Tag: ACC football

Duke football just misses top 25 in US LBM Coaches Poll after nine-win regular season

With their last-second win over Wake Forest cementing a 9-3 record, the Duke Blue Devils broke into the top 25 of the US LBM Coaches Poll.

The Duke Blue Devils almost broke into the US LBM Coaches Poll on Sunday on the heels of their 23-17 victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

With a 10-win season still on the table with a potential bowl victory, the Blue Devils fell behind their in-state rivals 17-3 early in the third quarter. However, Duke stormed back once again thanks to the second-half performance of quarterback [autotag]Maalik Murphy[/autotag]. The former Texas Longhorn completed 16 of his last 20 passes for 153 yards with two total touchdowns, including the winning 39-yard pass to Jordan Moore on the final play.

The Blue Devils now have 39 votes in the coaches poll, leaving them in an unofficial 27th as the second-leading team in the Receiving Votes category.

Four ACC teams made the top 25, led by the SMU Mustangs (No. 7) after they put the finishing touches on an undefeated conference schedule with a 38-6 victory over California on Saturday. Instead of presumed favorite Miami, SMU will face the Clemson Tigers (No. 17) in the conference title game. The Hurricanes dropped to 14th after they lost a 42-38 shootout to Syracuse on the road, dropping to 10-2 with a worse conference record than Dabo Swinney’s program.

The Orange, also 9-3 thanks to the stunning victory, joined the bottom of the rankings at 25th.

Check out the complete US LBM Coaches Poll below.

Rank Team Record Points
1 Oregon Ducks 12-0 1,325 (53)
2 Texas Longhorns 11-1 1,272
3 Penn State Nittany Lions 11-1 1,192
4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 11-1 1,165
5 Georgia Bulldogs 10-2 1,104
6 Tennessee Volunteers 10-2 1,025
7 SMU Mustangs 11-1 977
8 Ohio State Buckeyes 10-2 976
9 Indiana Hoosiers 11-1 895
10 Boise State Broncos 11-1 840
11 Alabama Crimson Tide 9-3 733
12 South Carolina Gamecocks 9-3 700
13 Arizona State Sun Devils 10-2 665
14 Miami Hurricanes 10-2 646
15 Ole Miss Rebels 9-3 638
16 Iowa State Cyclones 10-2 565
17 Clemson Tigers 9-3 457
18 BYU Cougars 10-2 419
19 UNLV Rebels 10-2 255
20 Missouri Tigers 9-3 229
21 Illinois Fighting Illini 9-3 225
22 Colorado Buffaloes 9-3 215
23 Army Black Knights 10-1 196
24 Memphis Tigers 10-2 187
25 Syracuse Orange 9-3 108

Dropped Out

No. 18 Tulane; No. 19 Texas A&M

Receiving Votes

Texas A&M 90; Duke 39; Tulane 37; Louisville 18; Kansas State 15; Louisiana 11; Michigan 2; Georgia Tech 2; Miami (OH) 1; Iowa 1

Duke football barely moves in ESPN FPI rankings after Week 14 win over Wake Forest

Even with its third straight win clinching a 9-3 regular season, Duke still can’t crack the top 50 of the ESPN FPI rankings.

The Duke Blue Devils cemented their second nine-win season since 2022 on Saturday with a 14-point comeback against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, cementing a season sweep of the state with a last-second touchdown catch from star wideout Jordan Moore.

While the Blue Devils capped off a 9-3 regular-season campaign with three straight wins, the ESPN Football Power Index continued to keep Duke on the outside of its upper echelon.

As of Sunday morning, the Blue Devils are just 54th in the FPI rankings, a single spot higher than they were last week.

As has been the case all season, Duke remained below teams with losing records and even a team it defeated. The Virginia Tech Hokies, who beat Virginia on Saturday to reach six wins, stuck at 35th despite a loss to the Blue Devils in Week 13. The Auburn Tigers (29th), Kansas Jayhawks (34th), UCF Knights (43rd), Utah Utes (46th), Wisconsin Badgers (48th), and Kentucky Wildcats (49th) ended up above the Blue Devils despite failing to clinch bowl eligibility.

No ACC teams cracked the top 10 of the national rankings after Miami’s loss to Syracuse, but the Hurricanes (11th), SMU Mustangs (12th), Louisville Cardinals (13th), and Clemson Tigers (15th) all sit just on the outside.

UNC’s defense falls apart in the second half against NC State

North Carolina’s defense looked completely different in the second half of Saturday’s loss against NC State.

After three consecutive years of gut-wrenching defeats against NC State on the football field, the North Carolina Tar Heels were just two minutes away from one of their most exciting victories in recent years.

Instead, UNC’s defense collapsed yet again and allowed the Wolfpack to walk out of Kenan Stadium victorious – this time with a 35-50 win – in Mack Brown’s final game as UNC’s (6-6, 3-5 ACC) head coach.

NC State (6-6, 3-5) gained just 89 yards and scored one touchdown in the first half, when Oklahoma transfer Hollywood Smothers found the end zone with 2:50 left in the first quarter. North Carolina got into the backfield at ease, limiting CJ Bailey‘s effectiveness and limiting him to just three completions.

Dave Doeren must’ve given the Wolfpack an electric halftime speech, because they came out firing against the Tar Heels. NC State scored on all SIX on their second-half possessions – three field goals, three touchdowns – and generated 373 yards in the process.

Bailey broke out of his first-half struggles, as the Wolfpack quarterback finished his evening with 242 passing yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns: a 14-yarder to Dante Daniels and a 13-yarder to Kevin Concepcion. Bailey also showcased his ability as a dual-threat QB, running for 54 yards on a team-high 14 carries.

Smothers led the NC State rushing attack with 83 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which proved to be the game-winning score. The Wolfpack totaled 220 yards on the ground – and every second-half carry seemed to go for a first down.

UNC actually out-gained NC State in total yardage, 468-462, but Saturday’s game came down to which team had the ball last. In a game where both defenses struggled, North Carolina’s cost it the game.

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Syracuse’s Fran Brown hilariously took credit for getting Clemson into the ACC title game

Dabo Swinney probably doesn’t see it entirely that way, but Fran Brown is at least partially right.

The ACC championship game next weekend is set, and while we already knew No. 9 SMU would be playing for a title in its first season in the conference, Saturday’s games led to No. 12 Clemson officially being the Mustangs’ opponent.

And it’s all thanks to Syracuse — at least, according to the Orange’s head coach Fran Brown.

The No. 6 Miami Hurricanes would have advanced to the ACC championship game to take on SMU if they beat Syracuse on Saturday. But they didn’t. They lost, 42-38, for their second conference and overall loss this season, which put Clemson — which lost, 17-14, to No. 15 South Carolina on Saturday — in the conference title game instead.

To that, Brown says, you’re welcome, Clemson. And he hilariously pointed that out in his post-game interview after declaring: “Syracuse is back!”

“Hey, Dabo Swinney! Congrats! I got you in, baby!”

Swinney probably doesn’t see it entirely that way, but Brown is at least partially right that the Tigers wouldn’t be playing for a championship if Syracuse lost.

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UNC loses fourth-straight to NC State behind another defensive collapse

A defensive collapse sealed UNC’s fate in its fourth-straight football loss to NC State on Saturday.

It wouldn’t be another UNC-NC State football game unless North Carolina had a fourth-quarter lead – only to blow it in dramatic fashion.

On Saturday night, the Tar Heels entered the fourth quarter with a 20-13 advantage.

When the final seconds ticked off the Kenan Stadium clock, North Carolina left the field with a 35-30 loss, its fourth-straight to the Wolfpack (6-6, 3-5 ACC).

UNC’s defense played well in the first half, limiting NC State quarterback CJ Bailey to just three completions and the entire Wolfpack offense to just one touchdown. NC State only had 89 yards of offense in the ENTIRE first half.

No matter what plays the Wolfpack ran in the second half, no matter who was carrying or catching the football, the Tar Heels couldn’t stop ANYONE in the second half. NC State scored on all six of its second-half possessions, gaining 373 yards in doing so.

Wolfpack kicker Kanoah Vinesett converted a pair of 40-yard field goals in the third quarter and added another in the fourth. Bailey, who finished his night with 242 passing yards, threw touchdown passes to Dante Daniels and Kevin Concepcion (a name UNC fans know all too well). Oklahoma transfer Hollywood Smothers scored the game-winning touchdown with 25 seconds left, finishing his night with 83 yards and two touchdowns.

North Carolina’s second-half offense was phenomenal, too, highlighted by another huge day from Omarion Hampton. The Tar Heels’ star junior back carried the football 22 times for 185 yards and a touchdown, plus he added 65 yards and a receiving touchdown – on a shovel-pass from Jacolby Criswell – we all hoped would be the game-winner.

UNC actually outgained NC State, 468-462, in total yardage.

It would’ve been great for North Carolina to send Mack Brown out with a victory, but like so many times in recent years, another disappointing loss resulted instead.

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Duke football sweeps the state of North Carolina for the first time in more than a decade

Duke’s 23-17 win over Wake Forest on Saturday meant that, for the first time in more than a decade, the Blue Devils swept the state.

For the first time since 2013, the Duke Blue Devils run the state of North Carolina.

Quarterback [autotag]Maalik Murphy[/autotag] and wide receiver[autotag] Jordan Moore[/autotag] teamed up for a 39-yard touchdown on the final play of the game in Winston-Salem on Saturday, handing Duke a 23-17 victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

The win, Duke’s ninth of the season, cemented a sweep of the other three ACC schools from the state. The Blue Devils mounted a 20-point comeback against the North Carolina Tar Heels in Week 5 and handed the NC State Wolfpack a 29-19 win in Raleigh in Week 11, completing a trifecta they haven’t achieved since that fateful 10-win season under David Cutcliffe.

In a similar fashion to the Tar Heels game, Duke needed three late touchdowns to beat the Demon Deacons. Murph completed 16 of his 20 second-half passes for 153 yards and ran for another score after the break, ending the regular season with a school-record 26 touchdown passes.

None of the other three teams entered Week 14 with more than six wins for the year, either, so the Blue Devils will finish multiple games above the rest of the state.

UNC football to wear throwbacks for Saturday’s finale against NC State

We think you’ll enjoy the Tar Heels’ football uniform combination for Saturday.

It’s been a tumultuous Thanksgiving week for the North Carolina Tar Heels, who fired longtime head football coach Mack Brown.

Despite Brown’s firing, UNC (6-5, 3-4 ACC) has one last opponent to prepare for under Brown: in-state rival NC State.

North Carolina owns a massive advantage (60-39-4) in its all-time series against the Wolfpack (5-6, 2-5 ACC), but the rivalry has become one-sided in recent years. NC State won 2021’s matchup via a late-game comeback in Raleigh, 2022’s edition in double-overtime, then in 2023 by a 39-20 mark.

A Tar Heels victory would ensure them bragging rights for years to come, as it would deny State bowl eligibility.

Regardless of what happens Saturday in Chapel Hill, we know UNC will be playing in some fresh, all-Carolina Blue uniforms against its hated rivals.

2023’s edition of UNC-NC State wasn’t much of a battle, with State jumping out to a 23-0 advantage. Afterwards, Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren had some choice words about the Tar Heels.

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North Carolina’s season started with three straight wins, but a 70-50 home loss against James Madison started the fall-off. UNC then allowed 21 unanswered points in a road loss at Duke, over 500 yards to a now-bad Pitt team and allowed Georgia Tech to win in the final seconds.

The Tar Heels countered that 4-game losing streak with three consecutive wins: at Virginia, Florida State and against Wake Forest, the final of which clinched bowl eligibility.

North Carolina was then embarrassed at Boston College last weekend, falling behind 41-7 without scoring a single offensive touchdown, until freshman running back Davion Gause scored twice in garbage time.

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Duke moves up two spots after Week 13 in The Athletic’s college football rankings

Following a big win over Virginia Tech, Duke moved up two spots in The Athletic’s latest ranking of every college football team.

In Week 13 of the college football season, Duke edged out Virginia Tech for a 31-28 victory in its final home game of the year. The win clinched the Blue Devils’ third straight eight-win season with one game left on the schedule.

Thanks to their win, Duke moved up two spots in The Athletic’s latest ranking of all 134 FBS teams from Chris Vannini. The Blue Devils, now riding a two-game win streak with a bye week in the middle, moved up two spots to No. 37.

Only six ACC teams finish higher in Vannini’s rankings. The SMU Mustangs (eighth) are the conference’s only team in the top 10 with the Miami Hurricanes (11th), Clemson Tigers (17th), Syracuse Orange (28th), Louisville Cardinals (29th), and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (30th) all above the Blue Devils.

Virginia Tech hasn’t been amazing this season, currently holding a 5-6 record, but the Hokies weren’t an easy opponent for Duke. Duke’s defense is strong due to their passing defense, not their rushing defense. Virginia Tech’s strength is its run game. Despite that poor matchup, the Blue Devils won anyway, fending off a late-game comeback attempt by the Hokies.

Duke has one game left in the season with an opportunity to finish 9-3, their second nine-win season in three years. The Blue Devils will face Wake Forest in Winston-Salem at noon on Saturday.

If they can beat Demon Deacons and win their bowl game, though, it will be the first time they’ve won 10 games since 2013 and the second time in school history.

Duke breaks into the top 25 in USA TODAY Sports college football re-rank

The Duke Blue Devils finally broke into the top 25 of the USA TODAY Sports college football power rankings on Monday after their eighth win.

The Duke Blue Devils clinched their third straight eight-win season on Saturday night, defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies 31-28 in their final home game of the season. As a result, USA TODAY Sports writer Paul Myerberg included them among his top 25 teams in his college football re-rank on Monday.

Myerberg moved the Blue Devils up three spots to 24th in his latest rankings, one spot ahead of the Colorado Buffaloes.

The aerial duo of [autotag]Maalik Murphy[/autotag] and [autotag]Eli Pancol[/autotag] certainly made an impression during Week 13. Pancol was named ACC Receiver of the Week after he caught two touchdowns longer than 75 yards on Duke’s first two possessions, ending the night with 188 yards and three scores.

The third touchdown connection gave Murphy his 25th scoring pass of the year, a new single-season school record.

Only three other ACC schools finished higher than Duke in Myerberg’s rankings. The Miami Hurricanes (No. 7) and SMU Mustangs (No. 8) will likely play in Charlotte for the conference title, but if Syracuse can find a way to upset Miami, the Clemson Tigers (No. 11) would take their place. All three squads remain in contention for a College Football Playoff appearance, either through the first-round bye as conference champion or via an at-large bid.

The North Carolina Tar Heels, after a 41-21 loss to Boston College, dropped down 10 spots to No. 72.

Duke football receives six votes in the AP Poll after Week 13 victory over Virginia Tech

With an 8-3 record after 11 games, the Duke Blue Devils earned a half-dozen votes in the AP Poll on Sunday.

The Duke Blue Devils couldn’t quite crack the top 25 of the AP Poll on Sunday, but head coach Manny Diaz and his squad received six votes in the updated rankings after Week 13.

The Blue Devils defeated Virginia Tech 31-28 on Saturday night thanks to a 188-yard, three-touchdown performance from fifth-year wideout [autotag]Eli Pancol[/autotag]. Quarterback [autotag]Maalik Murphy[/autotag] finished with a career-high 332 yards, and his third connection with Pancol gave him 25 passing touchdowns for the season, a new school record.

Between its record and its performance against the top teams on its schedule, Duke’s absence from the top 25 remains curious. The Blue Devils came within a 2-point conversion from beating the SMU Mustangs in Week 9 before building an 11-point lead over the Miami Hurricanes in Week 10.

The Hurricanes (No. 8) and Mustangs (No. 9) look destined for a clash in the conference title game. SMU already punched its ticket to Charlotte thanks to its 7-0 record against ACC opponents, and the Hurricanes would join them with a win over Syracuse next Saturday.

The Clemson Tigers (No. 12) are the only other ACC team within the top 25, and they’d face SMU if the Orange find a way to upset Miami. Duke’s six votes leave them unofficially in 31st.