Winners and losers of the first week in the ACC (which is still completely open)

The Syracuse football team and its Atlantic Coast Conference counterparts entered their first full weekend of action, and the first week brought several interesting results.

Of course, our beloved Orange’s 38-22 win over Ohio State last Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome is the focus of ‘Cuse Nation. New head coach Fran Brown pulled off a win in his debut on the mound as the offense hummed while the defense still has some work to do.

Looking at the bigger picture, it’s likely that at least two ACC schools will bid for the event, as the College Football Playoff will expand to 12 participants in the 2024 season. It’s still very early in the current season, but based on some results so far, the 2024 ACC race could prove to be completely more wide open than in recent years.

winner

Miami
The Hurricanes had the biggest win last Saturday. Miami, which was projected to be No. 3 in the ACC rankings according to the league’s preseason media poll, put its No. 19 national ranking on the line when it traveled to rival in-state Florida. This non-league game in the Sunshine State was not close. The ‘Canes beat the Gators 41-17 at The Swamp. To reiterate: It’s so early in 2024, but maybe Miami is the team to beat in the ACC.

Georgia Tech Institute
The Yellow Jackets defeated Georgia State at home to pull ahead to 2-0. In Week 0, Georgia Tech surprised ACC favorite Florida State with a last-second field goal in Dublin. When the major top-25 polls are released just before Week 2, Georgia Tech should be in the mix. The Yellow Jackets, who average more than 200 rushing yards per game, visit Syracuse Football this Saturday afternoon.

North Carolina
The Tar Heels picked up a two-point win at Big Ten Conference school Minnesota after the Golden Gophers missed a field goal as time expired. Any road win against an opponent from a Power Four conference is a sure thing in my opinion.

California and SMU
I’m putting both teams in the winners category because neither has lost yet and both are new ACC members. SMU beat Nevada on the road and Houston Christian at home. Cal beat UC Davis at home.

Syracuse
Yes, I’m a fan. I get it. But I got the cuse here because it won Brown’s debut as head coach. Plus, it was great to see senior quarterback Kyle McCord, a four-star transfer from Ohio State, shine in his first game in the orange uniform.

loser

Clemson
It all starts with the Tigers. No. 14 Clemson took on No. 1 Georgia in Atlanta. I didn’t think the Tigers would win, but Clemson’s offense was nowhere to be seen. The Bulldogs destroyed the Tigers 34-3. Just a terrible performance by Dabo Swinney’s team.

Virginia Tech
Before this season, some ACC experts saw the Hokies as a potentially under-the-radar team that could perhaps win the league’s top prize. And that still could happen. Virginia Tech was projected to finish 6th in the ACC rankings and even received some first-place votes. Over the weekend, the Hokies traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to face Vanderbilt, a Southeastern Conference school. This was a road game for Virginia Tech, I’ll admit, but Vanderbilt was projected to finish last in the SEC. In an entertaining matchup, the Commodores won 34-27 in overtime. Not an ideal start for the Hokies.

Stanford
This new ACC member was expected to finish last in the ACC. Nevertheless, the Cardinal hosted Big 12 Conference member TCU, which was expected to finish 10th in the league standings. Stanford could not hold serve on its own turf and lost 34-27.

Neutral

No. 24 NC State, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Duke and Wake Forest all won comfortably in week one. But all also won at home against not-so-great opponents, so I’m giving them “neutral” grades here.

To be determined

No. 10 Florida State/Boston College
On Monday night, No. 10 FSU hosts the Eagles in Tallahassee, Fla. The Seminoles have already suffered one loss in ACC play and can’t afford another if they want to compete for a spot in the CFP. This is the opening game of the 2024 season for Boston College, which was projected to finish 14th within the ACC in the conference’s preseason media poll. I expect Florida State to emerge victorious, but you never know. I usually cheer for all ACC teams when they’re not playing Syracuse football. However, with FSU and Clemson embroiled in legal battles with the ACC, I’m not sad that Clemson is 0-1. More broadly, I wouldn’t be sad if the Seminoles started the 2024 season 0-2.