Syracuse football and its peers around the Atlantic Coast Conference engaged in some thrilling affairs over the weekend.
We all know how the Orange fared in week six, but what about the rest of the conference? Well, to me, the race to an ACC championship in the 2024 season is still relatively wide open, although some league members are trending up, while a few others (hi, Florida State) are trending way down.
With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 participants in this campaign, it's possible that the ACC can get two of its schools into this event, although that's far from a certainty. Then again, college football is like a roller-coaster ride so far in 2024, evidenced by numerous top-25 teams falling this past weekend, led by No. 1 Alabama, No. 4 Tennessee and No. 9 Missouri.
And you thought the SEC was head and shoulders above every other conference, including the ACC. Wink, wink.
Syracuse football was a winner in week six; what about other ACC teams?
Winners
Clemson and SMU
After getting crushed by highly rated Georgia to start the 2024 season, Clemson has rattled off four straight wins, including a 16-point road victory over Florida State in week six. The top-15 Tigers (4-1) are hitting their stride and look like a significant contender for the ACC's grand prize.
SMU (5-1), meanwhile, has won three straight. The Mustangs, in week six, beat then-No. 22 Louisville by seven points on the road.
Pittsburgh
The Panthers, a term ago, went just 3-9. What a turnaround for Pitt, which sits at 5-0 after winning at a struggling North Carolina group by 10 points.
Miami
The top-10 Hurricanes (6-0) continue to be viewed by pundits as the team to beat in the ACC, although if I'm being candid, Miami easily could have lost its last two affairs. On Saturday, ESPN's College DameDay was on site as California hosted the Hurricanes. The Golden Bears held a commanding 25-point edge in the third quarter, however, Miami stormed back to prevail by one point. The Hurricanes and Pittsburgh remain the last two undefeated squads in the ACC.
Syracuse
Am I too much of a homer to put my alma mater here? Of course not. The Orange won at then-No. 25 UNLV on Friday evening, by three points in overtime, in the first road encounter for the 'Cuse in the 2024 season. It was also the second occasion this term that Syracuse football has knocked off an opponent that, at the time, was ranked in the major top-25 polls. In September, the Orange conquered then-No. 23 Georgia Tech on the Hill.
Virginia
The Cavaliers, at 4-1, have to be one of the pleasant surprises thus far in the ACC, right? In week six, UVA emerged victorious over a relatively good Boston College team by 10 points at home.
Losers
Florida State
At 1-5 overall, I'd make the argument that the Seminoles are the most disappointing squad at this juncture in the 2024 season not just in the ACC, but also across the country. FSU won the ACC title in 2023 and came into this campaign ranked in the preseason top 10. What a disaster in Tallahassee.
Stanford
Since notching a two-point win at Syracuse football last month, the Cardinal (2-3) has looked pretty awful. Stanford, in week five, got dismantled by Clemson on the road. Then, this past weekend, Stanford laid an egg at home, losing to a so-so Virginia Tech team, 31-7.
Louisville
After beginning the 2024 season at 3-0 and reaching the top 15 of the polls, the Cardinals have lost two in a row. They fell at Notre Dame by seven points, which is understandable. And as I noted, Louisville (3-2) in week six lost by seven points at home to SMU.
Neutral
Duke and Georgia Tech
Playing at home in Atlanta, the Yellow Jackets (4-2) defeated previously undefeated Duke (5-1) by 10 points in week six. I'm putting this game in the neutral category, because the Blue Devils falling on the road isn't a bad loss. For Georgia Tech, yes, it beat a team that was undefeated coming into this ACC collision. However, Duke also hadn't played a rigorous schedule, so the Yellow Jackets prevailing on their turf didn't move the needle much for me.
One More Note
Wake Forest (2-3) won at N.C. State (3-3) by four points, but honestly, that result didn't mean anything to me. In that game, Wolfpack graduate student quarterback Grayson McCall had taken a hit to the head and was carted off the field, a truly scary moment. The N.C. State football X account did say in a post on Saturday evening, "Some great news: quarterback Grayson McCall has been released from the hospital. He is alert and in good spirits and all scans were normal."
Orange Nation is sending positive thoughts to Grayson. Syracuse football does head to N.C. State this Saturday, Oct. 12, for an ACC contest that will commence at 8 pm on the ACC Network.
Some great news: quarterback Grayson McCall has been released from the hospital. He is alert and in good spirits and all scans were normal.
— NC State Football (@PackFootball) October 5, 2024