Now that we’ve reached Week Five of the college football season, conference play begins in earnest in the ACC. There are five conference games this week, and Clemson-Notre Dame makes for a de facto sixth ACC game (and a primetime date). Throw in some fun with Hurricane Joaquin along the Atlantic (the actual ocean, not the division), and this promises to be an … interesting week.
1. Clemson – The Tigers enjoyed a Saturday off in Week 4, but will have anything but a free pass this Saturday. 12th-ranked Clemson will host #6 Notre Dame, as well as ESPN’s College Gameday.
2. Florida State – Florida State also had last week off. Their week 5 matchup? Not nearly as intriguing as Clemson’s. The Seminoles head to Winston-Salem to face the Demon Deacons.
3. NC State – The Wolfpack is 4-0 after defeating South Alabama. Who know who isn’t impressed? Jack Nicklaus.
4. Duke – Duke collected a big win against Georgia Tech, and hope to take that momentum into their game with Hurricane Joaquin Boston College Saturday. Bring the ponchos to Wallace Wade Saturday. And your canoes. And two of every animal.
5. Miami – Speaking of Hurricanes, Miami is 3-0! They’ll put that record on the line tonight against Cincinnati. The Bearcats will be starting a freshman quarterback, Hayden Moore, who set a school record with 557 yards of passing in just three quarters against Memphis after Gunner Kiel left with an injury.
6. Virginia Tech – The Hokies can take solace in their loss to East Carolina, because apparently it was just an exhibition. An exhibition game already scheduled to take place nine of the next ten years. An exhibition the Hokies have lost two straight years. Sure.
7. Georgia Tech – One week after falling to Duke, the Yellow Jackets will now face another Triangle school as they host North Carolina. GT needs to win this one, though, or they could be staring at three straight losses with Clemson next on the schedule.
8. Syracuse – The Orange lost to LSU, but it was a fairly close game against a ranked opponent. They’ll get this week off to heal up some injuries before facing South Florida. Syracuse could be a surprising team during conference play.
9. North Carolina – Harrison Barnes and James Michael McAdoo brought the Larry O’Brien Trophy to Chapel Hill to show off at UNC’s game against Delaware. Barnes then almost wore it on his forehead. Appreciate the “my bad” hand gesture there from Barnes, instead of him blaming in on the wind or something.
10. Louisville – The Cardinals picked up their first win of the season … against Samford. If Louisville beats NC State Saturday, Jack Nicklaus is going to be heard laughing around the country.
11. Pittsburgh – The Panthers have had an idle week to prepare for their pivotal Big East contest with Virginia Tech this Saturday.
12. Boston College – A couple of seasons ago, Duke had to travel through a snowstorm to play a basketball game at Boston College. So the Eagles coming to Durham in time for a football game in a hurricane seems pretty fair to me.
13. Wake Forest – Wake Forest lost to Indiana on Saturday, but not before position coach Tyler Santucci channeled Ric Flair and busted himself open during pre-game warmups. MAH GAWD.
14. Virginia – I’m not talking about this. NOPE. NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE.
Until next week, peace, love, and #goacc
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