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With roughly 1/4 of the ACC football season, we can already start thinking about who is leading the ACC COY race.
Who are some of the early candidates and why?
Dave Doeren – NC State
Doeren got the kind of result Saturday with 30-29 win over Pittsburgh as a road double digit underdog that can change the perception of the season. Sure NC State got thumped by Virginia Tech, but close wins over Wake Forest and Pittsburgh have the Wolfpack have a surprising 2-1 with an offense that is starting to find a rhythm.
Justin Fuente – Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech sits 2-0 and ranked in the top 20 after wins over NC State and Duke. Fuente is doing this despite missing more than 20 players in both games plus several coaches. The offensive line is one of the better ones in the ACC, and the rushing attack has looked very good. I’m not sure many coaches or programs could have handled all the players and coaches out plus game postponements better.
Manny Diaz – Miami
The Hurricanes and Manny Diaz needed a fast start to restore confidence in the direction of the program. They’ve gotten it with 3-0 start and a top 10 ranking. A blowout victory over Florida State is something Cane fans just love as well. Transfer QB D’Eriq King is starting to appear on some Heisman lists, and Brevin Jordan may be the nation’s best TE.
Bronco Mendenhall – Virginia
Remember when some thought the departure of star Virginia QB Bryce Perkins would suddenly set the Hoos back? It’s doesn’t look like that is the case. Virginia despite multiple game postponements opened with a win over Duke, and then played very respectably at Clemson in a 41-23 loss. Virginia moved the ball on Clemson in a way that we haven’t seen often in recent years from an ACC team. QB Brennan Armstrong and TE Lavel Davis Jr. form a pair that is going to cause a lot of problems in the ACC.
Leader – Manny Diaz
I was down to Manny Diaz or Justin Fuente for the early ACC COY leader. Fuente has dealt with an ton of personal losses to keep the the Hokies on track for a big season. Manny Diaz was under extreme pressure get the offense going after the debacle to end the 2019 season. Miami went on the road and thumped Louisville, and then followed it up with the big FSU win. It’s splitting hairs, and not much separate the two. If Fuente beats UNC, and Diaz loses to Clemson I’ll nudge Fuente ahead. If Diaz beats Clemson, it will be tough to argue anyone over him.
If both lose next year, it would open the door for Doeren and/or Mendenhall to close the COY gap.
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