WEEK 6 GAME SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4
TIME, TV SIRIUSXM APP/WEB
Syracuse at #25 UNLV
9 p.m. ET, FS1 137, 193, or 381 955 or 971
Series: First Meeting;
Last meeting: N/A
FS1: Trent Rush (play-by-play), Petros Papadakis (analyst)
Syracuse Notes
ORANGE GO ON THE ROAD TO FACE UNLV
• Syracuse hits the road for the first time this season when it visits UNLV. • The game will air on FS1, with Trent Rush (PxP) and Petros Papadakis (analyst) on the call. • After starting the season with four-straight home games, the Orange will play their next three contests on the road. F
RIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
• Syracuse is in action on a Friday night for the second time this season and the sixth time in the last four years. • The Orange have won seven of their last 12 Friday games, which includes ‘Cuse’s 27-24 win against No. 2 Clemson in 2017 and the 2018 Camping World Bowl victory against West Virginia. • Syracuse has played at least one game on Friday every season since 2010. During that stretch, 19 of the 24 games have been played in the JMA Dome. Of the five remaining games, three were bowl games. • The Orange are 17-12 (.586) in weekday games since beating Kansas State in the 2010 Pinstripe Bowl.
MCCORD STANDS ALONE
• QB Kyle McCord is already putting his name in the Syracuse record book four games into his ‘Cuse career. • He recorded a career-high 385 yards passing against Holy Cross to become the first Orange quarterback to throw for 300 yards in four-straight games. • McCord leads the nation in passing yards per game, averaging 364.8 per contest. Additionally, he ranks first nationally in completions per game (28.5). • McCord is already the fourth ‘Cuse quarterback to record four or more 300-yard passing performances in his career. Eric Dungey holds the school career record for 300-yard passing games (12), while Ryan Nassib holds the single-season record (six in 2012). • McCord’s 1,459 yards passing is the highest total for a ‘Cuse quarterback through the first four games of a season in program history.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
• Friday’s game is the first of three-straight road contests for the Orange. Syracuse is in a 35-day stretch without a game played in the JMA Dome. • It marks the second-straight year that Syracuse will not play a home game in October and go 30+ days between home games. • Prior to the 2023 season, the last time the Orange did have a home game in the month of October was in 2008 when two byes and two road games accounted for the stretch.
SERIES HISTORY
• Syracuse and UNLV will meet for the first time when they take the fi eld on Friday night. • The Rebels are the Orange’s second first-time opponent this season. Syracuse faced Stanford for the first time on Sept. 20 in the JMA Dome. • Since the beginning of the 2000 season, Syracuse has played 18 new opponents, going 12-6 in those games.
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
• Syracuse’s win against Holy Cross marked the Orange’s sixth-straight against non-conference foes during the regular season. • The Orange completed a perfect regular-season record (4-0) outside league play last season for the first time since joining The BIG EAST in 1991. • Since joining the ACC in 2013, the Orange are 31-16 in non-conference, regular-season games, including a 15-3 mark since 2021.
A WIN WOULD …
• Give Syracuse two wins against ranked opponents during the regular season for the first time since 2001. • Give the Orange their first road win of 2024. • Extend the ‘Cuse winning streak against nonconference opponents to seven in regular-season play. • Give Syracuse its 758th all-Ɵ me victory (includes 11 wins from 2004-06 that were vacated by the NCAA). The Orange currently rank 21st on the FBS ledger of winningest programs. Syracuse is one of 34 FBS schools to have accumulated 700+ wins.
UNLV Notes
FRIDAY’S PREVIEW…
The only undefeated team remaining in the Mountain West, No. 25/23 UNLV (4-0/1-0) completes its non-conference slate by hosting a first-ever meeting with Syracuse (3-1/1-1) out of the ACC on Friday evening … The game will be televised nationally on FS1 … This cross-country matchup was announced in January when a long-scheduled series between UNLV and Army was canceled after the Black Knights joined a conference and both the Rebels and Orange needed a replacement game … UNLV is one of 19 undefeated teams left in the FBS and was ranked in this week’s AP poll for the first time since moving to Division I in 1978 … The Rebels earned their first-ever national ranking in the Coaches Poll on Sept. 15 and have since moved up to No. 23 … UNLV has won its first four games for only the fourth time in its 57-year history and for the first time since 1976 … UNLV is coming off a 59-14 win over Fresno State while Syracuse downed Holy Cross at home, 42-14 … With a win at Houston and a victory at Kansas, UNLV became the first non-conference team ever to have multiple road wins against Big 12 competition in the same season … The 13 wins in 18 games under head coach Barry Odom represent the most victories over any two-season span since the Rebels went a combined 16-7-1 in 1984 and ‘85 … Odom’s win percentage of .722 ranks second in school history, trailing only Ron Meyer’s .771 mark set while competing in Division II from 1973-75 … With the August 31 victory at UH, Odom became the first UNLV coach to win his first two season-openers at the school since Tony Knap in 1976-77 … The Rebels are 12-0 under Odom when leading after the third quarter … UNLV is tied for third in the nation with a plus-eight turnover margin as the UNLV defense has forced at least one turnover in 17 of 18 games under DC Michael Scherer … The Rebels have scored 37 total points off turnovers while allowing zero such points from opponents … UNLV returned two All-Americans for the first time in its history — WR Ricky White III and KR/PR Jacob De Jesus. Both were tabbed 2024 preseason All-America.
REBELS vs. ORANGE NOTES…
These programs have never met on the football field … In fact, the Rebels have only faced one team who was a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference at the time of the game as UNLV — then a member of the Big West Conference — fell at No. 22/21 Clemson, 24-14, to open the 1993 season … The Orange’s previous head coach, Dino Babers (2016-23), served as UNLV’s special teams coordinator and RB coach during the 1988 and ‘89 seasons.
MORE REBELATIONS…
The Rebels currently lead the Mountain West in scoring defense at 13.8 points allowed per game (15th nationally) while ranking second in offensive scoring with an average of 45.2 PPG (10th nationally) … The 59 points scored vs. the Bulldogs represented the most UNLV has ever scored against a conference opponent in a regulation game. The Rebels finished with 69 vs. Wyoming in a triple-overtime affair in 2016 at Sam Boyd Stadium … After limiting Fresno State to just 30 net rushing yards, UNLV is now first in the MW and 14th in the nation in yards allowed on the ground with 83.5 per outing. In fact, three of four UNLV opponents this fall have been held under 70 rushing yards … UNLV also leads the league in pass efficiency and sits second in pass efficiency defense … After bringing in four vs. Fresno State, the Rebs are tied for second in the nation with nine team interceptions … Safety Jalen Catalon, this week’s MW Defensive Player of the Week, is tied for the individual national lead with four picks (coincidentally, he is tied with former Rebel Nohl Williams of Cal) … Cameron Oliver also had one of the four interceptions vs. Fresno State, which was the 11th of his career and tied him for fourth place in UNLV history … The Rebels have already earned two victories over “P4” opponents in the same season for the first time since winning at Arizona State and vs. Iowa State — both in overtime — in back-to-back weeks in September 2008 … Counting a 40-37 win over Vanderbilt in Las Vegas last fall, UNLV head coach Barry Odom is now 3-1 vs. P4 teams in regular-season matchups since moving to Las Vegas … The Rebels are now 6-2 in true road games under Odom after only winning five total road games in the previous five seasons (5-22) … Odom also has a 6-1 record in non-conference games during the regular season at UNLV after the Rebels only had a combined six such wins from 2018-22 (6-10) … The KU trip marked the second time UNLV played inside an MLS stadium as the Rebels opened the Covid-shortened 2020 season vs. SDSU at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA, which is home to the LA Galaxy … Against Utah Tech, UNLV finished 8-of-8 in the red zone, including five touchdowns. Overall, the Rebels are 20-of-24 in scoring this fall when entering the red zone … The Rebels listed a school-record 111 players on the Week One roster and 53 of them were not on the team a year ago. That’s actually down from 55 new faces last season. The numbers include incoming high school and JC signees, walk-ons and portal additions … Against Utah Tech, UNLV scored its second-most points in a half in building a 44-7 halftime lead … With the starters pulled after halftime, an eye-popping 89 different Rebels saw action in the game with 27 of them being credited with at least one tackle on defense … The Rebels have made all 22 of their extra-point attempts this fall and 147 straight dating back to the first game of 2020 … UNLV earned its first win over Houston after being outscored 153-23 in three previous meetings … In his first game after transferring from Texas, UNLV safety Jalen Catalon brought in two interceptions at UH, including one he tipped to himself and returned 36 yards for a touchdown … Barry Odom’s second UNLV coaching staff includes just one new assistant coach — and even he is not new to the program as first-year safeties coach Nicco Fertitta served as UNLV’s defensive analyst in 2023 … UNLV has not returned a punt for a touchdown in 23 years — the longest drought in the nation. The last Rebel to do it was Troy Mason, who went 52 yards vs. San Diego State on Oct. 13, 2001, at Sam Boyd Stadium … However, when Jai’Den Thomas went 90 yards into the end zone vs. Fresno State, UNLV snapped a 13-year drought by returning a kickoff for a score for the first time since Deante “Never Nervous” Purvis sprinted 98 yards to the end zone vs. Colorado State on Oct. 29, 2011 … Incredibly, in 2023 had three touchdown drives that lasted less than 10 seconds at UNM last November (:07 after a long punt return, :06 after a fumble recovery and :08 on a long TD pass) and the Rebels’ Go-Go Offense tied with Oregon and Old Dominion for the national lead with 11 touchdown drives under a minute during the regular season … Ray Guy Award candidate Marshall Nichols finished with the second-highest season punting average in school history last fall as his 47.1 yards per attempt ranked sixth in the nation and sat only slightly behind 1984 All-American Randall Cunningham’s 47.5 rate.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5
TIME, TV SIRIUSXM APP/WEB
Wake Forest at NC State
Noon ET, The CW 139, 193, or 380 955 or 970
Series: NC State leads series, 69-42-6;
Last meeting: NC State, 26-6 (2023)
The CW: Thom Brennaman (play-by-play), Max Browne (analyst), Treavor Scales (sideline)
SERIES HISTORY vs. LOUISIANA
118TH MEETING
NC STATE LEADS SERIES 69-42-6
at Wake Forest: 22-31-2
at NC State: 20-38-4
Biggest Win: 54-6 (10/16/1943)
Biggest Loss: 0-76 (9/30/1908)
Longest Winning Streak: 4 (1951-54)
Longest Losing Streak: 10 (1908-17)
Current Streak: NCST, 2 (2022-pres.)
Wake Forest Notes
KEY STORYLINES
STORIED HISTORY
• Saturday marked the 118th meeting between both programs. The rivalry between the Demon Deacons and Wolfpack is the second-longest continuously played series in college football dating back to 1910 (Minnesota vs. Wisconsin). • Since the turn of the century, the Demon Deacons boast a record of 32-26 against UNC, NC State and Duke. In addition, during that time, Wake Forest is 48-26 against all in-state opponents. The Deacs lead the Big Four in winning percentage against each other during that period.
SUSTAINED SUCCESS
• Under the leadership of head coach Dave Clawson, Wake Forest has not only had historic success as a program. • Since the start of the 2016 season, the Deacs have the third-most wins in the ACC not counting the COVID-shortened 2020 season: 1. Clemson — 88 2. NC State- 58 3. Miami- 56 T4. Wake Forest — 54 T4. Pitt – 54 • Wake Forest’s run of 37 wins from 2018-22 ranks as the second-most in a single five-year period in program history: 1. 38 Wins (2017-21) 2. 37 Wins (2018-22) • The current five-year period of 2020-24 has 28 wins.
WINNING THE THIRD PHASE
• During the Dave Clawson era, Wake Forest has been the best team in the nation at converting field goals, connecting on 182- of-222 field goal attempts in the last 11 years (82.0 pct.) with the next closest being Stanford at 81.9 percent. That margin has been even highest over the last seven seasons since the start of the 2018 season: • This season, Matthew Dennis is 7-of-8 FG and was a perfect 14-of-14 in extra points. Over the course of his career, Dennis is 33-of-42 FG. His 78.6 career percentage ranks second in program history. • Ivan Mora is having the best punting season of his career, averaging 47.3 yards per punt including four punts of 50+ yards. His 42.0 career average ranks fifth in program history. • With the help of punter Mora, the Deacs were elite in punt coverage in 2023, ranking 20th nationally with 4.44 yards allowed on opponent attempts. His 21 punts inside the 20 also ranked 19th nationally in 2023.
JD LIVING IN BACKFIELDS
• Jasheen Davis has now recorded at least 0.5 tackles-for-loss in the 22 of his last 23 games. • Over his last 19 games dating back to last season, Davis has collected 31.0 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks. • With 1.0 sacks in week one, Davis has now tallied 21.0 sacks in his career and that ranks fourth in program history and is 2.5 sacks away from the Clawson era record.
NOTING THE RAGIN’ CAJUNS
• NC State is coming off a 24-17 win at home against Northern Illinois • Despite only recording 108 yards of total offense, the Wolfpack squeaked out a narrow victory over the Huskies. • The Wolfpack defense dominated against NIU, recovering two fumbles, including one for a touchdown, as well as two interceptions and four sacks. • Both graduate student Grayson McCall and true freshman CJ Bailey have split time at quarterback for the Wolfpack. • McCall and Bailey have combined for five touchdowns and 944 yards passing. • Sophomore wide receiver KC Concepcion leads all Wolfpack recievers with 31 catches and 243 yards. • Concepcion has also caught four out of NC State’s five touchdown passes this season. • NC State’s defense has put pressure on opposing teams all season, as the Wolfpack have recorded eight sacks and 27 tackles for loss through five games. • Graduate defensive end Davin Vann has led the way on the front for the Wolfpack, recording 6.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks, while also forcing three fumbles. • The Wolfpack defense have also caused nine turnovers on the season, including five interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
SERIES INFO
• Wake Forest and NC State have faced off against each other 117 times, with the first matchup between the two schools coming in 1895, where the Deacs and Wolfpack battled to a 4-4 tie. • In their most recent meeting in the 2023 season, Wake Forest dell to NC State inside Allegacy Stadium 6-26. • Redshirt freshman Deuce Alexander hauled in his first career catch and touchdown against the Wolfpack • The Demon Deacon defense recorded three sacks and 10 tackles for loss, with Jasheen Davis leading the way with three TFLs and a sack. • Wake Forest’s last win against NC State came during the 2021 season, where the Deacs defeated the Wolfpack 45-42 in Winston-Salem • Quarterback Sam Hartman threw for 290 yards and recorded four total touchdowns on the day. • Running back Justice Ellison rushed for two scores as the Deacs combined for 116 total rushing yards. • The last time that the Demon Deacons defeated the Wolfpack inside Carter-Finley Stadium was during the 2018 season, where the Deacs defeated No. 14 NC State 27-23. • Wake Forest overcame a ten-point deficit to upset a Wolfpack as Jamie Newman found Jake Freuenthal in the endzone with 30 seconds remaining to take the win.
CROSSING PATHS
• The matchup between the Demon Deacons and Wolfpack features eight matchups between former high school teammates. • Sam Neely, Will Cobb, and Keenan Jackson (Weddington) •Tayshaun Burney and Brandon Cleveland (Carrollwood Day School) • Ryan Henley, Zachary Zinger, and Odera Orizu (Charlotte Christian) • Landen Baker and Jackson Vick (Southern Nash) • Luke Petitibon and Patrick Matan (Gonzaga) • Jeremiah Melvin and Cole Wilson (Cape Fear) • Josh Harrison, Zack Myers, and Bruce White (Christ School) • Zach Lohavichan, Brody Barnhardt, Keynan Abdul-Rahim, and Jayden Hollar (Providence Day School) • One player on Wake Forest’s roster is from Raleigh. • Busbee Phillips, DB (Sanderson) • One player on NC State’s roster is from Winston-Salem. • Eli Calhoun, WR (Reynolds) • Former Wake Forest wide receiver Wesley Grimes is now on the NC State roster.
North Carolina State Notes
THE GAME
• NC State has faced Wake Forest more times than any other opponent in its 133 years of football. Saturday’s game will mark the 118th meeting between the two squads, with NC State holding a 69-42-6 advantage. • The teams have met every season since 1910, making it the longest continuous rivalry in the ACC and the second-longest in the FBS (Wisconsin-Minnesota have met every year since 1906). • Since 2001, the Wolfpack has posted a 9-2 mark in games played at Carter-Finley, while going 3-9 mark in games played at Wake Forest. • The Pack has won seven of its last eight home contests vs. the Demon Deacons with the only loss coming in 2019. • Five of the last seven games between NC State and Wake Forest have been decided by 10 points or less (four by six points or less).
QUICK HITTERS
• NC State is one of just five programs in the Power 4 that has won eight or more games in each of the last four seasons (2020-23). • Head coach Dave Doeren is in his 12th season at NC State – tied for the sixth longest tenure among current FBS coaches. • The Wolfpack has sold out 17 straight games (including this week’s game vs. Wake Forest) – the longest sellout streak in school history. The remaining three home games are also sold out, which will run the streak to 20. • Since the beginning of the 2020 season, NC State boasts the seventh-best home winning percentage in the Power 4. Since then, the Pack has won 26 of its last 30 games in Carter-Finley. • Punter Caden Noonkester has dropped 11 punts inside the opponent 20-yard line this season and has nine 50+ yard punts. • Ten Wolfpack players were on the preseason watch lists for 15 national awards. • Each of the Wolfpack’s position coaches returned for the 2024 season. The defensive staff is now entering its fifth season together. • Four players on the Wolfpack offense who have seen their first action for the Wolfpack this season have all played against NC State previously in their careers. • Since the beginning of the 2021 season, no other P4 school has picked off more passes than the Wolfpack. NC State has tallied 56 interceptions in the 2021, ‘22, ‘23 and ‘24 seasons combined. • NC State leads the nation in consecutive PATs made. The Wolfpack hasn’t missed an extra point since the regular season finale of the 2017 season – 265 straight. • NC State has won 26 of its last 30 games in Carter-Finley Stadium (14 of its last 17 at vs. ACC opponents). • The Wolfpack has scored three defensive touchdowns this season.
THIS IS BECOMING A HABIT
NC State and Wake Forest first squared off on the football field in 1895. Back then, NC State was known as The North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, the team name was the “Farmers,” they hosted games in Pullen Park and wore brown and white uniforms. Wake Forest … well it was actually IN Wake Forest – about 30 minutes north of Raleigh. Although the UNC- Virginia series is the most-played series in the ACC (129 games) and the UNC – Wake Forest series is the oldest (1888), the Wolfpack and the Demon Deacons boast the longest continuous rivalry in the league – meeting every year since 1910. It’s the second-longest continuous rivalry in the FBS, as Wisconsin and Minnesota have met every year since 1906.
NON-CON DOMINANCE
Just a note as the Wolfpack wraps up its non-conference slate for 2024: NC State has posted a 31-2 record in home non-conference games under head coach Dave Doeren. The Wolfpack has won 28 of last 29 non-ACC home games, with last year’s loss to 10th-ranked Notre Dame marking the first non-conference loss in 10 years (since ECU in 2013 – Doeren’s first year in Raleigh.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Since the beginning of the 2020 season, NC State boasts the seventh-best home winning percentage in the Power 4. The Pack has won 26 of its last 30 games in Carter-Finley Stadium dating back to the beginning of that season. In 2022, NC State tied the school record for the longest home winning streak at 16 before falling in the last home game of the season. That streak, which tied the mark set under head coach Lou Holtz from 1972-75, was the sixth-best active home winning streak in the FBS at the time. As far as ACC games go, the Pack has won 14 of its last 17 at home.
SMU at #22 Louisville
Noon ET, ESPN 83 or 371 83 or 371
Series: SMU leads series, 2-0;
Last meeting: SMU, 41-7 (1984)
ESPN: Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), Kris Budden (sideline)
SMU Notes
SETTING THE SCENE
• SMU hits the road to face No. 22/22 Louisville on Saturday, Oct. 5 for its second ACC game of the year. • The Mustangs have rattled off two straight 20+ point victories after knocking off TCU, 66-42, and defeating Florida State, 42-16, in the program’s first ever ACC game. • Club Takeaway continues to be in business this season, forcing a nation-leading 14 turnovers this season. • In the past two weeks, SMU has scored four non-offensive touchdowns and leads the nation in defensive touchdowns. Against TCU, the Mustangs scored by way of an interception, fumble and punt return to the house. Last Saturday, Kobe Wilson returned an interception 82 yards for a touchdown to put an exclamation mark on the 26-point victory. • The Mustangs enter the game against the Cardinals with at least three turnovers forced in the last four games. • Brashard Smith continued his breakout season against Florida State, rushing for 129 yards and a touchdown along with 50 yards receiving.
QUICK HITS
• The Mustangs have won six straight road games dating back to Sept. 2023. • SMU’s defense has continued to force turnovers this year, ranking tied for first in the country with 14 turnovers gained, along with being first in defensive touchdowns with four. • The Mustangs have had at least seven receivers catch a pass in 22 straight games, dating back to at Tulane on Nov. 17, 2022. • Brashard Smith has made an impact in 2024, ranking seventh in total touchdowns (8), ninth nationally in all-purpose yards (151.20), ninth in rush yards per carry (7.27), 12th in rushing touchdowns (7) and 13th in rushing yards (509). • Ahmad Moses ranks third in the nation in total interceptions with three after picking off TCU twice during the victory and becoming the first Mustang with multiple interceptions since Nick Roberts vs. Houston on Nov. 5, 2022. • Collin Rogers has tallied 11 field goals this season, which is tied for second in the nation. • SMU’s 47 wins in the last six years are the most by any FBS Texas team. In addition, the Mustangs have won 20 of those on the road, tops for any team in the state since 2019. • The Mustangs are 13-2 in their last 15 games. • SMU has posted a record of 20-1 during Rhett Lashlee’s three seasons in charge when they score 30 or more points in a game and have won 18 straight when hitting the magic number. • SMU had 20 players earn various accolades prior to the start of the season.
THE SERIES
• This is the third meeting between the Cardinals and the Mustangs, previously facing off in 1983 and 1984 at home with SMU winning both by double digits.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS
• No. 22/22 Louisville is 3-1 on the season and 1-0 in the ACC and enters the matchup coming off a narrow seven-point defeat on the road against No. 16/14 Notre Dame last Saturday. • The Cardinals are 14-2 at home dating back to the 2022 season and have won 10 straight conference games at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.
HOME SWEET HOME
• SMU is 27-5 at home since the start of the 2019 season, which included a 6-0 mark in 2023, a 5-1 record in 2021 and a 6-0 record in 2019. • Last week against Florida State, SMU hosted a sellout crowd of 34,879 which ranks fourth in Ford Stadium history. This marked the second consecutive top 10 crowd, after the Mustangs had 33,168 to witness the victory of TCU on Sept. 21.
CAPITALIZING OFF TAKEAWAYS
• SMU is +63 in points off turnovers this season, by far the top margin in the country. • South Alabama is the next closest team to the Mustangs, holding a +38 points off turnovers advantage.
SUCCESS IN LEAGUE PLAY
• With the win over Florida State, the Mustangs have now won 10 consecutive matchups against conference foes dating back to 2022. • That streak sits as the second longest in program history and is just one win away from tying the 11-game conference win streak in 1983 and 1984.
LET’S TAKE THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD
• The Mustangs were impressive on the road last year, posting a 5-2 mark. • SMU outscored its opponents 30.6-21.6 in seven road contests in 2023. • SMU’s six-game current road winning streak ranks tied for fifth longest in college football and longest in program history since a 12-game streak from Sept. 26, 1981, to Sept. 15, 1984.
Louisville Notes
CARDS RETURN HOME FOR KEY ACC BATTLE AGAINST SMU
• Louisville hosts its fourth home game of the season when SMU visits L&N Stadium Saturday for a Noon kickoff on ESPN. The Mustangs are 4-1 and 1-0 in the ACC after picking up their first ACC win with a 42-16 win at home over Florida State. • The Cardinals and Mustangs are meeting for just the third time, with UofL looking for its first win in the series. SMU is 2-0 against the Cards with both meetings coming in 1983 and 1984. • Louisville turned the ball over three times in the first half leading to 10 points in Notre Dame’s 31-24 win over Louisville last Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. • Quarterback Tyler Shough completed 24-of-41 passes for 264 yards and three scores and tossed his first interception. Shough set a new school record for most pass attempts without an interception to start a career, avoiding interceptions for his first 86 passes at Louisville. Mike Watkins set the previous record of 83 passes from 1997 to 2001. • Coming into the game as one of three teams yet to turn the football over, the Cardinals gave the ball away three times leading to 10 points • Placekicker Brock Travelstead set the school record for the longest with a 56-yard field goal — the second 50-yarder of his career. He owns the top two spots for the longest field goals with that field goal and a 53-yarder last season. • The Cardinals were sacked a season high three times and were pressured eight times in the loss. • Wide receivers Caulin Lacy and Ja’Corey Brooks combined for 10 receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Lacy, who missed six weeks with an injury, caught five passes for 71 yards, while Brooks also grabbed five receptions for 71 yards and a pair of touchdowns. • Running back Isaac Brown recorded a season high with 13 carries for 72 yards and caught his first career touchdown reception on a 10-yard pass to open the scoring. • After yielding 24 first half-points, the Cardinals allowed just seven points and 131 yards of total offense. • Linebacker Stanquan Clark led the defense with eight tackles, including six solo stops and a tackle for loss. Clark registered his second career forced fumble, setting up the Cards for a 9-yard TD drive. He leads the team with 22 total tackles through the first four games of the season.
THE SERIES
• This will be the third meeting between Louisville and SMU, with the Mustangs owning a 2-0 series advantage. This will be the first meeting between these two schools as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. • The Cardinals are 0-1 all-time in Louisville against SMU, losing 41-7 in 1984. This will be head coach Jeff Brohm’s first meeting against the Mustangs.
KEY STORYLINES
• The Cards are looking to go 4-1 at home and 10-1 at L&N Stadium in the Jeff Brohm era. Louisville committed its first turnovers of the season in the loss to Notre Dame, losing two fumbles and throwing an interception, after avoiding turnovers through Game 3 for the first time in program history Louisville allowed an opponent to score on its opening drive for the first time since the Clemson game in 2022, ending a streak of 21 games. • Louisville enters Saturday’s game against SMU as one of six schools that are in the top 20 in total offense and total defense, joining Miami, Ohio State, Texas, Indiana, Penn State. • Louisville has scored at least 30 points in nine of the 10 home games under head coach Jeff Brohm. • Quarterback Tyler Shough tossed multiple touchdown passes for the fourth-straight game this season, giving him 11 in just four games. He’s one of four quarterbacks in the country with 10 or more touchdown passes and one interception. • Wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks is tied for 21st nationally with four touchdown receptions after catching two touchdown passes in the loss to Notre Dame. It was the second multiple touchdown game of his career after he had one in 2022 at Alabama. • Freshman running back Isaac Brown is the team’s leading rusher with 245 yards, an average of 61.3 yards per game. He rushed a season high 13 times for 72 yards and caught four passes for 23 yards and his first career receiving touchdown. The rookie stands 13th nationally with an average of 8.5 yards per carry. • Wide receiver Chris Bell is second in the ACC in receiving yards per reception at 20.9 yards, while also ranking 20th nationally. He has two touchdown receptions of 30 or more yards this season. • Louisville has completed passes to at least eight or more different receivers in each of the first four games, including 15 different pass catchers in the season opener against Austin Peay. The Cardinals are ranked sixth nationally with two defensive touchdowns, both coming at the hands of Ramon Puryear. • Louisville has scored 28 points off turnovers this season. Louisville scored the first touchdown of the game when Notre Dame fumbled the opening kickoff. • Head coach Jeff Brohm is 9-1 at home in two seasons at Louisville. Louisville’s average margin of victory in its first three home games is 36.3 points. • Newcomer Tramel Logan leads the team with 5.0 tackles for loss, while the Cards are ranked 12th in the country with 7.2 per game.
GENERAL NOTES
HOME IS WHERE THE “W” IS
• Louisville is 122-46 (72.1) at L&N Cardinal Stadium since the start of the 1998 season. • The Cardinals are 28-14 at home in ACC games since joining the league in 2014. Head coach Jeff Brohm is 9-1 all-time at L&N Stadium as head coach of the Cardinals. • Brohm’s teams are averaging 41.6 points per game since taking over the program, scoring over 50 points on three different occasions. Louisville has scored at least 30 points for the eighth time in nine home games under Brohm.
CARDS 10TH SEASON IN THE ACC
• Louisville is in its 10th season in the ACC opening conference play with a 31-19 win over Georgia Tech on Sept. 21. • Since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014, the Cardinals have posted a 45-38 overall record, with a pair of 7-1 seasons. • The Cards defeated Georgia Tech in the last two conference openers, defeating them 31-19 last Saturday and 39-34 in last season’s season opener in Atlanta. • The Cardinals are 28-14 all-time at home in the ACC and has won eight consecutive league games at L&N Stadium since falling to Florida State 35-31 to open the home league schedule in 2022. • The eight-game home conference winning streak is the second-longest home winning streak in conference play. It’s the longest since winning 12 straight in Conference USA and Big East from 2003- 2006.
DURING THE OCTOBER MONTH
• The Cardinals have enjoyed success during the month of October, posting a 216-195-5 record. Louisville is a solid 146-78-2 mark at home entering Saturday’s game versus SMU, which is a 65.9 winning percentage. • Head coach Jeff Brohm’s team is 2-1 at Louisville during the month of October.
FIRST TURNOVERS
• After going the first three games as one of only three teams without a turnover, the Cards turned the ball over three times and had three drives end on downs in the loss to Notre Dame. • Louisville’s turnovers led to 10 Notre Dame points and its bad snap gave the Fighting Irish the ball at the four-yard line. • Louisville now ranks 31st in turnover margin and is seventh in the ACC.
Pittsburgh at North Carolina
Noon ET, ESPN2 94, 203, or 381 965 or 971
Series: North Carolina leads series, 12-5;
Last meeting: North Carolina, 41-24 (2023)
ESPN2: Roy Philpott (play-by-play), Sam Acho (analyst), Taylor Davis (sideline)
Pittsburgh Notes
GAME STORYLINES
• Pitt is 4-0 for the first time since 2000. A win at North Carolina would give the Panthers their first 5-0 start since 1991. • A win over the Tar Heels would also boost Pitt’s Top 25 credentials. The Panthers placed No. 27 in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 28 in the Associated Press Poll. • Through their opening four contests, the Panthers are averaging 48.5 points to rank fifth nationally. • Redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein has established himself as an early leader for ACC Rookie of the Year accolades. • A four-time ACC Rookie of the Week, Holstein has completed 67% of his passes for 1,186 yards and 12 TDs with two INTs. He is Pitt’s second-leading rusher with 189 yards. • Running back Desmond Reid, an All-American at Western Carolina last year, leads Pitt in rushing yards (319), all-purpose yards (564) and total touchdowns (five). • Reid ranks second nationally and first in the ACC with an average of 188.0 all-purpose yards per game. • Kicker Ben Sauls is perfect on 29 placements (7-7 FG, 22-22 PAT) for a team-high 43 points. • Narrow margins have largely ruled the Pitt-North Carolina series. Twelve of the 17 games have been decided by single digits. • The average margin of victory over the course of the series is 7.4 points. • Pitt is winless in seven all-time visits to Chapel Hill, most recently dropping a 42-24 decision in 2022.
SERIES NOTES
This is the 18th meeting between Pitt and North Carolina in a series that dates back to 1974…12 of the 17 games have been decided by single digits, including 10 of the last 12 contests…the Tar Heels lead the overall series, 12-5, and are 8-2 in ACC encounters…the Panthers’ longest series winning streak is two games—34-27 in 2019 and 30-23 in 2021—with each of those contests going into overtime…the Tar Heels snapped Pitt’s streak with a 42-24 victory in Chapel Hill in 2022 and won last year’s game in Pittsburgh, 41-24…the Panthers are 4-5 against the Tar Heels in Pittsburgh and 0-7 in Chapel Hill… Pitt won the lone neutral site meeting, 19-17, in the 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte…bowl MVP Dion Lewis rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown, while Dan Hutchins provided the winning points on a 33-yard field goal with 52 seconds left to upend the Tar Heels…that 2009 bowl victory capped a 10-3 season for Pitt…the Panthers’ other regular-season wins in the series both occurred in Pittsburgh: 20-16 in 1978 and 7-6 in 1982…the 1982 game served as the opener for both schools and was a battle of preseason Top 5 teams in Three Rivers Stadium…Pitt, led by quarterback Dan Marino, was the preseason No. 1 team, while North Carolina, which featured tailback Kelvin Bryant, was No. 5…the ’82 game was played in Three Rivers Stadium to accommodate a weeknight CBS prime-time TV audience
TEAM NOTES HOT START:
• Pitt is 4-0 for the first time since the 2000 season. • The Panthers completed an undefeated non-conference slate for the first time in program history. (Pitt first began round-robin conference play in 1993 as a member of the Big East.) • Pitt last opened with a 5-0 record in 1991.
North Carolina Notes
THE LEAD:
Carolina looks to snap a two-game skid when the Tar Heels return home this Saturday to host Pittsburgh at Kenan Stadium. UNC holds a 12-5 all-time advantage over the Panthers and has won the last two meetings, including last year’s 41-24 victory in Pittsburgh.
KEY STORYLINES
• Of the 17 all-time games between Carolina and Pitt, seven have been in Chapel Hill with the Tar Heels coming out on top all seven times. The first matchup was a 45-29 home victory for UNC in 1974. • The North Carolina offense has been successful running the football in 2024 and effective in the red zone. The Heels rank 25th in the nation with 208.6 rushing yards per game and 16th in the nation converting 94.4 percent of their red zone chances. Omarion Hampton ranks third in the nation with 658 rushing yards. • Mack Brown holds the most wins among active coaches with 285 in his career. • Over the last five NFL Drafts, UNC’s 18 draft picks are tied for the second most among ACC schools. Carolina and Pitt are tied at 18 behind Clemson’s 26 selections. Florida State is fourth in the league with 17. • Carolina set a program record four-year APR rate of 996, which was 14 points higher than the previous best set last year. UNC’s 996 is the highest rate of any football program in the ACC and is tied for third in the Power 4 with Northwestern. • Defensively in 2024, the Heels have been effective on third downs, ranking 14th in the nation, allowing opponents to only convert 28.4 percent of the time.
Boston College at Virginia
Noon ET, ACCN 158, 194, or 382 956 or 972
Series: Boston College leads series, 7-1;
Last meeting: Boston College, 27-24 (2023)
ACCN: Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Orlando Franklin (analyst), Morgan Uber (sideline)
Boston College Notes
FIRST-AND-10
• Boston College is back on the road for the first of two consecutive games in the Commonwealth of Virginia when it takes on Virginia at Scott Stadium for a Noon ET kickoff on Saturday, Oct. 5. • The game will be broadcast on ACC Network. Jorge Sedano (play-by-play) and Orlando Franklin (analyst) are on the call with sideline reporter Morgan Uber for the second week in a row. • Coverage on the Boston College Sports Network begins 30 minutes prior to kick off on WEEI 93.7 FM. Jon Meterparel (play-by-play) is joined on the call by former BC linebacker Pete Cronan in the booth and quarterback Scott Mutryn on the sideline. • Boston College leads the all-time series, 7-1, beginning with a 30-21 BC win in 1963. • Virginia won its first match-up in the series to end the 2020 season, 43-32, in BC’s most recent visit to Charlottesville. » In the last meeting a season ago, BC trailed 21-7 at the half and outscored UVA, 20-3, in the final two quarters. Liam Connor gave the Eagles their first lead of the day on a 42-yard field goal with 2:11 left in an eventual 27-24 win. • Boston College is 2-1 in Charlottesville with wins in 2009 and 2017. • Left guard Logan Taylor played two seasons at Virginia before transferring to Boston College in 2023. He started all 12 games at left tackle for the Cavaliers in 2022. • Defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku leads all of FBS in sacks (8.0), solo sacks (8.0) and sacks per game (1.6). He also ranks third in FBS and first in the ACC in tackles for loss (9.5). • Ezeiruaku was named the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week following a 14-tackle, three-sack, four-TFL game vs. WKU (9/28). It marked the first weekly award of his career.
EARLY SEASON SUCCESS
• BC is 4-1 to start a season for the first time since 2021 and first time at 4-1 after a win since a week-five win over Temple in 2018. • BC has won in first three home games in a season for the first time since 2018. • Following a 2-0 start, BC entered the AP Top-25 at No. 24. The week-three ranking marked the Eagles’ first ranking since 2018 and earliest in a season since being in the 2005 preseason poll. • BC is receiving votes in both polls this week.
WITH A WIN…
• BC would improve to 5-1 for the first time since 2008. • BC would improve to 2-0 in the ACC for the first time since 2007. • BC would win its first two road games in ACC play for the first time since 2014. • BC would win its first game in Charlottesville since 2017.
Virginia Notes
INSIDE TODAY’S MATCHUP
• Virginia is off to its best start (3-1) under third-year head coach Tony Elliott and best since 2019 when it started the season 4-0. • UVA is coming off the first of two bye weekends on the 2024 schedule. The Cavaliers are 2-0 off the bye in Elliott’s first two seasons with wins on the road over Georgia Tech (16-9) in 2022 and at then-No. 10 North Carolina (31- 27) in 2023. • The Cavaliers are looking to start 2-0 in ACC play for the first time since 2019. • UVA has not won back-to-back ACC games since the 2021 season defeating Duke (48-0) and Georgia Tech (48- 40) both at Scott Stadium. • Virginia has three wins through its first four games for only the fourth time since 2008 and the first time since 2019 (4-0). Virginia has won three (or more) of its first four games four times in the last 17 years (2024 – 3-1; 2019 – 4-0; 2018 – 3-1; 2017 – 3-1). • UVA is looking to improve to 4-1 to start the season for the first time since 2019 and the sixth time since 1999 – 2019 (4-1); 2017 (4-1); 2007 (4-1), 2004 (5-0); 2003 (4-1).
TOP STORYLINES
• Virginia (4 games) and Boston College (5 games) have been flagged for 17 penalties this season, the fewest in the ACC. The Eagles have the fewest penalties per game (3.60), total penalty yards (126) and penalty yards per game (23.75) in the league. • Virginia and Boston College are two of 57 FBS teams with either one or no losses this season. BC, UVA, Clemson, Duke, Miami, Louisville, SMU are among schools unbeaten in ACC play entering the week. Clemson is the only 2-0 team in the league. • Virginia’s offense churned out 384 yards on the ground in its 43-24 win over Coastal Carolina on Sept. 21, the most rushing yards by the Cavaliers in a game since 1998. It also racked up the most total yards (525) and scored the most points (43) in a game in Tony Elliott’s tenure as head coach. • The Cavaliers will match up against a Boston College rushing attack allowing 101.4 yards per game, sixth-lowest in the ACC. The Eagles allowed just 21 rushing yards on 16 carries in their ACC/season opener against Florida State.
AGAINST BOSTON COLLEGE
• Virginia is 1-7 all-time against Boston College, including a 1-5 mark since the Eagles joined the ACC. • Only win against BC came at Scott Stadium in 2020, a 43-32 victory in front of 250 fans, because of COVID-19 protocols. • Virginia led 21-7 at the half in last year’s meeting and was outscored 20-3 in the final 30 minutes. It was one of four occasions last season that an opponent overcame a double-digit lead to defeat UVA. • The Eagles and Cavaliers will play one another in back-to-back seasons for the first time.
Virginia Tech at Stanford
3:30 p.m. ET, ACCN 139, 193, or 371 371 or 955
Series: Stanford leads series, 1-0;
Last meeting: Stanford, 40-12 (2011 Orange Bowl)
ACCN: Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Mark Herzlich (analyst), Coley Harvey (sideline)
Virginia Tech Notes
MATCHUP AT A GLANCE
• Saturday’s meeting between the Hokies and Cardinal will be just the second overall matchup with Stanford holding a 1-0 advantage. • The only other meeting took place in the 2011 Orange Bowl with Stanford winning 40-12 behind quarterback Andrew Luck. • Saturday’s game in Palo Alto will be the first regular season matchup for the programs and the first as conference mates. • Stanford, a founding member of the Pacific Coast Conference which became the Pac-12, officially joined the Atlantic Coast Conference on July 1, 2024. Stanford was one of three programs involved in the conference realignment, as SMU and California joined the ACC, expanding the league to 18 teams. • The Hokies are slated to be the third ACC team the Cardinal has faced this season after meetings with Syracuse and Clemson in the last two weeks. • Virginia Tech will play its first regular season game in the state of California. • Tech’s last game in the Golden State was the 2002 Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl, a 20-13 victory over Air Force. • Blacksburg, Virginia and Palo Alto, California are separated by 2,688 miles. • Virginia Tech offensive line coach Ron Crook served as an assistant at Stanford from 2011-12 when the Cardinal won a Pac-12 championship and made two BCS bowl games. • Tech DL Elijah Klock is from Moraga, California, 41 miles north of Palo Alto. • Stanford has two players from the Commonwealth of Virginia, DL R.J. Gaskins (McLean, Va.) and CB Javion Randall (Richmond, Va.)
HOKIES HEAD WEST
• Virginia Tech will play just its second game ever in the state of California on Saturday. • The contest at Stanford will mark the furthest west the Hokies have ever played a regular season game.
PRY NAMED TO DODD TROPHY WATCH LIST
• On July 8, Pry was one of 21 coaches (and one of six ACC coaches) named to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Dodd Trophy presented by PNC Bank. • The Dodd Trophy is college football’s most coveted national coaching award that celebrates success while stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s coaching philosophy.
CENTURY MAN
• With 141 yards on the ground against Miami, running back Bhayshul Tuten has now rushed for over 100 yards in four straight games. • Tuten has eight games in a Hokies uniform and 18 games in his career of 100 yards or more on the ground. The most 100-yard rushing games in a row since 1987 was seven by tailback David Wilson in the 2011 season. • The Paulsboro, New Jersey product has now scored at least one touchdown in seven straight games dating back to the 2023 season, following his 55-yard TD run against Miami. • The senior registered 10 missed tackles and 110 yards after contact against the Hurricanes.
TD LANE
• WR Jaylin Lane scored his first rushing touchdown in a Tech uniform in the second quarter to give Tech a 21-14 lead over the Hurricanes Friday. • Lane now has a receiving touchdown (at Old Dominion), a punt return (against Marshall) and a rushing touchdown, becoming the 11th player in school history to score three different ways in a season. • The last time a Hokie scored three different ways in a season was last season when Bhayshul Tuten scored 10 rushing, two receiving and two kickoff return touchdowns.
GOSNELL BROTHERS SHINE
• Stephen and Benji Gosnell have been consistent playmakers for quarterback Kyron Drones. Wide receiver Stephen Gosnell led the team in receiving yards with 53 and a long reception of 21 yards while tying for the team-high in receptions (4) against Miami. • His younger brother, redshirt sophomore TE Benji Gosnell, scored the first touchdown of the game on a 25-yard reception. • Benji hauled in three catches of his own, finishing with 43 yards and a solid 14.3 yards per catch. • The talented duo of offensive playmakers has accounted for 26 receptions, 364 yards, one touchdown and two 2-point conversions through five games.
GREENE STEPS UP
• Sophomore Ayden Greene had his most productive contest to date against the Hurricanes. The speedy wideout recorded the first touchdown of his young career during Tech’s opening drive of the fourth quarter. • Greene displayed good chemistry with quarterback Kyron Drones after the play broke down for a 16-yard score. Overall, the Knoxville, Tennessee product tallied three catches for 33 yards.
SCORING STEAK IS ALIVE
• The 34 points against Miami marked the 375th consecutive game during which Virginia Tech has scored. • The Hokies are in fourth place in both the all-time and active streak lists
Stanford Notes
THE OPENING KICKOFF
• Stanford returns to Stanford Stadium on Saturday afternoon for its first ACC home game. The Cardinal takes on Virginia Tech at 12:30 pm on ACC Network. • The Cardinal enters the game 1-1 in ACC play after opening with consecutive conference games on the road. Stanford won its inaugural road game 26- 24 at Syracuse on Sept. 20 but fell 40-14 at No. 17 Clemson eight days later Sept. 28. • Defense has been the reason for the strong start to the 2024 campaign. Last year, the Cardinal defense allowed 461.7 yards per game, the most in program history. This season, they are limiting opponents to just 364.0 yards per game and have recorded six turnovers. • A theme of Stanford in wins under Coach Taylor has been the Card’s ability to stop the run. Stanford is allowing an average of just 36.4 rushing yards per game to opponents in wins since the start of the 2023 season, or 182 yards in five games. Through five weeks of the 2024 season, Stanford’s run defense ranks eighth in FBS and leads the ACC, allowing just 76.3 rushing yards per game. • Freshman running back Micah Ford has drawn every start in 2024 and had his first breakout game last week against No. 17 Clemson. Ford ran for 122 yards on 15 carries, becoming the first Cardinal running back to eclipse the 100 yard-mark since Casey Filkins on Sept. 24, 2022, against No. 18 Washington. He also became the first freshman running back to run for over 100 yards for the Card since Kenneth Tolon on Nov. 24, 2001, against Notre Dame. • Another freshman with a strong performance last Saturday against the Tigers was wide receiver Emmett Mosley V. Making his first collegiate appearance and start, Mosley touched the ball on the first two plays from scrimmage. He finished the game with seven receptions to pace Stanford and caught a 22-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. • Saturday, the Stanford community hosts its first Festival of Champions, honoring what makes Stanford a truly one-of-a-kind place. The Cardinal will honor Toby Gerhart prior to his upcoming induction into the NFF Hall of Fame, as well as honor the 2009 Sun Bowl and 2010 Orange Bowl teams. Several 2024 Paris Olympians will be returning to campus as well.
THE MATCHUP
• Stanford and Virginia Tech meet for the second time, the first with both teams in the ACC. • The only other time these teams have played came in the 2011 Orange Bowl, where the Cardinal won 40-12. • Andrew Luck was named the game’s Most Outstanding Player after tossing four touchdown passes, including three to tight end Coby Fleener. Luck went 18-23 for 287 yards, with 201 of those yards coming in the second half. • Stanford outscored Virginia Tech 27-0 in the second half, with Fleener scoring all three of his touchdowns. • The 2011 Orange Bowl marked the final game with Jim Harbaugh as the head coach of the Cardinal. It was also the 12th win of the season for Stanford, capping off an incredible turnaround from four years ago. Stanford became the first FBS program to win 12 games four years after losing 11 games.
#15 Clemson at Florida State
7 p.m. ET, ESPN 158, 194, or 371 371 or 956
Series: Florida State leads series, 21-15;
Last meeting: Florida State, 31-24 (2023)
ESPN: Mark Jones (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), Quint Kessenich (sideline)
Clemson Notes
SWINNEY SEEKS TO PASS BOWDEN AS CLEMSON HEADS TO FLORIDA STATE
After a neutral-site season opener and a three-game homestand, Clemson will make its true road debut on Saturday, Oct. 5 when the Tigers face the Florida State Seminoles. Kickoff at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. On Saturday, Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney will attempt to make conference history and pass a college football icon on a playing surface bearing that icon’s name. With 173 career wins, Swinney enters the game tied with College Football Hall of Famer Bobby Bowden for the conference record for career head coaching victories leading an ACC program. Of Bowden’s 377 NCAA-recognized career head coaching victories, 173 of his wins came during Florida State’s membership in the ACC. A win on Saturday on Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium would push Swinney past Bowden into sole possession of the ACC record. “I have a picture in my office of when I had one win — one. It’s a picture of me and Bobby Bowden. We lost the first game to Georgia Tech as an interim and then we won at Boston College and then we’ve got to go down to Tallahassee to play the Noles and Bobby Bowden,” Swinney said postgame last Saturday after tying Bowden’s mark. “He was one of the first people to call me that night as an interim. He became a mentor of mine, a friend of mine. He impacted me greatly both through Tommy and himself. I can’t express enough how much love I have for him and the entire Bowden family… I’ve still got voicemails on my phone from him; he would call me and encourage me long after he was out of coaching.”
WHAT TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEK
– Head Coach Dabo Swinney (173) attempting to pass Bobby Bowden (173 during Florida State’s tenure in the ACC) for the most career head coaching victories leading an ACC program. – Swinney (173) attempting to earn his 174th career win to pass the career win totals of College Football Hall of Famers Robert Neyland (173-31-12) and Frank Solich (173-101). – Clemson (801-473-45) is attempting to earn its 802nd victory all-time and potentially pass Auburn (801) for the 13th-most in FBS history. (Note: Auburn can move to 802 with a win against Georgia at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday). – Clemson and Florida State meeting after having represented the conference in the ACC Championship Game 14 times in 15 years since 2009, Dabo Swinney’s first full season as the Tigers’ head coach. Clemson has appeared in the championship game nine times in those 15 years while Florida State has done so in five. The teams have combined for 12 of the last 13 ACC titles, with the lone exception coming in Pitt’s 2021 ACC title season. – Clemson attempting to earn its 16th all-time victory against Florida State and its seventh all-time victory in Tallahassee. – Clemson attempting to win a fourth consecutive game at Doak Campbell Stadium for the first time in series history. – Clemson attempting to become only the fourth program ever to win four consecutive road games against Florida State in Tallahassee, joining Florida (six straight from 1966-76), Houston (four from 1966-78) and Miami (Fla.) (five from 1957-77 and four from 1981-87). – Clemson attempting to avoid being beaten by the same team in back-to-back years since Florida State did so across a three-year span from 2012-14. Clemson has not lost to a single team in consecutive years since that stretch. – Clemson attempting to improve to 23-10 under Dabo Swinney in games against teams to which Clemson lost its most recent game. – Clemson playing its 2024 road opener by virtue of opening the first five weeks with a neutral-site game, three home games and an open date. Clemson’s Oct. 5 true road opener at Florida State represents Clemson’s latest road opener since Oct. 9, 2008, when Clemson’s 12-7 loss at Wake Forest led to Clemson elevating Dabo Swinney to interim head coach the following week. – Clemson is attempting to improve to 37-8 in true road games since 2015. Clemson’s .818 winning percentage in true road games since 2015 is the fourth-best road winning percentage in the nation, and Clemson’s 36 road wins in that span are the third-most in the country. – Clemson entering the game against 1-4 Florida State having not lost to a team with a losing record at the time of the game since losing to 2-5 Boston College in 2010. – Clemson attempting to improve to 31-8 in night games since the start of the 2018 season. A win would also move Clemson to 52-11 at night since 2015. – Clemson is attempting to improve to 135-18 against AP-unranked teams under Dabo Swinney and improve to 112-8 in those games since the start of the 2012 season. – Clemson has been attempting to improve to 98-13 in regular season play since the start of the 2015 season. – Clemson attempting to score 40 or more points in four consecutive games for the first time since a five-game streak early in the 2020 season. – Clemson attempting to win a fourth consecutive game by a margin of 24 or more points for the first time since an eight-game streak in 2019. It would also mark a three-game streak of 24-point wins in conference play, which would be Clemson’s first against ACC opponents since 2020 against Pitt, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. – Clemson attempting to reach 400 yards in four straight games for the first time since reaching 400 yards in all 12 games in 2020. – Clemson attempting to average 6.5 or more yards per play in four straight games for the first time since a five-game streak in the middle of the 2019 season. – Clemson attempting to average 5.0 or more yards per carry in four straight games for the first time since the final four games of the 2019 season. – Clemson entering the game having scored at least one rushing touchdown in a national-best 81 of its 86 games since the start of the 2018 season. Clemson has also rushed for multiple touchdowns in a national-best 67 games in that span. – Clemson attempting to throw three or more touchdowns in four straight games for the first time since 2020. – Clemson entered the game having recorded a one-play scoring drive in each of its last three games. Another one-play scoring drives this week would give Clemson four consecutive games with a one-play scoring drive for the first time since 2017. – Clemson attempting to surrender one sack or fewer in four straight games for the first time since the final four games of the 2021 season. – Clemson, which has not surrendered a first quarter point this season, attempting to hold opponents scoreless in the first quarter of each of the first five games of a season for the first time in Dabo Swinney’s tenure. – Clemson entering the game ranked second in the nation in first quarter point differential (+18.25 points per game). The Tigers have outscored their opponents by a 73-0 margin in the first quarters this season. – Clemson (one) needing one more defensive touchdown to extend its streak of scoring multiple defensive touchdowns to 15 straight seasons. The last time Clemson had fewer than two defensive touchdowns in a season was 2009, Dabo Swinney’s first full season as head coach, when the Tigers supplemented a single defensive touchdown with six special teams touchdowns. – Clemson is attempting to force three or more takeaways in four consecutive games for the first time since the last three games of 2008 and the 2009 season opener. It would be Clemson’s first time doing so in a single season since a seven-game streak to open 1983. – Clemson is attempting to pick off three or more passes in consecutive games for the first time since the final two games of the 2008 regular season. – Clemson attempting to win the turnover margin for the ninth time in a 10-game span, including a five-game stretch to end the 2023 season. – Clemson attempting to finish +2 or better in the turnover margin in a fourth straight game for the first time since 2013. – Clemson attempting to play a seventh consecutive game (dating to last season) with one giveaway or fewer for the first time since a 12-game streak across the 2019- 20 seasons. Dating to last season, Clemson has five giveaways over its last six games and has not had a multi-giveaway game in that span. – Clemson is attempting to reach double-digit tackles for loss in back-to-back games for the first time since the second and third games of the 2023 season against Charleston Southern and Florida Atlantic. It would be Clemson’s first time doing so against back-to-back power conference opponents since 2020 against Virginia Tech and Notre Dame. – Tight end Jake Briningstool (92) needing two receptions to move past John McMakin (93 from 1969- 71) and Dwayne Allen (93 from 2009-11) for the second-most career receptions by a Clemson tight end. – Briningstool (92) needing eight receptions to become the second tight end in Clemson history to reach 100 career receptions (Jordan Leggett, 112). – Briningstool (1,013) chasing No. 4 Bennie Cunningham (1,044 from 1972-75) and No. 3 Dwayne Allen (1,079 from 2009-11) among the top five on Clemson’s all-time career receiving yardage leaderboard for tight ends. – Briningstool (13) continuing to chase Jordan Leggett (18 from 2013-16) for the school record for career receiving touchdowns by a tight end. Briningstool presently stands alone in second place. – Briningstool attempting to catch a touchdown in consecutive games for the first time this season and the first time since games against Georgia Tech and North Carolina last November.
– Briningstool (two touchdowns vs. App State) attempting to become the first Clemson tight end to catch multiple touchdown passes in multiple games in a single season since Brandon Ford in 2012 (two). – Cornerback Ashton Hampton (one) attempting to join Arlington Nunn (three in 1990) and Dorian O’Daniel (two in 2017) as the only Clemson players since 1950 to record multiple interception returns for touchdowns in a season. – Quarterback Cade Klubnik attempting to become the first Clemson quarterback to throw three or more touchdown passes in four straight games since Trevor Lawrence in 2020. – Klubnik attempting to become the first Clemson quarterback under Dabo Swinney to account for four or more combined touchdowns rushing and passing in four consecutive games. Klubnik’s 16 combined rushing and passing touchdowns in the last three games were one shy of Tajh Boyd’s three-game mark of 17 against Duke, Virginia and NC State in 2012. – Klubnik (45) needing four more combined rushing and passing touchdowns to enter the Top 10 in school history in career touchdown responsibility. He is chasing No. 10 James Davis (49 from 2005-08), No. 9 Travis Zachery (50 from 1998-2001), No. 8 DJ Uiagalelei (51 from 2020-22) and No. 7 C.J. Spiller (52 from 2006-09) on Clemson’s leaderboard. – Klubnik (four) needing one more rushing touchdown to set a new single-season career high in rushing touchdowns. – Klubnik (10) chasing No. 9 Homer Jordan (11 from 1979-82) and No. 8 Rodney Williams (12 from 1985- 88) on Clemson’s all-time leaderboard for career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. – Klubnik attempting to become the first Clemson quarterback to rush for a touchdown in four straight games since Trevor Lawrence across the final two games of 2019 and the first two games of 2020. He would be the first to do it in a single season since Kelly Bryant in the first four games of 2017. – Klubnik (four) attempting to pass his former offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter (four) for sole possession of the fifth-most career 300-yard passing games in Clemson history. – Klubnik (33) chasing No. 8 Nealon Greene (35 from 1994-97) and No. 7 DJ Uiagalelei (36 from 2020-22) on Clemson’s all-time leaderboard for career passing touchdowns. – Klubnik (4,525) needing 123 passing yards to pass Rodney Williams (4,647 from 1985-88) and enter the Top 10 in Clemson history in career passing yards. He is also 215 yards shy of passing Kyle Parker (4,739) for ninth. – Klubnik (4,525) needing 475 passing yards to become the ninth player in school history to reach 5,000 career passing yards. – Klubnik (664) needing 36 pass attempts to become the 11th player in school history to throw 700 career passes. – Klubnik (424) entering the game 34 completions shy of Nealon Greene (458 from 1994-97) for eighth in school history in career pass completions. – Klubnik (4,952) needing 24 combined passing and rushing yards to pass Travis Etienne (4,975 from 2017- 20) for 11th in school history in career yards of total offense. – Klubnik (4,952) needing 48 combined passing and rushing yards to become the 11th player in school history to record 5,000 career yards of total offense. – Cornerback Avieon Terrell attempting to become the first Clemson player with a takeaway in three straight games since Wade Woodaz in the first three games of the 2023 season. – Wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. (two) attempting to record his third 100-yard receiving game of his debut campaign to join Sammy Watkins (five in 2011), Artavis Scott (four in 2014), DeAndre Hopkins (three in 2010) and Justyn Ross (three in 2018) to become the fifth Clemson true freshman with three or more 100-yard receiving games since the NCAA instituted permanent freshman eligibility in 1972. – Wesco attempting to become the first Clemson receiver with consecutive 100-yard receiving games since Cornell Powell against Notre Dame and Pitt in 2020. – Wesco attempting to become the first Clemson freshman to record consecutive 100-yard receiving games since Justyn Ross against Notre Dame (148) and Alabama (153) in the College Football Playoff to end the 2018 season.
SWINNEY IN REMATCHES
Clemson has suffered only 44 losses under Head Coach Dabo Swinney. Clemson has had 32 previous opportunities to avenge its most recent loss against an opponent, going 22-10 in those contests. Including Florida State, there are 12 opponents against which Swinney’s squads are awaiting a rematch since Clemson’s last loss in the series: Nebraska, TCU, USF, West Virginia, LSU, Ohio State, Pitt, Tennessee, Duke, Miami (Fla.) and Georgia.
LATEST ROAD OPENERS
Saturday’s game will be Clemson’s 2024 road opener. The Tigers opened the season in Atlanta in a neutral-site contest against Georgia. Clemson then returned for a three-game homestand that also included the first of Clemson’s two open dates in 2024. Saturday’s game being played on Oct. 5 represents Clemson’s latest road opener since Oct. 9, 2008, when Clemson’s 12-7 loss at Wake Forest in its road opener led to Clemson elevating Dabo Swinney to interim head coach the following week. Saturday’s game will tie for Clemson’s fourth-latest road opener since joining the ACC in 1953.
SERIES HISTORY VS. FLORIDA STATE
Florida State holds a 21-15 advantage in the series with Clemson dating back to the schools’ first meeting, a 38-13 Florida State win in Tallahassee in 1970. Clemson has a 13-7 advantage over the last 20 games, including wins in seven of the last eight meetings. Clemson is 7-2 in its last nine meetings against the Seminoles with both Florida State wins coming in overtime. Florida State’s last regulation win in the series came in 2013. The home team has won 15 of the last 21 games in the series. Since 2003, Clemson has won at Florida State four times: in 2006, 2016, 2018 and 2022. Florida State’s only wins at Clemson since 2001 were a decade apart in 2013 and 2023. Three of the last five road wins in the series (Florida State in 2013, Clemson in 2016 and 2018) all preceded National Championship victories at the end of the season, and one exception (2023) came in a season in which Florida State was excluded from the College Football Playoff despite an undefeated regular season and a conference championship. In an 11-season span from 2009-19, the winner of the Clemson vs. Florida State game went on to win the Atlantic Division title, a streak that ended in 2020 in a division-less season that ultimately did not feature a Clemson/Florida State matchup. From 2011-19, the winner of the Tigers/Seminoles matchup also won the ACC Championship, including six wins by Clemson in that span. Entering 2024, the teams have combined for 12 of the last 13 ACC titles.
Florida State Notes
NOTES TO KNOW
» Florida State plays its fourth home contest in five games this week when it hosts Clemson. In last season’s matchup at Clemson, the Seminoles ended the Tigers’ 25-game ACC home winning streak that was the longest active streak in the country with a 31-24 overtime victory at Memorial Stadium. » Warrick Dunn, who in December will become FSU’s 11th College Football Hall of Fame inductee, will be recognized with his National Football Foundation On-Campus Salute during Saturday’s game. Playing in an era before statistics from bowl games counted toward career totals, Dunn became the first player in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in three different seasons and left FSU as the program’s career rushing record holder with 3,959 yards. He still holds school records with 22 career 100-yard rushing games, including a school-record streak of six straight 100-yard games in 1995, a single-season yards-per-rush average of 7.5 from 1995 and a career average of 6.9 yards per rush. » Florida State is 24-8 since the start of the 2022 season. The team’s 24 total wins and 75.0 winning percentage in that span are the best in the ACC, with the win total ranking 11th nationally and the winning percentage 13th. » The Seminoles rank 7th in the nation with two blocked kicks this season, both by Shyheim Brown. The redshirt junior blocked a 38-yard field goal vs. Cal and a 27-yard field goal at SMU and is one of three players tied for 1st in the country with two blocked kicks this season. Brown, who also blocked the potential game-tying PAT with no time left on the clock in Florida State’s 24-23 win over LSU at the Superdome in 2022, is the sixth player in program history to record multiple career field goal blocks. » Florida State leads the ACC and ranks 2nd in the country with a net punting average of 47.21 yards per punt. Alex Mastromanno’s average of 49.8 yards per punt is 1st nationally. Last year, FSU was 3rd in the country in net punting. » Ryan Fitzgerald is one of three kickers in the country with multiple makes from at least 54 yards. He is one of four kickers with three 50-yard field goals in 2024 and the sixth kicker in FSU history with at least three 50-yard field goals in a single season. » Florida State registered 7.0 sacks in the win over Cal, its most in a game since also having 7.0 in the 2023 ACC Championship Game and the most allowed by the Bears in a game since October 19, 2019. That sack total is also the most by an ACC team against an FBS opponent this season and tied for the 3rd-highest single-game sacks total nationally in 2024. » Over the past three games, the Seminoles have combined for 28.0 tackles for loss with 13.0 sacks and three takeaways. » FSU recorded season-high tackles for loss totals in back-to-back games. The Seminoles registered 9.0 TFLs against Memphis before making 12.0 TFLs against Cal, the Seminoles’ most in a game since recording 14.0 TFLs in the 2023 ACC Championship Game win vs. No. 14 Louisville. It was the most TFLs allowed by Memphis since December 27, 2022, and most allowed by Cal in 2024. » Florida State did not allow a tackle for loss on a running play at SMU, the Seminoles’ first game without a negative-yard rushing play since October 14, 2023, vs. Syracuse. FSU started the same five offensive linemen in back-to-back games for the first time this season. Eight different offensive linemen made at least one start through the season’s first four games, matching last year’s 14-game total. » Six Florida State players have made their first collegiate start in 2024. Linebacker Blake Nichelson has started each of the last four games, while offensive lineman Jaylen Early has started three consecutive contests. Defensive back K.J. Kirkland started vs. Memphis and vs. Cal, and wide receiver Hykeem Williams started vs. Cal and at SMU. Tight ends Brian Courtney and Jackson West made their first career starts vs. Memphis. » Recipient of 2023 Dodd Trophy and Bryant Award national Coach of the Year recognitions » 8th coach to win both in 38 seasons since Bryant was established in 1986 and 2nd in last 20 years » 2023 ACC & AFCA Region I Coach of the Year » Finalist for 2023 Eddie Robinson & George Munger Coach of the Year awards » Led FSU to 16th ACC title and 5th ACC Championship Game victory with 16-6 win over No. 14 Louisville » Completed 7th unbeaten regular season in program history and led FSU to 3rd 13-win season (2013, 2014) » 3rd coach to lead Florida State to multiple 10-win seasons. Responsible for the 25th and 26th 10-win seasons in program history, and in 2022 authored FSU’s first 10-win season since 2016 » Produced 40 All-ACC selections in the last two years, including a program-record 25 on the 2023 All-ACC team » Tied for 16th all-time and 5th among active head coaches with four conference championship game appearances » FSU led the ACC in scoring in 2022 and 2023, the first team to have the ACC’s best scoring offense in consecutive seasons since 2018-20 » FSU was the only team in the country to lead its conference in total offense and total defense in 2022 » Has coached 25 NFL Draft picks, 14 All-Americans – including eight first-team selections – six conference Players of the Year, one conference Newcomer of the Year and 108 all-conference recognitions » Only coach in ACC history to defeat a top-5 team in his first season in the conference (31-28 win vs. No. 5 North Carolina on Oct. 17, 2020) » One of only three FBS head coaches to produce a top-7 rushing offense (4th, 2018) and a top-7 passing offense (7th, 2017) since 2016 » One of five FBS head coaches to oversee multiple top-4 total offenses (4th in 2017 and 2018) since 2016 » 29 of Norvell’s pupils have been selected in the last eight NFL Drafts, including first-round picks Jared Verse in 2024 and Jermaine Johnson II in 2022 » Named Florida State’s 11th full-time head football coach on Dec. 8, 2019 » 71.7 winning percentage at Memphis is the highest in program history » Won the 2019 American Athletic Conference championship and a spot in the New Year’s Six Cotton Bowl » In 2019, led Memphis to a school-record 12 wins and its first outright conference championship since 1969
Duke at Georgia Tech
8 p.m. ET, ACCN 139, 193, or 381 955 or 971
Series: Georgia Tech leads series, 54-35-1;
Last meeting: Georgia Tech, 23-20 (2022)
ACCN: Wes Durham (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst), Dana Boyle (sideline)
DUKE-GEORGIA TECH SERIES
After meeting for 90 consecutive years, Duke and Georgia Tech did not play during the 2023 season but meet again in 2024. The Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series 54- 35-1 and have won the last three meetings. The Blue Devils had captured three consecutive meetings (2017-18-19) and five of six from 2014- 19, before GT responded with wins in 2020-21-22. In Duke’s five most recent victories, four came by double-digit margins.
Duke Notes
OPENING KICKOFF
• Now in its 112th season of football, Duke heads to Georgia Tech for an 8 p.m. Saturday kick on ACC Network. • After meeting for 90 consecutive years, Duke and Georgia Tech did not face each other last year. The series resumes in 2024 with the Yellow Jackets leading 54-35-1 and having won the last three contests. Duke’s last victory was a 41-23 triumph on October 12, 2019, aided by a Blue Devil a 28-point outburst in the second quarter. • Duke stands at 5-0 on the season and will aim for its first 6-0 start since a 7-0 beginning to 1994. The Blue Devils’ 5-0 start to the year is already their best since the 1994 campaign. • Head coach Manny Diaz joins Fred Goldsmith (1994) as the only Duke head coaches to win their first five games. • Duke has won seven consecutive games dating back to the end of the 2023 season. The winning streak is the longest active streak in the ACC and the third-longest nationally. The Blue Devils’ winning streak is tied for the fifth longest in program history. • The Blue Devils downed North Carolina, 21-20, last Saturday after trailing 17-0 at the half and 20-0 with less than six minutes remaining in the third quarter. The 20-point comeback was the second largest in program history, matching a 21-20 comeback over Georgia Tech on October 30, 1954. • Graduate running back Star Thomas was named the ACC Running Back of the Week after rushing for 166 yards on 30 carries and scoring two touchdowns (one rushing; one receiving) in helping Duke to the comeback against North Carolina. • Through Week 5, Duke leads the ACC in one-score victories (8 points or less) with three against zero losses. Boston College (2-1) and Pitt (2-0) are the only other teams with multiple one-score wins with two apiece.
A 5-0 BEGINNING
• Duke heads into Saturday’s game with a 5-0 record for the first time since 1994, when the club started 7-0. • Since 1940, Duke has started 5-0 or better only five times: • 1941 (9-0) • 1952 (6-0) • 1957 (5-0) • 1988 (5-0) • 1994 (7-0)
SEEKING 6-0
• The Blue Devils enter Saturday looking to get to 6-0 for just the fifth time in program history: • 1933 (9-0) • 1938 (9-0) • 1952 (6-0) • 1994 (7-0)
LOOKING FOR THE SIXTH WIN
• Duke is one win from bowl eligibility and its sixth win of the campaign. • It would be the Duke’s third consecutive season with six or more victories, a first for the program since a four-year stretch in 2012-13-14-15. • The Blue Devils own six or more victories in nine of the last 13 seasons. From 1972-2011, 40 seasons, the program had six total campaigns with six or more victories.
ACC ROAD OPENER
• Duke looks for its first win in an ACC road game since downing Boston College 38-31 on November 4, 2022. • The Blue Devils last won their ACC road opener with a 45-10 victory at Virginia Tech on September 27, 2019.
DOWN, NEVER OUT
• Duke has already won three games this season when trailing in the fourth quarter – at Northwestern (down 13-10; win 26-20 2 OT), versus UConn (down 21-17; win 26-21) and against North Carolina (down 20-7; win 21-20). • The Blue Devils had not registered three fourth-quarter wins in the same season since 2014. >> From 2018-23, Duke totaled three fourth-quarter wins.
AIMING FOR 2-0 IN ACC PLAY
• Following its 21-20 victory against North Carolina, Duke looks to improve to 2-0 in ACC play for the second consecutive season, a first for the program since 1960-61-62-63.
Georgia Tech Notes
TOP STORYLINES
• One of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s most historic rivalries is renewed after a one-year hiatus when Georgia Tech hosts Duke on Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. • Saturday’s game is the 91st all-time between the Yellow Jackets and Blue Devils. Tech and Duke played each other every season from 1933-2022 before the 90-year string was snapped when they weren’t scheduled to meet in 2023. • Duke is Georgia Tech’s third-most common opponent, behind only archrival Georgia (117 all-time meetings) and Auburn (92) and just ahead of Clemson (89). • Tech holds a commanding 54-35-1 lead in the all-time series with Duke, including wins in each of the last three matchups. • This Saturday’s matchup marks only the fourth time in the teams’ 91 meetings that Duke comes into the game with a record of 5-0 or better. (1933, 1941 and 1952) In two of the previous three matchups, Georgia Tech defeated the unbeaten Blue Devils (’33 and ’52). • Georgia Tech is 10-1 under head coach Brent Key in games that have followed a defeat. The Yellow Jackets have not lost consecutive games since Oct. 20 and 29, 2022 (vs. Virginia, at Florida State). • Georgia Tech is one of just three teams nationally — and the only one from a Power Four conference — that has not allowed a sack this season. In all, Tech has not allowed a sack in six-straight games dating back to last season’s Gasparilla Bowl win over UCF, which is the Jackets’ most consecutive games without surrendering a sack since it became an official NCAA statistic in 2000 (doubling the previous record of three-straight games without a sack in 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2014.)
TECH vs. RANKED OPPONENTS
• Georgia Tech is 5-4 against ranked opponents under head coach Brent Key. • The Yellow Jackets are an ultra-impressive 5-1 against ranked Atlantic Coast Conference competition under Key, with four of the five wins coming away from home (26-21 at No. 24 Pitt – Oct. 1, 2022; 21-17 at No. 13/11 North Carolina – Nov. 19, 2022; 23-20 at No. 17 Miami (Fla.) – Oct. 7, 2023; 46-42 vs. No. 17 North Carolina – Oct. 28, 2023; 24-21 vs. No. 10 Florida State, Aug. 24, 2024). The Jackets suffered their first defeat to a ranked ACC opponent under Key in their 31-19 loss at Louisville on Sept. 21. • With a pair of wins over nationally ranked teams in each of the last two seasons, the Yellow Jackets have defeated multiple ranked teams in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2008 and 2009. With another win over a ranked team this season, Tech will have claimed victories over multiple ranked teams in three-straight seasons for the first time since 1955-57. • Key became the second coach in Georgia Tech history to ever defeat a ranked opponent in his first game as the Yellow Jackets’ head coach when the Yellow Jackets knocked off No. 24 Pitt, 26-21, on Oct. 1, 2022. Tech head coaches were previously 1-4 when facing nationally ranked teams in their GT debuts (Bill Fulcher – L, 34-3 vs. No. 15 Tennessee – 1972; Pepper Rodgers – L, 31-7 vs. No. 2 Notre Dame – 1974; Bill Curry – L, 26-3 vs. No. 2 Alabama – 1980; Mac McWhorter – W, 24-14 vs. No. 11 Stanford – 2001 Seattle Bowl; Geoff Collins – L, 52-14 vs. No. 1 Clemson – 2019).
OFFENSE
• Through four games, Georgia Tech’s offense ranks among the top 25 nationally in eight official statistical rankings • Georgia Tech’s offense also ranks among the top 45 nationally in yards per play, yards per pass attempt and yards per rush. • Georgia Tech is averaging 6.5 yards per play, which ranks 23rd nationally. • In 2023, only 10 teams averaged better than 6.5 yards per play for the season. • The Jackets are averaging 8.5 yards per pass attempt, which ranks 28th nationally this season. • In 2023, only 17 teams averaged better than 8.5 yards per pass attempt for the season. • The Yellow Jackets are averaging 4.8 yards per rush, which ranks 44th nationally this season. • In 2023, only 24 teams averaged better than 4.8 yards per rush for the season. • Georgia Tech has not surrendered a sack through five games this season and six-consecutive games overall, dating back to last year’s season-ending win over UCF in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. • Tech is one of only three NCAA Division I FBS teams — and the only one from a Power Four conference — that has not surrendered a sack this season. • Georgia Tech has scored 30 or more points eight times since the beginning of last season, after only scoring 30 or more a total of nine times in the previous four seasons combined (2019-22).
DEFENSE
TEAM
• Georgia Tech’s defense is under the tutelage of new defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci. • Through four games under Santucci, Tech’s defense is allowing 19.2 points, 319.2 total yards and 90.2 rushing yards per game, all down significantly from the Yellow Jackets’ averages a year ago, while the Jackets’ 6.2 tackles for loss per game are up over 2023. • Tech’s rushing defense (90.2 ypg) ranks 18th nationally and third in the ACC. • The Yellow Jackets have surrendered less than 100 yards on the ground in 3-of-5 games this season — 98 vs. Florida State (Aug. 24), 12 vs. VMI (Sept. 14) and 57 vs. Louisville (Sept. 21). • Prior to allowing less than 100 rushing yards in three of the first five games of this season, Tech had surrendered at least 100 rushing yards in 33-consecutive games, dating back to allowing just 68 yards on the ground in a 45-22 win over North Carolina on Sept. 25, 2021. • The last time that Georgia Tech allowed less than 100 rushing yards three times in a season was in 2018 (77 vs. Alcorn State on Sept. 1; 63 vs. Bowling Green on Sept. 29; 98 vs. Duke on Oct. 13). • The last time that Georgia Tech allowed less than 100 rushing yards as many as three times in the first five games of a season was in 2007, when the Yellow Jackets surrendered less than 100 yards on the ground in four of their first five games (minus-8 vs. Notre Dame – Sept. 1; 28 vs. Samford – Sept. 8; 92 vs. Boston College – Sept. 15; 34 vs. Clemson – Sept. 29). • Tech’s suffocating rushing defense is especially impressive given that the Yellow Jackets ranked 128th out of 130 NCAA Division I FBS teams (221.3 ypg) against the run last season. • Georgia Tech’s defense was dominant across the board in the Yellow Jackets 59-7 win over VMI (Sept. 14), limiting the Keydets to 104 total yards (2.2 yards per play), including just 28 rushing yards (0.4 avg.) and five total first downs. • VMI’s five first downs were tied for the second-fewest that Georgia Tech has ever surrendered in a game and the fewest since Miami (Fla.) had five first downs against the Yellow Jackets on Sept. 26, 1964. • Four of VMI’s five first downs came on their lone scoring drive of the game in the fourth quarter. The Keydets combined for just one first down on their other 12 possessions. • VMI’s seven points were the fewest allowed by Georgia Tech since a 41-0 win over Alcorn State in the 2018 season opener (Sept. 1, 2018). • Georgia Tech’s 12 tackles for loss against VMI were the most in a game for the Yellow Jackets since they had 12 in a 21-17 win over No. 13 North Carolina on Nov. 19, 2022. • Tech has had seven or more TFL in three of its four games this season – 7 vs. Florida State (Aug. 24), 8 vs. Georgia State (Aug. 31) and 12 vs. VMI (Sept 14). • In his first game as Tech’s defensive coordinator, Santucci’s defense limited No. 10 Florida State, which averaged 401.6 yards of total offense per game in 2023, to just 291 yards in the Yellow Jackets’ 24-21 win over the Seminoles (Aug. 24). • Georgia Tech’s rushing defense limited Florida State to just 98 rushing yards on 31 carries (3.2 avg.). • Even more impressively, after FSU ran for 58 yards on five carries on its first possession of the game (11.6 avg.), Tech surrendered just 40 yards on 26 carries over the rest of the game (1.5 avg.). • Perhaps the lone defensive area where Georgia Tech strives to return to its form from recent seasons is in turnover creation. • The Yellow Jackets uncharacteristically rank 125th out of 133 NCAA Division I FBS teams this season with just two takeaways through five games (both fumble recoveries). • Tech has been one of the nation’s leaders in takeaways for each of the last two seasons — tied for ninth nationally with 25 takeaways in 2023 and tied for seventh with 24 forced turnovers in 2022. • Since 2019, no team in the country has had more fumble recoveries than the Yellow Jackets’ 57. • Since the beginning of the 2020 season, Georgia Tech has forced an average of 2.6 turnovers per game in wins but has averaged just 0.9 takeaways per game in losses.
#8 Miami at California
10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN 158, 194, 371, or 383 371, 956 or 973
Series: Series is tied, 2-2;
Last meeting: Cal, 24-17 (2008 Emerald Bowl)
ESPN: Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst), Sherree Burruss (sideline)
Miami Notes
California Notes
CAL…
–Is playing its first ACC home game. – Is hosting ESPN’s College Gameday for the first time and removing its name from a short list of Power 4 schools who have never hosted (Illinois, Maryland, Rutgers, Syracuse and Virginia). – Is playing Miami for the first time since winning 24-17 in the Emerald Bowl at then AT&T Park (now Oracle Park) in San Francisco on Dec. 27, 2008, as well as hosting Miami in Berkeley for only the second time ever and the first since falling to a No. 10 Hurricane team, 52-24, on Sept. 15, 1990. – Is being televised for the fourth straight game on ESPN or ESPN2 − its longest such stretch on the ESPN family of networks since playing four in a row on ESPN from Oct. 21 − Nov. 12, 2016 (Oregon, at USC, Washington, at Washington State). – Starting QB Fernando Mendoza is a native of Miami who graduated from Columbus High School. – Had a string of six straight regular-season wins snapped in its loss at Florida State. – Has allowed 14 points or less in four consecutive games to begin the season for its longest such run since opponents scored 14 of less in six in a row spanning the final two games of 1967 and the first four of 1968.
NATIONALLY NOTABLE
– Cal leads in interceptions with 10 (Miami is one of four teams one behind with nine), while also ranking in the top 10 nationally turnover margin (T3rd, +2.00 pg, +8 total) and takeaways (7th, 11). – Cal is also in the top 30 in a total of 15 team statistical categories also including passing efficiency defense (5th, 90.25), scoring defense (12th, 12.8 ppg), fumbles lost (T13th, 1), turnovers lost (T15th, 3), fourth-down conversion percentage defense (T16th, 27.3%), fewest passes intercepted (T23rd, 2), punt return defense (24th, 2.80 ypr), kickoff return average (T24th, 24.00 ypr), first downs defense (T24th, 69) and rushing defense (T21st, 105.3 ypg). – DB Nohl Williams co-leads the nation as one of two players with four interceptions and is tied for third with seven passes defended. Williams is also one of 11 players with one kickoff return for a touchdown. – DB Craig Woodson is tied for 12th with a single fumble recovery. – DB Marcus Harris is tied for 14th with two interceptions. – ILB Teddye Buchanan is tied for 14th with 10.0 tackles per game. – OLB Xavier Carlton is tied for 16th with 0.88 sacks per game. – WR Nyziah Hunter is tied for 21st with four touchdown catches. – P Lachlan Wilson is 22nd nationally with his average of 45.4 yards per punt.
TAKING THE BALL AWAY (AND HOLDING ON TO IT)
– Cal’s takeaway numbers through its first four games in 2024 continues a trend. Last year, Cal’s 28 takeaways co-led the country and its 16 fumble recoveries were the most. – Cal has at least one takeaway in 39 of its last 42 games and at one point during the 2022 season had the longest streak of consecutive games in the nation of at least one takeaway with 19 in a row. The Bears have a current streak of six straight with the last time they did not force a turnover coming against Stanford – Cal has turned the ball over on just three occasions in 2024 after coughing it up 28 times in 2023 (fourth-most in the country). – Cal had a +5 turnover margin at Auburn that was its best since a +5 against Colorado in 2018. The Bears were also on the plus side against UC Davis (+2) and San Diego State (+1), as well as even at Florida State.
ESPN’S COLLEGE GAMEDAY HEADED TO CAL
ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will broadcast live for the first time from Berkeley, California, for Week 6.
The California Golden Bears (3-1, 0-1 ACC) will host the No. 8 nationally ranked Miami Hurricanes (5-0, 1-0 ACC) in Cal’s first-ever home ACC contest on Saturday, October 5, at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.
ESPN’s College Gameday kicked off the 2024 college football season in Ireland in Week 0 at the Aer Lingus College Football Classic between Florida State and Georgia Tech. It was the first time that the show was broadcast outside of the United States.
ACC teams have been a part of College Gameday a combined 148 times since the show started traveling back in 1993, including the first-ever on-site show at South Bend, Indiana, for the contest between No. 1 Florida State and No. 2 Notre Dame on November 13, 1993.
WEEK 5: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS IN MIAMI
The Week 5 Friday night matchup between Virginia Tech and No. 7 Miami drew in 3.3 million viewers and peaked at 4.4 million.
The ACC contest was the top college football game of the night across all networks and is ESPN’s second-most watched Friday game since 2018.
UNDEFEATED STARTS IN 2024
Three ACC teams remain undefeated after the first five weeks of the 2024 college football season – Miami (5-0), Duke (5-0) and Pitt (4-0). n The Miami Hurricanes are 5-0 for the first time since 2017. Under head coach Mark Richt, the Canes started the season at 10-0 went 10-3 that season and reached the ACC Football Championship Game, falling to No. 1 Clemson 38-3.
The Duke Blue Devils are 5-0 for the first time since 1994. That season, Duke started the year at 7-0 under and played in the Hall of Fame Bowl under head coach Fred Goldsmith. The Blue Devils have now won seven consecutive games dating back to the end of the 2023 season, which is the longest active streak in the ACC.
The Pitt Panthers, who had an open week last week, are 4-0 to start a season for the first time since 2000. That season, Pitt finished the year at 7-5 and played in the Insight.com Bowl. The Panthers completed an undefeated non-conference slate for the first time in program history. Pitt last opened the season with a 5-0 record in 1991.
ACC IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
Through Week 5 of the 2024 college football season, the ACC is 40-13 overall in non-conference play. n Overall, the ACC has eight non-conference wins versus fellow Power 4 conference foes.
The ACC has recorded five non-conference wins over the other Power 4 conferences on the road. Non-Conference Power 4 Wins On the Road Date Matchup Result 8/29/24 North Carolina at Minnesota W, 19-17 8/31/24 #19 Miami at Florida W, 41-17 9/6/24 Duke at Northwestern W, 26-20 (2OT) 9/7/24 Pitt at Cincinnati W, 28-27 9/7/24 California at Auburn W, 21-14 n
Week 6 includes just one non-conference game, as Syracuse takes on No. 25 UNLV on Friday, October 4, at 9 p.m. ET in Las Vegas, Nevada, on FS1.
Last year in 2023, the ACC went 44-23 in nonconference play after posting a record of 42-22 in nonconference action in 2022.
AROUND THE ACC
Boston College:
Tabbed the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week, Donovan Ezeiruaku dominated in BC’s come-from-behind win over Western Kentucky last Saturday. He posted career-highs in tackles (14), sacks (3.0) and tackles-for-loss (4.0). His three-sack game was the first by an Eagle since 2018. Ezeiruaku’s third sack of the day was a strip-sack that set up the Eagles inside the Hilltopper 30- yard line and led to Boston College’s go-ahead touchdown with 3:33 left in the game. Ezeiruaku now leads the nation in total sacks (8.0) and sacks per game (1.6) this year.
California:
The Golden Bears lead the nation in interceptions with 10 and are tied for third nationally in turnover margin at +8.0. Cal’s defense has been its calling card this year, as the Bears have forced 11 turnovers overall, which ranks seventh in all FBS. Cal has the top-scoring defense in the ACC, holding opponents to 12.8 points per game this year, and ranks 23rd nationally in total defense at 287.5 yards per game allowed.
Clemson:
On Saturday, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney will attempt to make ACC history and pass a college football legend on a playing surface bearing that icon’s name. Swinney enters the game with 173 career wins, which is tied with College Football Hall of Famer Bobby Bowden for the conference record for career head coaching victories leading an ACC program. Of Bowden’s 377 NCAA-recognized career head coaching victories, 173 of his wins came during Florida State’s membership in the ACC. A Clemson win on Saturday on Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium would push Swinney past Bowden for sole possession of the ACC record with 174 victories.
Duke:
The Blue Devils are 5-0 on the season and will aim for its first 6-0 start since a 7-0 beginning in 1994. Duke beat North Carolina, 21-20, last Saturday after trailing 17-0 at the half and 20-0 with less than six minutes remaining in the third quarter. The 20-point comeback was the second largest in program history, matching a 21-20 comeback over Georgia Tech on October 30, 1954. Thus far this season, Duke leads the ACC in one-score victories (eight points or less) with a 3-0 record in the close contests. Boston College (2-1) and Pitt (2-0) are the only other ACC teams with multiple one-score wins with two apiece.
Florida State:
The Seminoles have combined for 28.0 tackles-for-loss with 13.0 sacks and three takeaways over their last three contests. Florida State registered 7.0 sacks in the win over Cal, the most in a game for the FSU defense since also having 7.0 in the 2023 ACC Championship Game. The 7.0 sacks are the most by an ACC team against an FBS opponent this season and tied for the third-most in a game in all FBS in 2024.
Georgia Tech:
The Yellow Jackets have done two things great this season – protecting the quarterback and the ball. GT’s offensive line has yet to allow a sack this season, one of just three teams in all FBS. The offense has also turned over the ball just twice this year – one interception and one fumble – tied for fifth nationally in fewest turnovers lost.
Louisville:
For the first time this season, the Cardinals’ offense and quarterback Tyler Shough had his two top wideouts on the field in Caullin Lacy and Ja’Corey Brooks last week at Notre Dame. The duo combined for 10 receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Lacy, who missed six weeks with an injury, caught five passes for 71 yards, while Brooks also grabbed five receptions for 71 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Miami:
The Hurricanes rank first in the ACC and second nationally in total offense this season, averaging 585.6 yards per game over its first five games. The offense has put up over 500 yards of offense in each of the five games this year, highlighted by a school record 750 yards in the 62-0 win over Ball State on September 14. In contrast, the Miami defense has held all five of its opponents to under 400 yards of total offense and leads the ACC and ranks 15th nationally in total defense at 265.0 yards per game allowed this year.
North Carolina:
The Tar Heels are the lone ACC team in the top 25 in all FBS in rushing offense, averaging 208.6 yards on the ground per game. The ground attack has been led by running back Omarion Hampton, as he ranks third nationally with 658 rushing yards and fifth in all FBS with an average of 131.6 rushing yards per game. Hampton has rushed for over 100 yards and four of the Tar Heels’ five games this season, missing the 100-yard mark in the win over Charlotte in which he left the game early due to an injury.
NC State:
he Wolfpack have been dominant at home under head coach Dave Doeren, where they will host Wake Forest in the longest continuous rivalry in the ACC and the second-longest in the FBS. Since the beginning of the 2020 season, NC State boasts the seventh-best home winning percentage having won 26 of its last 30 games in Carter-Finley. Since 2001, the Wolfpack has posted a 9-2 mark in games played at Carter-Finley versus the Demon Deacons and has won seven of its last eight home contests in the series with the only loss coming in 2019.
Pittsburgh:
The 4-0 Panthers return to action after an open week last week. Pitt ranks second in the ACC and fifth nationally in scoring offense, averaging 48.5 points per game this year. Last year, in which the Panthers went 3-9 overall, the Pitt offense averaged just 20.2 points per contest, which ranked 14th in the ACC and 114th nationally.
SMU:
In the Mustangs’ four wins the season, they have scored 29 points or more, including three games of 40 points or more. SMU, which is 20-1 under Rhett Lashlee when scoring at least 30 points, has been led by the change at quarterback in Kevin Jennings. In the last two games, both started by Jennings, the quarterback has completed 30-of-42 pass attempts (71.4 percent) for 391 yards and five touchdowns, while also rushing 19 times for 53 yards in wins over TCU and Florida State.
Stanford: Cardinal freshman running back Micah Ford had his first breakout game last week against No. 17 Clemson. Ford ran for 122 yards on 15 carries, becoming the first Cardinal running back to eclipse the 100-yard-mark since Casey Filkins on September 24, 2022, against No. 18 Washington. He also became the first freshman running back to run for over 100 yards for Stanford since Kenneth Tolon on November 24, 2001, against Notre Dame, earning him the ACC Rookie of the Week honor.
Syracuse:
The Orange will be playing their first road game of the season this week at UNLV in Week 6. The contest will be the first of three straight road games for Syracuse, who like last season, will not play a home game for the entire month of October. The Orange are 2-0 this season in non-conference play with wins over Ohio and Holy Cross and have won six straight non-conference contests during the regular season dating back to 2023.
Virginia:
The Cavaliers found their offense via the run game in the road win at Coastal Carolina two weeks ago, as Virginia rushed for 384 yards, marking the first time that a UVA team has eclipsed the 300-yard rushing mark since 2018 versus Richmond. It was the most rushing yards in a game by a UVA offense since compiling 446 yards against San Jose State in 1998. Following the opening week last week, Virginia will look to carry over the offensive surge into the ACC game with Boston College.
Virginia Tech:
Running back Bhayshul Tuten has been consistent for the Hokies this season, as he has recorded four consecutive 100-yard games on the ground, including a season-high 141 yards last week at Miami. He leads the ACC with eight rushing scores, which is tied for fifth nationally, and has totaled 532 rushing yards on the year, which is second in the ACC. His nine total touchdowns lead the ACC, while his 54 total points are tied for the fourth-most in all FBS.
Wake Forest:
The Demon Deacons have handed over the keys of the offense to veteran quarterback Hank Bachmeier, who has started each of the last three games. In those three games, Bachmeier has completed over 20 passes in each contest for a total of 896 yards and two touchdowns. This season, he ranks second in the ACC and 14th in all FBS in completions per game with an average of 24.0 per contest and ranks 15th nationally in passing yards per game at 289.8 per outing.
