You can take the divisions out of the ACC, but you can’t take the craziness. Let’s take a brief swing through just what exactly this league gave us on this glorious October Saturday.
We’ll start with Pitt and Wake Forest. Shortly before the game, it was announced that Wake’s QB3 Santino Marucci would get the nod to start. They played a back-and-forth contest. Up three, there was only one thing left for Pitt QB Chris Veilleux to do: get a first down to polish the game off on third down when Wake lost contain. He did that. Or did he …
BAD BEAT ALERT 🚨
Nursing a 3-point lead, Pitt QB Chris Veilleux gave himself up before reaching the first down marker.
Wake Forest (+120) would then drive down the field and score the game winning TD with 0:09 remaining.
— Covers (@Covers) October 21, 2023
Veilleux was ruled to have started his slide short of the sticks. Pitt was forced the punt, and Wake Forest went 48 yards in 33 seconds to win 21–17, because of course they did.
Nell Redmond/USA TODAY Sports
That wasn’t even the weirdest result in the state of North Carolina on Saturday. Virginia—horrific, 0-fer against FBS teams on the season Virginia—matched up against UNC as a 24-point underdog against future NFL first-round pick Drake Maye and a resurgent Tar Heels squad that was undefeated and rolling this season until they ran into the mighty Cavs. Virginia forced the Heels into four three-and-outs and blanked them on four third-and-longs to stand tall and pull the massive upset over the baby blue home team, 31–27.
Hated Heels rival Duke went into Tallahassee starting QB Riley Leonard on an injured ankle and hung tough all night until Leonard was knocked out of the game and the cream rose to the top for Florida State, which pulled away for a 38–20 win. At the time Leonard went down, Duke was up 20–17 and in the red zone threatening to take a two-score lead for the second time on the evening. And this was the only game you’d actually consider normal on the day of ACC play unless you’re good with Boston College ripping off 21 fourth quarter points to boat race Georgia Tech, 38-23.
And to top it all off to end the night, Miami squeaked by Clemson with a backup quarterback in overtime after the Canes had a legit shot to win the game in regulation by gaining around 40 yards with plenty of time and a timeout in regulation. They didn’t, but it didn’t actually come back to bite them as Clemson was unable to punch the ball into the end zone in OT on fourth down from the goal line. Got all that? Just another Saturday in the ACC.
SI top 10 (of the week)
1. Michigan
The Wolverines tore Michigan State limb from limb, winning 49–0 in a game where Sparty never really had a chance. The Wolverines continue to leave no doubt, whether they’re stealing signs or not, and are currently playing the best football in the country.
2. Ohio State
The Buckeyes showed serious teeth in their win over Penn State absolutely stoning the Nittany Lions to the point that 12 points doesn’t even tell the story of how inept PSU was on offense. The ramp up to The Game begins now.
3. Florida State
As mentioned above, the Noles hung tough, then dropped the hammer when they realized they were able to way overmatch their opponent. They continue to prove they’re the class of the ACC.
4. Alabama
Hope you didn’t forget about the Tide, because they lit the cigars after beating Tennessee, 34–20, at home. Jalen Milroe continues to give the Tide enough on offense.
5. Utah
Death, taxes, Utah beating USC, apparently? The Trojans cannot find a way past Utah and even though the Utes were on a backup quarterback and using a converted safety as their most vital skill player, it didn’t matter. Utah proves they will continually find ways to beat the Trojans.
6. Oklahoma
The Sooners welcomed UCF to Norman and the Knights gave them every single thing they wanted. If not for a poor two-point conversion attempt to try and tie the game, the proceedings might have gone to overtime. But OU won in the end, and rolls on undefeated.
7. Texas
The Longhorns certainly didn’t make it easy on themselves by going up 21 points and then letting Houston come all the way back before the Horns pulled it out in the end. QB Quinn Ewers’s injury will be something to monitor moving forward as well.
8. Oregon
The Ducks took care of business against Washington State after a bit of a slow start. Wazzu is no pushover, but Oregon put them to bed fairly soundly in the end with little incident.
9. Ole Miss
There would be no Hugh Freeze revenge here as Ole Miss beat Auburn on the plains. One wonders what Auburn would be if it had any shred of a passing attack, but alas, we may never know.
10. Missouri
Uhh, don’t look now but the Tigers are 7–1 with a stupendous offense and a defense that isn’t half bad in its own right. But this performance is noteworthy because the passing game actually didn’t have to do all the work with Cody Schrader’s 159 yards on the ground.
Joseph Maiorana/USA TODAY Sports
SI Players of the week: WR Marvin Harrison, Jr., Michigan S Mike Sainristil
- The true difference in Penn State-Ohio State was this: one team had Marvin Harrison, Jr. and one did not. 16 targets and 11 receptions for 162 yards proved Harrison was everything for the Buckeyes. And that’s what happens when you’re the best prospect at your position in recent memory.
- Of all the brilliance from Michigan this season, the Wolverines were still technically yet to pitch a shutout. That’s no longer the case and Sainristil’s 72-yard pick-six means UM’s defense actually outscored the Spartans.
Did you see that?
- Nick Saban doesn’t smoke, but…:
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) October 21, 2023
- Wisconsin winning a game on a late TD pass to a defensive lineman has to be seen to be believed:
The play you’ve all been waiting for. Nolan Rucci TUDDY. pic.twitter.com/obPS3o2Av3
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) October 21, 2023
- Boston College has one of the best interceptions you will ever see:
- Nothing better than running into green grass and sending a little somethin’ somethin’ to the opponent:
UCF WR Javon Baker blew a kiss toward the Oklahoma sideline during his long TD pass.
Brent Venables was *not* happy. pic.twitter.com/2eSHoW4YGh
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) October 21, 2023