Syracuse football didn't conquer No. 24 Tennessee on Saturday afternoon, although other Atlantic Coast Conference schools have fared well in week one.
The ACC has a long way to go before it will reside at, or near, the same level as the two top leagues in college football - the Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten Conference - although what the ACC has done this holiday weekend is a solid step forward.
Heading into North Carolina's home game against TCU on Monday night, the ACC is 12-4. Granted, some ACC schools played "cupcakes" in week one, but other league members shined on big stages versus highly ranked foes.
The Orange hung tough with the Volunteers, and the 'Cuse had a chance to make it a one-score game in the fourth quarter. But Tennessee proved too much for Syracuse football and came away with a 45-26 victory over the Orange in Atlanta.
Syracuse football didn't win, but other ACC teams did in week one.
No. 10 Miami had a terrific win on Sunday night at home. The Hurricanes, hoping to get to the College Football Playoff this season after faltering late in the 2024 campaign, held off No. 6 Notre Dame, the national runner-up a campaign ago, by a final count of 27-24. That's a huge, statement victory for Miami to kick off the 2025 term.
Also making a big-time impression in week one is Florida State. Coming off an awful 2-10 record in 2024, the Seminoles, on Saturday evening in Tallahassee, looked fabulous on defense in beating No. 8 Alabama, 31-17.
Think about this. ACC schools had two top-10 triumphs in week one over non-conference opponents. That's massive for the conference as the ACC jockeys with the Big 12 Conference in the national pecking order behind the SEC and Big Ten.
On Friday night, Georgia Tech also picked up a quality win, as the Yellow Jackets stunned the Colorado Buffaloes on the road, 27-20. Georgia Tech is a sleeper to potentially claim an ACC crown in 2025.
Conversely, ACC teams that fell this weekend included Syracuse football, No. 4 Clemson getting tripped up at home by No. 9 LSU, 17-10, and Virginia Tech losing to No. 13 South Carolina in Atlanta, 24-11.
By and large, though, the ACC has impressed in week one. I'll be fascinated to see how NFL legend Bill Belichick fares on Monday night versus TCU in his head-coaching debut at North Carolina.