Around the ACC: Week 10
The ACC has been very entertaining this season with many entertaining games, and it seems to be a collision course to the ACC title for the two top teams in the conference.
Clemson seemed to be the only hope for the ACC to be represented in the Playoff, and would most likely have needed to finish undefeated to make it. That all changed last week when the Tigers were dominated by Notre Dame in South Bend, as the Irish won 35-14 in dominating fashion.
Notre Dame owned both lines and dominated the rushing statistics, rushing for 263 yards while Clemson was only able to get 90 yards on the ground. The Irish also won the turnover battle, forcing two Clemson interceptions while not turning the ball over.
Notre Dame also scored on a blocked punt, and used all of that to knock off Clemson. The Tigers fell to number 10 in the College Football Playoff rankings, and look to bounce back this week against Louisville.
The Tigers have a quarterback controversy brewing as well, and D.J. Uiagalelei continues to struggle with freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik waiting in the wings. Klubnik replaced Uiagalelei in the Tigers’ comeback win over Syracuse, but only played two snaps and threw an interception against Notre Dame.
Coach Dabo Swinney still is confident in his veteran quarterback, and can expect to see Uiagalelei get the start against Louisville.
Moving to the Coastal division, No. 15 North Carolina is in perfect position to represent the division in the ACC Championship game. The Tar Heels sit at 8-1 with their only loss coming to Notre Dame in September, and they have the best quarterback in the conference leading the way.
Tar Heels star Drake Maye has been sensational in 2022, throwing for 2,964 yards and a nation’s best 31 touchdowns this year. Maye also ranks third nationally in QBR with a rating of 89.5.
Maye is leading an offense that is averaging 40.6 points per game, the best in the ACC. If Maye and the Tar Heels can keep this level of offensive play, they will be tough to beat as they inch closer to a berth in the ACC Championship.
The Tar Heels will be tested this week when they travel to Wake Forest to take on the Demon Deacons. Wake Forest had high expectations for this season, but sit at 6-3 and suffered back-to-back losses to Louisville and NC State.
Even with the losses, the Wake Forest offense continues to put up great numbers, and are going against a struggling North Carolina defense. Junior quarterback Sam Hartman was great in 2021, and has been great again this season, throwing for 2,423 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2022.
Hartman does have nine interceptions this season, and will need to limit the turnovers if the Demon Deacons want to get back on track and upset North Carolina.
With the final three weeks of the season coming fast, expect some fantastic finishes as the race for the ACC Championship comes to the home stretch.
Adam Sheetz is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ads360@psu.edu.
