The Atlantic Coast Conference title race remains tight heading into Week 9 of the college football season.
Ninth-ranked Clemson (6-1, 5-0 ACC), No. 6 Miami (7-0, 3-0), No. 22 SMU (6-1, 3-0) and 19th-ranked Pittsburgh (6-0, 2-0) are all still undefeated in conference play to date.
During an episode of ESPN’s College Football Live on Wednesday, college football analyst Sam Acho gave his evaluation of the ACC and how he sees things shaking out even though Miami, Clemson and SMU don’t play each other during the regular season.
“The hardest thing is that these teams don’t really play each other. But when they do, we will see who’s who,” Acho said. “I know we were talking about Pitt and they’re undefeated. (Quarterback) Eli Holstein has been unbelievable, (head coach) Pat Narduzzi, their defense has been outstanding. But in a few weeks, Pitt’s going to have to play Clemson. That might be a date that they’re not ready for. And then Clemson, talking about that Clemson football team that had that big loss to Georgia early in the season. Well, Miami doesn’t have to play them in the regular season, but if Miami wins out and goes to an ACC Championship Game, they may be due for a date with Clemson as well, and that might not be pretty.
“So, as much as the teams may or may not have to play each other in the regular season, things will be exposed when teams play each other either, let’s say, playoff time or championship time.”
The 2024 ACC Championship Game is set for 8 p.m. ET on ABC on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. For the second consecutive season, the game will pit the top two teams based on regular-season conference winning percentage.
Per ESPN Bet, Clemson (+125) has the best odds to win the ACC, followed by Miami (+135), SMU (+550) and Pitt (18-1).
Pitt hosts Syracuse on Thursday (7:30 p.m., ESPN) as the Panthers seek their first 7-0 start since 1982, while Miami, which has scored 38-plus points in all seven games so far this season, has a home date with rival Florida State on Saturday (7 p.m., ESPN). SMU, meanwhile, travels to Duke on Saturday (8 p.m., ACC Network) having won eight straight road games – tied for the longest active streak in the FBS.
Clemson, of course, has an open date this week before returning to action against Louisville at Death Valley in Week 10 on Saturday, Nov. 2. The kickoff time and network TV designation for that contest are still TBA.
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