Week 4 of the college football season saw quite a bit of chaos in the ACC. North Carolina gave up 70 points to James Madison in a loss, Virginia Tech fell to Rutgers, Stanford and SMU each picked up big wins, while Florida State finally got into the win column by taking down Cal.
However, the team at the top of the standings, Mario Cristobal’s Miami Hurricanes, remains untouched thanks to another elite performance from veteran quarterback Cam Ward.
Ward threw for 404 passing yards and three touchdowns in Miami’s 50-15 win on the road at South Florida on Saturday, earning him ACC Quarterback of the Week by the conference as voted on by a select media panel.
Ward has now thrown for over 300 yards in all four games this season, putting him squarely in the conversation to win the 2024 Heisman Trophy Award if he and the ‘Canes can keep this up.
Below is a look at the other ACC Players of the Week, starting on the offensive side of the ball:
Offensive Players of the Week
Running Back – Brashard Smith, SMU
Smith totaled 190 all-purpose yards during SMU’s 66 point offensive explosion against in-state rival TCU. Smith also had a career-high four touchdowns – the most for an SMU player since receiver Courtland Sutton did it against North Texas in 2017. Smith has now totaled over 100 all-purpose yards in each of SMU’s games this season.
Receiver – Lewis Bond, Boston College
Bond hauled in a 42-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter to put away Michigan State and secure a nice win for the Eagles against a Big Ten opponent. Bond finished the game with six catches and 102 receiving yards, his second career 100-yard game.
Offensive Lineman – Noah Josey, LG, Virginia
Virginia ran all over Coastal Carolina in Week 4, totaling a whopping 384 rushing yards thanks in large part to the work of left guard Noah Josey. Josey played every offensive snap and had the third-highest pass blocking grade (86.2) of any guard in the country at Pro Football Focus.
Specialist – Emmet Kenney, K, Stanford
Hard to go with anyone other than Kenney here, who booted a game-winning 39-yard field goal to pick up Stanford’s first ACC victory on the road at Syracuse. Kenney also set his personal record with a 51-yard field goal earlier in the game, and is now a perfect 8-for-8 on the year.
Defensive Players of the Week
Defensive Lineman – Patrick Payton, Florida State
Payton racked up a trio of sacks for FSU in the team’s first victory of the season over Cal, all which came in a decisive second half. Payton had two of his sacks on fourth down, one which led to a missed field goal for the Golden Bears.
Linebacker – David Bailey, Stanford
Bailey had a pair of sacks for the Cardinal against the Orange on Friday. It was Bailey’s second career multi-sack game and first of the season. Bailey had four total tackles and a forced fumble in the game as his strong season continues.
Defensive Back – Ahmaad Moses, SMU
Moses had a pass breakup and four tackles in SMU’s win over TCU, but his big impact was a pair of interceptions including one which he took 60 yards to the house for a touchdown.