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ACC football this season has been like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get from one week to the next.
And this was one of the wildest, most unpredictable yet.
There was another Miami replay controversy. Another Cal meltdown. An unlikely NC State comeback, yet another history-making new low point in a season full of lows for Florida State and a potentially “big” fundraising opportunity at Wake Forest.
They’re all among the 10 things I’m overreacting to after an eventful Week 8 in and around the ACC.
10. They’re incompetent, not corrupt
It’s become a weekly tradition for Miami to be involved in a controversial officials’ call that inevitably ends up going its way upon review by the ACC’s control center. It happened again Saturday on a play originally ruled a strip sack and score for Louisville. But was changed to an incomplete pass.
The Hurricanes retained possession and eventually scored what proved to be the winning touchdown.
Piled on top of the Hail Mary prayer that was answered against Virginia Tech and the targeting call that wasn’t called against Cal, the reaction on social media was predictable. The outrage is understandable. And the memes were entertaining. But the fun and games ended when Cardinals coach Jeff Brohm got into the act with his postgame comments.
It’s not that he was salty about the call. That’s what coaches do. All would have been fine if he’d have just stopped at “I thought it was a bad call. I don’t know how you overturn it. I really don’t.”
Pay your $200, pass Go and move on to the next game.
That’s not what he did, though.
Jeff Brohm on the fumble that was overturned, taking a touchdown off the board for Louisville: "I thought it was a bad call. I don't know how you overturn it, I really don't. This has happened multiple times, so it's disappointing. But I don't know. I guess I was wrong." pic.twitter.com/6zgRqbCXXE
— Tyler Greever (@Tyler_Greever) October 19, 2024
Brohm crossed the line from blowing off steam to perpetuating a dangerous narrative when he added that “this has happened multiple times, so it’s disappointing.” In doing so, he insinuated that the fix is in and that the ACC is in the tank trying to help Miami stay undefeated and in Playoff contention. By extension, he’s feeding into the frenzy that doesn’t just threaten the integrity of the games, it has the potential to threaten the safety of the guys wearing stripes.
For the record, there’s no evidence of any dark conspiracy to prop up the Hurricanes, Until proven otherwise, their good fortune has been more the product of incompetence than corruption.
9. Call it both ways, ref!
While we’re on the subject of coaches airing their grievances about officiating in their postgame comments, let’s have a little chat about Kirby Smart. Georgia’s top Dawg was incensed that a pass interference call against Texas was reversed after fans started throwing things onto the field in protest.
Again, no problem there.
But Kirby didn’t act very smart when he decided to tee off about the reversal in his postgame interview with ESPN sideline reporter Katie George. Even though his team won the game by 15 points.
“They tried to rob us with calls in this place,” he said.
Smart has every right to be angry over the optics of the reversal, which came after Longhorns fans began showing their displeasure with the call by throwing things onto the field, thus delaying the game and allowing officials time to huddle and discuss. Ultimately, officials got the call right, by the way. But if he’s grousing about the call being changed, he has no room to talk.
Seven weeks ago against Clemson, in the much friendlier confines of Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, his team benefitted from a DPI call that was overturned just before when the outcome was still very much in doubt.
Funny how fans and coaches want officials to “call it both ways,” until one of those ways goes against their team.
8. Hurricane warning
Back to Miami.
It’s pointless to debate the merits of the calls that have helped the Hurricanes get here. Like it or not, they’re 7-0 and ranked No. 6 in the nation. So instead of looking backward, let’s look forward.
Despite controlling its fate in the race to finish among the top 2 in the ACC and play for the league championship – and presumably an automatic Playoff berth – Mario Cristobal’s team is anything but a lock to make it to Charlotte on Dec. 7.
Miami’s remaining schedule might be conducive to going undefeated, but it could also be an anchor that sinks the Hurricanes if they don’t take care of business. The combined record of the 7 teams they’ve already beaten is just 23-25. And they don’t play any ranked teams from here on out.
While 1 loss won’t mathematically eliminate them from contention, this isn’t the SEC where every loss by a top team is considered a good loss. Stumble once and Miami is all but done. That is unless ESPN thinks Cam Ward is enough of a first-round ratings draw to bump a 2- or 3-loss Alabama out of the 12-team bracket.
7. It’s not that hard, Big Ten
The ACC isn’t the only conference that has gone bi-coastal this season. With the addition of Southern Cal and UCLA, the Big Ten’s geographic footprint also now stretches from sea to shining sea.
With all the logistical issues that entails.
When it comes to travel, however, early returns suggest that the ACC is doing a better job of managing its newly expanded status.
While Big Ten teams traveling across 2 or more time zones to play a conference opponent are just 5-11 through the first 8 weeks this season, ACC teams under similar circumstances are over .500 at 5-3 after wins by NC State at Cal and SMU at Stanford this week.
I’m sure somehow, the national media will find a way to spin that disparity as a positive for the Big Ten and further sign of the ACC’s imminent demise.
6. No, they’re (still) not rushing the field
I can’t believe we’re still having to do this. But here goes.
Clemson fans didn’t rush the field after Saturday’s win against Virginia. It’s something that happens after every home win. It’s a tradition called Gathering at the Paw. Fans are welcomed onto the field to mingle with the players and take photos around the tiger paw logo. It’s more of a meet-and-greet than a celebration.
And it’s been going on for years.
Clemson upsets Virginia and rushes the field. I love sports! pic.twitter.com/paI7BQQF5S
— Trey Kelleher (@treykelleher3) October 19, 2024
So if you’re posting photos of the gathering on social media suggesting that it’s anything other than that, you either haven’t been following college football very closely or you’re deliberately trying to poke the hornet’s nest by creating a false narrative.
5. Cal makes another new friend
You have to hand it to those folks in Berkeley. They’re so happy to have been rescued by the ACC and not left out in the cold like those other former Pac-12 stragglers Washington State and Oregon State that they’re bending over backward to show their appreciation to their new conference rivals.
They’ve charmed us with their creativity on social media. They convinced ESPN to send College GameDay to their beautiful campus for the first time. And their team is making new friends every week by playing just well enough to lose.
The Bears have helped Miami and Pitt stay undefeated while playing the foil for the only conference wins by Florida State and NC State. Saturday’s loss to the Wolfpack was eerily similar to the previous week’s setback against the Panthers with a missed field goal – albeit by a different kicker – deciding the outcome in the final 2 minutes. Cal’s 4 ACC losses have come by a combined 9 points.
The Bears will step out of conference next week against Oregon State before traveling to Wake Forest for a Friday night game on Nov. 8. You can bet the Deacons will be welcoming their new friends with open arms.
4. The first ACC coach to get a pink slip will be ________ ?
Mike Houston became the first coach to be fired this season when East Carolina parted ways with him on Sunday. Now that the ice has been broken, others are sure to follow. That begs the question of who will be the first ACC to be shown the door.
North Carolina’s Mack Brown is the first name that comes to mind. But he has a more important job than winning games right now in the wake of receiver Tylee Craft’s recent death. Besides, he’s likely to retire on his own at the end of the season. So you can take his name off the last.
Same with Virginia’s Tony Elliott, who barring a total second-half collapse may already have done enough to earn at least another season with the Cavaliers.
That makes Florida State’s Mike Norvell the prime candidate, $60+ million buyout be damned.
Unimaginable as it might seem, Norville is well on the way to coaching himself out of a job just 1 year after being the ACC’s Coach of the Year. He’s already guaranteed his 3rd non-winning record in 5 years with the Seminoles.
FSU is desperate to make itself as attractive as possible to the SEC or Big Ten on the off chance its lawsuits are successful and it becomes a free agent. Going from first to worst in the ACC isn’t the best way to do that.
Or enhance a coach’s job security.
Even one with a hefty buyout.
3. The team no one in the ACC wants to play right now is ________ ?
Virginia Tech.
The Hokies turned themselves into an afterthought with early losses to Vanderbilt and Rutgers. But they’ve since found their mojo and are finally playing like the Darkhorse ACC contender many thought they would be coming into the season.
Their offense is a nightmare to defend thanks to the passing of quarterback Kyron Drones and the running of rugged back Bhayshul Tuten. And their defense, anchored by ACC sacks leader Antwaun Powell-Ryland, is playing at an equally high level.
Tech has outscored its past 2 opponents – Stanford and Boston College – by a 73-28 margin. With a date against Clemson coming up in 3 weeks, it could have a big say in who eventually heads to Charlotte for the conference title game on Dec. 7. Had it not been for the controversial reversal of an apparent game-winning touchdown against Miami 3 weeks ago, the Hokies would be right in the thick of the championship conversation themselves.
2. Revenge of the Nerds
When Matt Doherty dragged North Carolina basketball to new depths during a disastrous 8-20 season in 2001-02, he was at least able to salvage at least 1 shred of pride for the Tar Heels’ proud program. His team was still able to beat Clemson to preserve the distinction of never having lost to the Tigers in Chapel Hill.
It’s a similar crutch to the one Florida State football was clinging to when it came to Wallace Wade Stadium to play Duke on Friday. The Seminoles had never lost to the Blue Devils in 22 previous meetings, including the 2 that were vacated because of NCAA sanctions. All but 1 of those games were decided by at least 2 scores.
But that streak went out the window with a self-inflicted 23-16 loss that provided Mike Norvell’s team with yet another new low in its already lost season.
It wasn’t anywhere as Earth-shattering as Vanderbilt beating Alabama thanks to Florida State’s implosion. But Duke’s victory against the Seminoles – on the scoreboard, not just their average SAT scores – is still noteworthy as long as FSU continues to fancy itself as a college football blueblood.
The Seminoles have spent the better part of the past year arguing in both the court of public opinion and actual courtrooms that they’re too good for the ACC.
In retrospect, maybe the opposite is true.
1. A real endowment fund
As the smallest school among the Power 4 conferences, Wake Forest is always looking for ways to get an edge on the competition. Especially when it comes to building an NIL war chest.
That’s why the Deacons should jump on the unique fundraising opportunity presented to them this weekend by, of all people, Donald Trump. The former President made some cringe-worthy remarks about Arnold Palmer’s putter during a rally in the golf great’s hometown of Latrobe, Pa.
Since Palmer was a proud alumnus of Wake Forest, the school should capitalize on his renewed notoriety by starting an Arnold Palmer Endowment Fund.
It’s destined to be a big success.
Award-winning columnist Brett Friedlander has covered the ACC and college basketball since the 1980s.
