amari Henderson: two interceptions and six total tackles, including one for loss.
Wake Forest senior cornerback Amari Henderson now leads the ACC with four interceptions. pic.twitter.com/apMBPEC3DN
— Les Johns (@Les_Johns) November 3, 2019
Up Next: at Virginia Tech
No. 3 Louisville
After an open week, Javian Hawkins and Louisville’s ground game get ready for a showdown at Miami. So far this season, the Hurricanes have allowed a measly 97.8 rushing yards per game, which ranks second in the ACC.
Up Next: at Miami
No. 4 Virginia
When Virginia can protect Bryce Perkins, man, he can be explosive. UNC still sacked Perkins three times on Saturday, but the senior quarterback was electric.
Perkins became just the third FBS quarterback this season to throw for 300 yards, three touchdown and zero interceptions — while rushing for 100 yards — in the same game.
Up Next: Georgia Tech
No. 5 Virginia Tech
Led by its defense, Virginia Tech was this close to picking up its fourth straight win, which was nearly a historical result up in South Bend.
The #Hokies were 30 seconds away from being the first ACC team in history to beat a ranked Notre Dame in South Bend. It made a heartbreaking loss that much more painful.
"It’s a rough locker room in there," Justin Fuente said.
On a missed opportunity: https://t.co/L8vnQer5wb pic.twitter.com/mscotfnUpH
— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) November 3, 2019
Up Next: Wake Forest
No. 6 North Carolina
After the home loss to Virginia — an exciting 38-31 affair — North Carolina is now 3-5 in one-possession games. That Sam Howell guy is pretty good, though. The future looks bright in Chapel Hill.
With 24 Pass TD this season, Sam Howell has tied Chris Rix for the 5th-most by a freshman in ACC history.
He also has his 9th consecutive game with multiple pass TD, breaking a tie with Justin Fields for the longest active streak in FBS. pic.twitter.com/bxj7QAWT1H
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 3, 2019
Up Next: Bye Week (at Pittsburgh, Thursday, 11/14)
No. 7 Miami
Miami recorded a season-high nine sacks in the win over Florida State, including four from rising star Gregory Rousseau — who ranks second in the FBS with 12 sacks.
Four sacks in a game vs. a Power 5 team, 2019:
– Chase Young, possible No. 1 pick
– Gregory Rousseau(Unless anyone else did it today. But you get the idea. He good.)
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) November 2, 2019
Up Next: Louisville
No. 8 Pittsburgh
The 20-10 victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday was Pitt’s sixth win of the 2019 season (6-3). For the fourth time in five years, the Panthers will go to a bowl game under Pat Narduzzi.
Up Next: Bye Week (North Carolina, Thursday, 11/14)
No. 9 Duke
In three of the last four games, Duke has averaged under 4.5 yards per play on offense. The Blue Devils lost all three of those games, too. Will the tide turn at home against Notre Dame?
Up Next: Notre Dame
No. 10 Boston College
*checks the stats, sees that Boston College scored 58 points and recorded 691 yards of total offense at Syracuse*
“Wait, BC scored 58 points and recorded 691 yards of total offense?!”
Dennis Grosel is the first Boston College quarterback with multiple passing touchdowns of at least 50 yards in a single game since Matt Ryan in 2007. pic.twitter.com/8gdS63o6mw
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 2, 2019
Up Next: Florida State
No. 11 Florida State
Best of luck to Odell Haggins, who will now coach Florida State on an interim basis. His first assignment: after the loss to Miami and the firing of Willie Taggart, rally the troops for a noon kickoff at Boston College.
Willie Taggart’s buying from FSU comes out to around $17 million, will be second largest buyout in college history. Charlie Weis was paid $18.9 million to leave Notre Dame.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) November 3, 2019
Up Next: at Boston College
No. 12 NC State
Decimated by injuries, the start of the Devin Leary era didn’t exactly get off to a rousing start at Wake Forest: 17-of-45 passing (37.8 percent) for 149 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Up Next: Clemson
No. 13 Georgia Tech
When it comes to offense, Pittsburgh isn’t exactly the 2007 New England Patriots; however, Georgia Tech put together a solid defensive performance on Saturday.
Georgia Tech’s defense gave up a grand total of 61 yards in the 2nd half
— Russell Johnson (@RivalsJohnson) November 2, 2019
Up Next: at Virginia
No. 14 Syracuse
Over the last 20 seasons, an ACC team has allowed 690+ yards of total offense in a conference game on just eight occasions. Well, that’s exactly what happened to Syracuse on Saturday — at home to Boston College.
Up Next: Bye Week (at Duke)
Contributor Rankings
| David Glenn | Brian Geisinger | Josh Graham | Consensus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson | Clemson | Clemson | Clemson |
| 2 | Louisville | Wake Forest | Wake Forest | Wake Forest |
| 3 | Wake Forest | Louisville | Louisville | Louisville |
| 4 | Virginia | Virginia | Virginia | Virginia |
| 5 | Virginia Tech | Virginia Tech | Virginia Tech | Virginia Tech |
| 6 | UNC | UNC | UNC | UNC |
| 7 | Miami | Pitt | Miami | Miami |
| 8 | Pitt | Miami | Pitt | Pitt |
| 9 | Duke | Duke | Duke | Duke |
| 10 | Boston College | Boston College | Boston College | Boston College |
| 11 | Florida State | Florida State | Florida State | Florida State |
| 12 | NC State | NC State | NC State | NC State |
| 13 | Georgia Tech | Georgia Tech | Georgia Tech | Georgia Tech |
| 14 | Syracuse | Syracuse | Syracuse | Syracuse |