Tag: ACC football

North Carolina clinches ACC championship ticket with win over Wake

North Carolina wins the shootout against Wake to clinch the ACC Coastal, earning them a bid in the ACC championship game.

The 8-1 North Carolina Tar Heels took on the 6-3 Demon Deacons in an old fashioned shoot-out. The Heels came out on top and clinched the ACC Coastal division, punching their ticket for an ACC championship bid.

An offensive game was expected, which was delivered as both teams traded scores all night. The game did start with a defensive stop as UNC was able to force Wake into punt during their opening drive. Then the offense explosion started, as North Carolina’s quarterback, Drake Maye, drove the Tar Heels down the field 91-yards in 10 plays, finding wide receiver Josh Downs for a 12-yard touchdown to cap off the drive.

On the next drive, Wake was forced to another punt, a quick three and out. UNC’s offense answered with another touchdown, this time moving the ball down the field for 69-yards in just 51 seconds of action ending with an Elijah Green 5-yard touchdown run. The Demon Deacons got on the scoreboard their next drive, with quarterback Sam Hartman finding wide receiver Taylor Morin for the 7-yard touchdown.

As you guessed it, the hot offense for UNC continued, scoring on their third straight drive with Maye connecting Downs for their second touchdown, this one on a 7-yard touchdown pass. Wake kept up the pace, returning the favor in a four-minute, 12-yard drive with running back Christian Turner finding the end-zone on a one-yard rushing touchdown.

Wake’s defense finally cooled off UNC’s offense, forcing them to punt, stopping the Heels from scoring in their fourth consecutive drive. Wake kept the offensive fireworks going, tying the score at 21 each after Hartman found wide receiver Donavon Greene for a 7-yard touchdown. The Heels retook the lead in five plays, as Maye found Downs for the third time in the first half, steaming from a 20-yard dot. UNC failed to convert the extra point, missing the kick, giving them just a six point lead

North Carolina goes into the half up 27-21.

UNC got the ball at the half first, but Wake got points on the board first, with North Carolina turning it over on downs on their second-half opening drive. Wake pushes the ball down the field 73-yards in just nine plays as Hartman finds A.T. Perry for a 32-yard touchdown.

North Carolina answered back, down key receivers Antoine Green and Josh Downs. It was Maye who created magic with a five-yard rushing touchdown. They went for two, but even with a redo after a pass interference, UNC could not muster up the two-point conversion, leading 33-28.

Wake stayed hot on the very next drive, with Hartman tossing his fourth touchdown pass of the game, this time a 60-yard bomb to wide receiver Donavon Greene. Wake had a chance to go up by three but, like UNC, could not convert their two-point conversion.

North Carolina opened the fourth quarter in a fourth-and-goal situation, going for it, but Wake denied the attempt and retook the ball. After Wake drove the field 91-yards, UNC had their turn to stop the Demon Deacons on fourth down, doing so with a massive stop to get the ball back in Maye’s hands.

UNC were unable to muster up any points, instead giving the ball back to Wake with under six minutes left to play.

When the ending seemed near for UNC, the defense came up with a massive turnover as Cam’Ron Kelly picked off Hartman to give North Carolina another chance. Maye led the Heels down the field but could not get in the end-zone, settling for a 33-yard field goal to retake the lead 36-34 with 2:12 left in the game.

With their last chance to win the ball game, Wake could not get it done as the Tar Heels’ defense made their most significant game stop.

UNC wins it 36-34, clinching the ACC Coastal for the first time since 2015.

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What the experts are predicting: Notre Dame vs. Navy

There seems to be a consensus here.

Notre Dame and Navy have one of the oldest and most famous rivalries in college football. While it may not have the sacredness and prestige of the Army-Navy game, it remains a contest both sides look forward to every year. As we’ve seen over the past couple of years, seemingly only a pandemic and the disappearance of college football altogether can stop this annual meeting.

Let’s look at what some college football experts, including fellow College Wire sites, are predicting for this game:

Game time update for Clemson vs. Miami

Game time and Network updates for the ACC’s Week 12.

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference and its television partners announced the following football game times and networks for Nov. 19.

Saturday, Nov. 19

  • Duke at Pitt, Noon, ACC Network
  • Louisiana at Florida State, Noon, RSN
  • Virginia Tech at Liberty, Noon, ESPN+
  • Boston College at Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m., NBC (previously announced)
  • NC State at Louisville, 3:30 p.m., ACC Network
  • Coastal Carolina at Virginia, 3:30 p.m., RSN
  • Georgia Tech at North Carolina, 5:30 p.m., ESPN2
  • Syracuse at Wake Forest, 8 p.m., ACC Network

ESPN has exercised a six-day hold for the Miami at Clemson game. The kickoff time and network designation will be announced following the games on Nov. 12.

All times are Eastern.

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Clemson clinches the Atlantic Division and another trip to the ACC Championship game

Swinney and the Tigers secure the Atlantic division and a trip to the ACC Championship.

As Week 10 of the 2022 college football season has played out, Dabo Swinney and the Tigers have secured their spot in the ACC Championship game.

The No.4 Tigers 8-0 (6-0 ACC) have secured the Atlantic division title as Syracuse fell to Pittsburgh 19-9, clinching the division for Swinney and Clemson. After missing their trip to Charlotte last season after six straight appearances and wins, the Tigers are back.

Though the Coastal Division has yet to see a winner, North Carolina 8-1 (5-0 ACC) is the likely opponent Clemson will see in the conference championship.

Clemson faces Notre Dame tonight at 7:30 in South Bend on NBC as the Tigers look to continue their strong run to the College Football Playoff with a road win over the Fighting Irish.

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Tale of the Tape: Starting Quarterbacks – Drew Pyne vs. DJ Uiagalelei

Two quarterback controversies in one place?

We know many of you won’t like it, but barring a late development, [autotag]Drew Pyne[/autotag] will start for Notre Dame against Clemson. The consensus of a vocal portion of the Irish’s fan base that has lost all faith in Pyne was made clear on Twitter as he struggled against Syracuse. But with that said, he did shine in a few moments during the game, and he has had those moments ever since he fell into the starting job. All you need to form your opinion about him is an open mind.

The Tigers come into this game with a quarterback controversy themselves. Despite a rough outing against the Orange two weeks ago, DJ Uiagalelei has retained Dabo Swinney’s faith in him, at least from what he said after the aforementioned outing. Besides all that current pressure to perform, he’ll be looking to exorcise the demons from when he started the Tigers’ 2020 loss at Notre Dame Stadium. Fortunately for him, Trevor Lawrence was back to erase much of that memory in the ACC title game a month later.

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Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Tar Heels have potential to clinch ACC Coastal Division with win next week

The UNC football program has the potential to clinch the ACC Coastal Division with a win next week.

After a 42-24 win over Pitt on Saturday, the UNC football program has a scenario in which it can clinch the ACC Coastal Division next week, with still three weeks left.

The Tar Heels, sitting at 7-1 on the season, are 4-0 in the division and lead the Coastal by two games over Duke and Miami — both opponents that UNC defeated earlier this year.

The scenario for UNC to clinch would take a lot but the potential is there. If North Carolina beats Virginia there are three other results that are needed in order to wrap things up.

The one result that seems most unlikely out of that group is the potential of Duke losing to Boston College. The Eagles sit at just 1-4 in the ACC and 2-6 overall.

The Tar Heels remaining schedule after the Virginia game is at Wake Forest, at home against Georgia Tech and then on the road against NC State.

North Carolina is now ranked No. 17 in the AP Top 25 after its win on Saturday.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

ACC Football results for Week 9

We take a look around the Atlantic Coast Conference and how teams did in Week 9.

We are at the point of the season when we are getting a good look at who are the true contenders and pretenders in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

So far, the ACC has had a strong year, with Clemson and NC State getting a solid ranking to start the season. At the same time, teams like Wake Forest and Syracuse found their way into the Associated Press Top 25 Poll by midway through.

However, after week nine, ACC placement in the top 25 could see a dramatic change.

As UNC sits in the driver’s seat of the standings with a decent lead, considering games left in the season, we look at how the rest of the ACC faired this weekend.

FTW VIBE CHECK: Welcome back, Auburn and Texas A&M

Coastal Chaos and dogs in costumes are a VIBE this week.

Welcome back to VIBE CHECK, where we monitor and assess the weekly pulse of college football. Each week, we grade a handful of teams based on their on-field performance, off-field shenanigans (good and bad!), message board chatter, and more. This is very (read: not at all) scientific and should be taken very (read: not at all) seriously.

It’s spOooOoooky season, and that means we are in the meat of the college football calendar. Heading into Week 9, it’s still the usual suspects at the top with Georgia, Ohio State and Clemson undefeated, but don’t sleep on a 7-0 Tennessee squad. The Vols host a solid Kentucky team in one of three ranked-ranked matchups this weekend.

So who is getting treats this week, and who is getting tricks? Let’s get to the vibes.

ACC News: Miami’s season going downhill as free-fall continues

In other ACC news, Miami’s season continues to go downhill as its free-fall continued on Saturday, getting blown out at home to Duke.

The Miami football program started the season ranked No. 16 and moved as far up as No. 13 in the country before watching its season unravel in front of them.

Miami is now sitting at 3-4 and coming off of a 45-21 blowout loss at home to Duke in which the Blue Devils scored 28 unanswered points in the second half.

The 28 unanswered points weren’t even the entire story, however. The Hurricanes also gave up the ball eight times — three interceptions and five lost fumbles.

So, what’s next for Miami?

It’s just the first season for head coach Mario Cristobal, but this is not the way anyone thought or expected the season to go.

There are still five chances for Miami to get two wins and get back to a bowl game, but with the inconsistencies for the Hurricanes all year, that’s not a sure thing at this point.

This performance wasn’t the first time a ‘quitting’ Miami team to the field this season. And that was part of the message Cristobal had postgame.

ACC Football results for Week 7

We take a look around the Atlantic Coast Conference and how teams did in Week 7.

The UNC football program was on their second bye here in Week 7, a week after taking down Duke to move to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

As UNC rests and prepares for a matchup against Pitt next Saturday, other teams in the ACC continued their schedule. This allowed UNC to sit back and see how other results played out not only in the coastal division but the Atlantic as well.

And Saturday was full of action.

Five games this week have ACC teams matched up against each other including four on Saturday and one on Thursday. The results also helped shape up the two divisions some more as we get set to close out October and prepare for the final month of the season.

Let’s look at the results from Week 7 in the ACC.