ACC Notebook: Narduzzi Talks Up the ACC as Conference Chaos Continues
By Rory-Joe Daniels
Week 5 was entertaining, to say the least, in the ACC. Tight finishes, dramatic moments and upsets continue to define a conference that, while perhaps not considered in the same tier as the Big Ten or SEC, certainly isn’t lacking in entertainment. Eight conference games have now been decided by eight points or fewer, with five coming down to just three points or less.
The biggest takeaway so far is just how wide open the ACC appears to be. On any given weekend, almost anybody can beat anybody, making the race for a place in the conference championship game fascinating to watch. The ACC now boasts three teams in the AP Top 25, while the unbeaten Miami Hurricanes remain one of the nation’s leading National Championship contenders.
With plenty still to play for and little separating much of the conference, let’s take a look at the key games of Week 6.
Daniels’ Dual-Threat Spark and a Relentless Front Four
Florida State at Louisville
Friday, 7:00 PM ET / Midnight GMT
How impressive was Florida State’s victory over Virginia last week? Tony Elliott’s Cavaliers came into Tallahassee looking to make a statement, but playing inside Doak Campbell Stadium, they couldn’t slow down the Seminoles’ pass rush.
The ‘Noles front seven ran roughshod over the Virginia offensive line with ten sacks, led by Chris Jones and Rylan Kennedy. That has to be a major concern for Louisville given that QB Lincoln Kienholz has had a recent lower-leg injury. Compromised mobility plus an offensive line that has surrendered 10 sacks and 32 tackles for loss on the year is less than ideal.
On the other side of the ball, the Cardinals must slow down this Seminoles run game. Ashton Daniels set FSU single-game records with his five touchdowns on the ground last week, and there were numerous chunk plays from Ousmane Kromah and Quintrevion Wisner as part of a 281-yard rushing performance.
It’s a surprise to be talking about Florida State like this given the way they started the year, but these two teams appear to be heading in completely opposite directions heading into Friday night.
Geriner Steps Up as Pitt Shifts Focus to the Run
North Carolina at No. 25 Pittsburgh
Saturday, 12:00 PM ET / 5PM GMT
“I’ll say this again: the ACC, from top to bottom, is the best conference out there. Every weekend anybody can beat anybody.”
— Pat Narduzzi, Pitt Head Coach
That quote has to be Narduzzi’s biggest concern after an emotional victory over Virginia Tech in Week 5. Despite facing a raucous Lane Stadium environment and losing starting quarterback Mason Heintschel to a season-ending ACL injury, the Panthers sneaked out a win to stay undefeated. Now, they return home to welcome North Carolina to Acrisure Stadium in what feels like a textbook trap game.
This Bill Belichick defense is no joke. It kept the Tar Heels competitive against third-ranked Notre Dame, and UNC’s unit will be licking its chops facing backup QB Holden Geriner as he steps into the starting role under center.
For the Panthers, the offense will need to lean heavily on their running back trio of Ja’Kyrian Turner, Damon Ferguson Jr., and La’Vell Wright. UNC’s defense has surrendered an average of 152 rushing yards per game and has struggled to get off the field when opponents commit to pounding the rock. Keeping this game low-scoring, churning out early downs, and controlling time of possession appears to be Pitt’s clearest path to victory.
On the other side, Tar Heels quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. has showed promise despite turnover problems vs Notre Dame, and his connection with athletic tight end Jelani Thurman could be the key to unlocking an upset on the road. If Pitt can withstand the test and keep rolling, expect the Panthers to climb even higher in the national rankings.
Lopez and Hernandez Fuel Wake’s Explosive Start
Wake Forest at NC State
Saturday, 12:00 PM ET / 5PM ET
One of the best storylines of the ACC season so far is the renaissance of quarterback Gio Lopez at Wake Forest. Reunited with former offensive coordinator Rob Ezell, Lopez has put his one-year cameo playing for Bill Belichick at North Carolina firmly in the rearview mirror. Now, he orchestrates a Demon Deacons offense averaging 36.6 points and 445 yards per game. Lopez’s connection with senior wideout Carlos Hernandez, who currently leads the nation in yards after catch, has been heavily responsible for Wake’s explosive start, and they will look for that chemistry to carry over into Carter-Finley Stadium.
However, Wake will need to be extremely wary of an opportunistic NC State defense. The Wolfpack forced three turnovers in their Week 5 win over Louisville, all of which were recovered by star linebacker and defensive leader Popo Aguirre. Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz was having success before running directly into the Wolfpack defense. Gio, you have been warned.
On the other side of the ball, NC State QB CJ Bailey hasn’t let a crushing loss against Vanderbilt, caused by his last-second end zone blunder, define his year. Against Louisville, Bailey looked far more assured, distributing the ball well and making clutch throws down the stretch to keep the Wolfpack ahead. His high ceiling mix of arm talent and raw athleticism gives NC State plenty to build around, provided he protects the football and avoids giving Wake’s secondary extra possessions.
Cal’s Starters Facing Health Questions
Virginia Tech at California
Saturday, 3:30 PM ET / 8.30PM GMT
Injuries could define this matchup, with arguably two of Cal’s best players currently working through concussion protocol. Star quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele left the game against UNLV early and would be a massive loss if not cleared by Saturday. On the other side of the ball, safety Kingston “Fotu” Lopa is also questionable. His five interceptions have been key to Cal’s pass defense so far, and his early exit last week was a big reason UNLV was able to expose the Golden Bears on chunk plays downfield.
Cal will face similar vertical threats from Hokies quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who threw for 434 yards and three touchdowns last week against Pittsburgh. What stood out most was his remarkable poise under pressure, going 10 for 13 for 182 yards against Pitt’s blitz. One of his primary targets, tight end Luke Reynolds, stands to benefit immensely if Lopa is sidelined or limited in intermediate coverage.
While California possesses plenty of talent, this game presents a prime opportunity for Virginia Tech to get back on track and push back into the conference title picture. What remains immeasurable is the pure impact of a fully healthy Sagapolutele. At full strength, this matchup has all the makings of a heavyweight battle between big-armed QBs with bright futures.
Rory-Joe DanIELS
COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANALYST
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.
