I don’t think anyone in the ACC expected 2024’s start to college football season.
Florida State, Clemson and Virginia Tech, all preseason contenders for an ACC Championship, are a combined 0-4. Neither Georgia Tech or Boston College, atop the ACC with a win each, have won a conference title since 2009.
Our very own North Carolina Tar Heels, a 2-point road underdog at Minnesota last Thursday, won by two after a missed field goal as time expired. Noah Burnette and Jahvaree Ritzie earned ACC Player of the Week honors for their heroic efforts: Burnette converting all five of his kicks, plus Ritzie recording three sacks and tackles for loss apiece.
Overall, 13 ACC teams won, with UNC fortunate to be included in that lucky number.
USA Today didn’t have a favorable outlook on the ACC as a whole, though, highlighting North Carolina as part of its Week 1 overreactions.
“The early returns for the league aren’t good,” USA Today’s Eddie Timanus wrote. “The league’s recent standard bearers, Florida State and Clemson, have already taken two and one ‘L’s, possible dark horse Virginia Tech was tripped up by Vanderbilt, and league newcomer Stanford put up a good fight but ultimately came up a touchdown short against TCU. Even among the squads that won there are concerns. North Carolina State got all it could handle from FCS challenger Western Carolina, North Carolina held on at Minnesota but lost its starting quarterback, and, as good as Miami looked in the Swamp, that result might say more about the state of the Florida program than that of The U.”
The Tar Heels’ greatest question is how Conner Harrell will fare as the new starting quarterback. Max Johnson is out for the season with a broken leg, for UNC to turn for its quarterback who impressed more in the spring game.
With a favorable stretch of games in September, North Carolina has a golden chance to boost the ACC’s outlook.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.