By Trey McCurry.
By Trey McCurry
The had one of the best weekends in history to open the season, going 7-1 against non-league foes and 7-0 on Saturday. This week features 11 games, including Duke & Miami (FL) traveling to nationally-ranked foes while Virginia hosts Penn State. Only one conference game is on tap this weekend as North Carolina travels to Wake Forest.
Boston College 0-1 (0-1)
Last Week: 41-32 loss to Miami (FL)
This Week: Saturday, September 8 vs. Maine (1:00PM on ESPN3)
Up Next: Saturday, September 15 @ Northwestern (3:30PM on BigTen Network)
Notes: QB Chase Rettig had a career day for the Eagles, registering his first career 400-plus yard game (441 yards – the most by a BC QB since 1984). Rettig also set career-highs in completions (32) and attempts (51). WR Alex Amidon had a career-best 10 receptions for 149 yards against the Hurricanes. LB Kevin Pierre-Louis had 14 tackles against Miami (FL), his seventh career double-digit tackle game.
Duke 1-0 (0-0)
Last Week: 46-26 win over Florida International
This Week: Saturday, September 8 @ #21 Stanford (10:30PM on P12 Network)
Up Next: Saturday, September 15 vs. North Carolina Central (7:00PM on ESPN3)
Notes: The Blue Devils 30-point second quarter against the Panthers was the fourth-highest single-quarter scoring output in school history. Duke improved to 7-1 under Head Coach David Cutcliffe when scoring at least 40 points. WR Conner Vernon is now fourth all-time in ACC history in receptions (208) and 12th all-time in yards (2,855) and has now caught a pass in a FBS-leading 36 straight games.
Florida State 1-0 (0-0) #6 in both AP & USA Today Polls
Last Week: 69-3 win over Murray State
This Week: Saturday, September 8 vs. Savannah State (6:00PM on ESPN3)
Up Next: Saturday, September 15 vs. Wake Forest (12:00PM on ESPN or ESPN2)
Notes: The Seminoles defense did not allow a touchdown in a season opener for the third consecutive year. Florida State scored their most points in a season-opener since 2008 and were a perfect 10-for-10 in the red zone (8 TDs and 2 FGs). TB Lonnie Pryor rushed for a career-high three touchdowns against the Racers, the first Seminole to accomplish the feat since the 2010 ACC Championship Game.
Georgia Tech 0-1 (0-1)
Last Week: 20-17 (OT) loss at #16 Virginia Tech
This Week: Monday, September 8 vs. Presbyterian College (7:00PM on ESPN3)
Up Next: Saturday, September 15 vs. Virginia (3:30PM on ESPNU)
Notes: The Jackets open a four-game homestand Saturday against Presbyterian College. Georgia Tech is now 12-5 under Head Coach Paul Johnson in games decided by five points or less. DE Izaan Cross and AB Orwin Smith both played in their 40th career games Monday night against the Hokies. QB Tevin Washington is 210 yards shy of 4,000 yards of total offense and ranks among the top-15 in six different career stat categories at Georgia Tech.
Maryland 0-0 (0-0)
Last Week: 7-6 win over William & Mary
This Week: Saturday, September 8 @ Temple (12:00PM on ESPNU)
Up Next: Saturday, September 15 vs. Connecticut (12:30PM on ACC Network)
Notes: The Terps started a true freshman QB (Perry Hills) for the first time in a game (and in a season opener) since 1999. DL Joe Vellano, who led all FBS linemen with 7.8 tackles per game last season, had 11 tackles against the Tribe and recorded his first career interception. LB Demetrius Hartsfield, the ACC’s career active leader in tackles, recorded his seventh double-digit effort (13) in his last nine games.
Miami (FL) 1-0 (1-0)
Last Week: 41-32 win at Boston College
This Week: Saturday, September 8 @ #21 Kansas State (12:00PM on Fox Regional)
Up Next: Saturday, September 15 vs. Bethune-Cookman (12:00PM on ESPN3)
Notes: The Hurricanes recorded their first win in Chestnut Hill since 2001 and are now 3-3 in season openers against ACC opponents. Miami has won four of their past five season openers and is 16-12 all-time in road season-openers. RB Duke Johnson had 135 rushing yards, the most by a UM true freshman since 2006, and was one of three true freshmen to score a touchdown for Miami (FL) against the Eagles.
NC State 0-1 (0-0)
Last Week: 35-21 loss vs. Tennesee in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff (Atlanta)
This Week: Saturday, September 8 @ Connecticut (12:00PM on Big East Network)
Up Next: Saturday, September 15 vs. South Alabama (6:00PM on ESPN3)
Notes: The Wolfpack had 13 players see their first action in a NC State uniform against Tennessee. WR Quintin Payton had four receptions for 129 yards in his first career start after having 145 yards receiving in his first two seasons combined. The Wolfpack also used their tight ends in the passing game as Mario Carter and Asa Watson combined for nine catches after having on 12 career combined receptions entering the game.
North Carolina 1-0 (0-0)
Last Week: 62-0 win over Elon
This Week: Saturday, September 8 @ Wake Forest (3:00PM on RSN)
Up Next: Saturday, September 15 @ #23 Louisville (3:30PM on ABC/ESPN2)
Notes: The Tar Heels recorded their first shutout since 1999 and first in a season-opener since 1996. UNC set the ACC record for single-game punt return yards with 260 yards on nine returns. The Tar Heels had 14 different players catch a pass and no player had more than three receptions. QB Bryn Renner recorded his fifth career game with at least passing TDs while RB Giovani Bernard had a rushing TD, receiving TD, and returned a punt for a TD.
Virginia 1-0 (0-0)
Last Week: 43-19 win over Richmond
This Week: Saturday, September 8 vs. Penn State (12:00PM on ABC)
Up Next: Saturday, September 15 @ Georgia Tech (3:30PM on ESPNU)
Notes: The Cavaliers won their third straight season opener, all under Head Coach Mike London, for the first time since 2003-05. Virginia had 545 yards of total offense, the third time they have reached the 500+ yard plateau under London. QB Michael Rocco became the 16th Cavalier to surpass 3,000 passing yards in his career. WR Darius Jennings had a 51-yard TD catch, his second career TD – both of which have been for 50+ yards.
Virginia Tech 1-0 (1-0) #15 in AP Poll & #18 USA Today Poll
Last Week: 20-17 (OT) win over Georgia Tech
This Week: Saturday, September 8 vs. Austin Peay (1:30PM on ESPN3)
Up Next: Saturday, September 15 @ Pittsburgh (12:00PM on ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU)
Notes: The Hokies are now 18-8 in season openers under Head Coach Frank Beamer and have won 13 of their last 17 openers. The game was the first-ever OT contest played at Lane Stadium. Virginia Tech has been ranked in 106 of the 131 Associated Press polls released during their ACC tenure. LB Jack Tyler led all ACC tacklers on opening weekend with 17 tackles.
Wake Forest 1-0 (0-0)
Last Week: 20-18 win over Liberty
This Week: Saturday, September 8 vs. North Carolina (3:00PM on RSN)
Up Next: Saturday, September 15 @ #7 Florida State (12:00PM on ESPN or ESPN2)
Notes: The Demon Deacons played multiple true freshmen (2 – James Ward & Tylor Harris) in a season opener for the first time since 2010. Wake Forest also played two foreign players (P Alex Kinal – Austrailia and DE Hasan Hazime – Canada) in a game for the first time since 2002. QB Tanner Price became the seventh Wake QB to reach 400-pass completions (406). WR Michael Campanaro went over the 1,000-yard receiving mark for his career against Liberty.
Future ACC Teams:
Pittsburgh 0-1 (0-0)
Last Week: 31-17 loss to Youngstown State
This Week: Thursday, September 6 vs. Cincinnati (8:00PM on ESPN)
Up Next: Saturday, September 15 vs. #15 Virginia Tech (12:00PM on ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU)
Notes: The Panthers loss to Youngstown State marked their first setback to a FCS school in program history. Pitt had been unbeated in 10 previous games against FCS opponents. The Panthers did not register a sack against the Penguins, snapping a streak of 25 consectutive games with at least one sack.
Syracuse 0-1 (0-0)
Last Week: 42-41 loss to Northwestern
This Week: Saturday, September 8 vs. #2 Southern Cal @ MetLife Stadium (3:30PM on ABC)
Up Next: Saturday, September 15 vs. Stony Brook (4:00PM on Big East Network)
Notes: The Orange overcame a 22-point second-half deficit against Northwestern before falling late. QB Ryan Nassib set Syracuse records for completions (45), attempts (66), and passing yards (482) against the Wildcats. Nassib had 512 yards of total offense against Northwestern, good for fourth in Big East history.