By Trey McCurry.
The league went 8-2 against non-conference opponents last weekend, with both losses coming on the road to ranked teams. This week features 10 games, including North Carolina traveling to #19 Louisville and Boston College heading to Northwestern. In other non-conference action, #13 Virginia Tech travels to future ACC foe Pittsburgh and Maryland faces Connecticut. Two conference games are on tap, with Virginia traveling to Georgia Tech and Wake Forest heading to #5 Florida State.
Boston College 1-1 (0-1)
Last Week: 34-3 win over Maine
This Week: Saturday, September 15 @ Northwestern (3:30PM on BigTen Network)
Up Next: Open Date
Notes: Last season, Northwestern defeated Boston College in Chestnut Hill 24-17. QB Chase Rettig has made a dramatic improvement in his second season and currently ranks eighth nationally in passing yards per game (330.0) – up from 150.3 yards per game last season. WR Alex Amidon had six catches for 99 yards and a TD last week against Maine. LB Nick Clancy recorded 11 tackles and 3 PBU against the Black Bears while Spiffy Evans had an 82-yard punt return for a TD.
Duke 1-1 (0-0)
Last Week: 50-13 loss at #21 Stanford
This Week: Saturday, September 15 vs. North Carolina Central (7:00PM on ESPN3)
Up Next: Saturday, September 22 vs. Memphis (6:00PM on ESPN3)
Notes: The Blue Devils defeated North Carolina Central 49-14 in 2009. NCCU is located in Durham and means that Duke will host two games (North Carolina) against teams located within 10 miles. WR Conner Vernon had six catches to move into third place on the all-time ACC receptions list and is 11th all-time in yards (2,904). The Blue Devils had two players with double-digit receptions at Stanford, Desmond Scott (11) and Jamison Crowder (10).
Florida State 2-0 (0-0) #5 in AP Poll & #6 USA Today Poll
Last Week: 55-0 win over Savannah State
This Week: Saturday, September 15 vs. Wake Forest (12:00PM on ESPN)
Up Next: Saturday, September 22 vs. #11 Clemson (8:00PM on ABC)
Notes: The Seminoles have held opponents to 19 points or less in 10 consecutive contests. DE Bjoern Werner ranks second nationally in sacks (2.50) and third in tackles for loss (3.25). PK Dustin Hopkins moved into third place on the ACC career-scoring list with 348 points and trails leading Nick Novak by 45 points. Hopkins did see his streak of consecutive PAT streak end at 145, which was the sixth longest in NCAA history.
Georgia Tech 1-1 (0-1)
Last Week: 59-3 win over Presbyterian College
This Week: Monday, September 15 vs. Virginia (3:30PM on ESPNU)
Up Next: Saturday, September 22 vs. Miami (FL) (3:00PM on RSN)
Notes: The Jackets racked up 712 total yards (including 469 on the ground) against the Blue Hose last week, the second-highest total in school history. QB Tevin Washington (97) and Vad Lee (101) combined for 198 yards rushing on just 17 carries last week while B-back Zack Laskey, making his first career start, ran for 116 yards on 12 carries. LB Brandon Watts blocked a field goal and had six tackles against Presbyterian College.
Maryland 2-0 (0-0)
Last Week: 36-27 win at Temple
This Week: Saturday, September 15 vs. Connecticut (12:30PM on ACC Network)
Up Next: Saturday, September 22 @ #8 West Virginia (12:00PM on FX)
Notes: The Terps faced Connecticut for the first time since their only other meeting in 1942, a 34-0 Maryland win. Maryland Head Coach Randy Edsall was the head coach at UCONN from 1999-2010 and led the Huskies from then-Division I-AA (FCS) into then-Division I-A (FBS). The Terps will be facing their second-straight Big East opponent. Maryland’s rushing defense allowed 188 less rushing yards to Temple last week (52) than it did last season (240).
Miami (FL) 1-1 (1-0)
Last Week: 52-13 loss at #21 Kansas State
This Week: Saturday, September 15 vs. Bethune-Cookman (12:00PM on ESPN3)
Up Next: Saturday, September 22 @ Georgia Tech (3:00PM on RSN)
Notes: The Hurricanes will be playing their home opener and defeated Bethune-Cookman 45-14 in the programs only other meeting in 2011. Miami (FL) is 6-0 after a loss under Al Golden and are 4-0 in home openers since moving to Sun Life Stadium in 2008. TE Clive Walford had three receptions for 61 yards and a TD, the first TD allowed by Kansas State this season. RB Duke Johnson is first in the ACC with 198.5 all-purpose yards per game.
NC State 1-1 (0-0)
Last Week: 10-7 win at Connecticut
This Week: Saturday, September 15 vs. South Alabama (6:00PM on ESPN3)
Up Next: Saturday, September 22 vs. The Citadel (6:00PM on ESPN3)
Notes: The Wolfpack, playing in their home-opener, defeated South Alabama last season 35-13, giving the Jaguars their first loss in program history (19 straight wins after starting their program in 2009). NC State allowed only 35 yards on the ground to UCONN last weekend and is giving up an average of 93.9 yards rushing in its last seven games. The Wolfpack improved to 9-1 in games following a loss since the start of 2010 with its win over the Huskies.
North Carolina 1-1 (0-1)
Last Week: 28-27 loss at Wake Forest
This Week: Saturday, September 15 @ #19 Louisville (3:30PM on ABC/ESPN2)
Up Next: Saturday, September 22 vs. East Carolina (3:30PM on ESPNU)
Notes: The Tar Heels defeated Louisville 14-7 last October in Chapel Hill and this will be the first meeting in Louisville since a 69-14 Cardinal victory in 2005. RB A.J. Blue ran for a career-high 106 yards on 19 carries against Wake Forest while S Tre Boston had a game-high 11 tackles against the Deacons. PK Casey Barth made his 54th and 55th career field goals, allowing him to pass his brother (Connor) as the Tar Heels’ all-time field goal kicker.
Virginia 2-0 (0-0)
Last Week: 17-16 win over Penn State
This Week: Saturday, September 15 @ Georgia Tech (3:30PM on ESPNU)
Up Next: Saturday, September 22 @ #15 TCU (12:00PM on ESPN or ESPN2)
Notes: The Cavaliers upset #12 Georgia Tech last season 24-21, the highest-ranked team Virginia has beaten under Mike London. QB Michael Rocco was 21-33 for 258 yards and two TDs, including the game-winner to TE Jake McGee (four catches, 99 yards) with 1:28 to play. LB Steve Greer tallied a game-high 15 tackles, including a pair of sacks, against Penn State. Virginia defeated the Nittany Lions last week despite four turnovers deep in their own territory (held Penn State to -14 yards of offense in 12 plays on the ensuing possessions).
Virginia Tech 2-0 (1-0) #13 in both the AP & USA Today Polls
Last Week: 42-7 win over Austin Peay
This Week: Saturday, September 15 @ Pittsburgh (12:00PM on ESPNU)
Up Next: Saturday, September 22 vs. Bowling Green (12:00PM on ESPNU)
Notes: The Hokies hit the road for the first time this season against future ACC rival Pittsburgh. The teams played 11 consecutive years (1993-2003) as members of the Big East with Virginia Tech holding a 7-4 lead in the series, despite three straight Panther wins in the series. LB Jack Tyler leads all ACC tacklers with 12.5 tackles per game. The Hokies win over Austin Peay was their second in five days.
Wake Forest 2-0 (1-0)
Last Week: 28-27 win over North Carolina
This Week: Saturday, September 15 @ #5 Florida State (12:00PM on ESPN)
Up Next: Saturday, September 22 vs. Army (12:30PM on ACC Network)
Notes: The Demon Deacons are 31-8 (.795) against in-state opponents under Jim Grobe after last week’s win over North Carolina. Wake Forest has won four of the last six meetings against Florida State after the Seminoles won the first 14 games in the series after joining the ACC in 1992. WR Michael Campanaro is tied for first nationally in receptions per game (11) and is sixth in receiving yards per game (130).
Future ACC Teams:
Pittsburgh 0-2 (0-1 Big East)
Last Week: 34-10 loss at Cincinnati
This Week: Saturday, September 15 vs. #13 Virginia Tech (12:00PM on ESPNU)
Up Next: Saturday, September 22 vs. Gardner-Webb (3:30PM on ESPN3)
Notes: The Panthers have dropped three straight games dating to last season. Pittsburgh has yet to force a turnover this season and has registered only one sack through two games. The Panthers are 4-7 in the red zone with just two TDs this season while their opponents are 8-8 with five TDs. RB Ray Graham had 103 yards on the ground against Cincinnati, his eighth career 100-yard game.
Syracuse 0-2 (0-0 Big East)
Last Week: 42-29 loss to #2 Southern Cal (at MetLife Stadium)
This Week: Saturday, September 15 vs. Stony Brook (4:00PM on Big East Network)
Up Next: Saturday, September 22 @ Minnesota (8:00PM on Big Ten Network)
Notes: The Orange lead the Big East in both scoring offense and total offense, but have allowed 42 points to each of its first two opponents. QB Ryan Nassib has 50 career TD passes while throwing for 6,245 yards and has a school-record 572 completions. WR Marcus Sales has 100+ receiving yards in each of his last three games.