Eyes all across the nation will be on the ACC this weekend in what could be one of the more important slate of football games in conference history.
Four nationally ranked teams — including No. 1 Oklahoma — will play ACC opponents Saturday, providing an excellent opportunity for the conference to prove itself, reverse a losing trend and repair its poor reputation.
The games:
- No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 5 Florida State
- No. 17 Ohio State at Miami
- No. 18 West Virginia at Maryland
- No. 21 Auburn at Clemson
It’s the first time that four nationally ranked non-conference teams will play in ACC stadiums on the same day. All four of the games will be nationally televised and three of them — Oklahoma-Florida State, Ohio State-Miami and Auburn-Clemson — will be shown on either ABC or ESPN.
“The hype, you’ve got to be careful of,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said Monday. “We’ve got to go play the game. We can’t concern ourselves with hype, we have to concern ourselves with the now, preparing, playing. ... What you have to do is embrace the moment, prepare for the moment, and have fun.”
ESPN.com uncovered these statistics this week:
- ACC teams are 6-47 against non-conference teams in the top 10 since FSU won the 2000 Sugar Bowl.
- The conference is 1-32 in its past 33 games against top five teams.
- The ACC has lost 10 consecutive games to top five teams and 13 of its past 14 to top 10 opponents.
The Sooners lead the nation in total offense and are third in passing after only one game, a 47-14 victory over Tulsa on Sept. 3. Oklahoma was off last weekend, giving them and quarterback Landry Jones another week to prepare for a defense that dominated in victories over Louisiana-Monroe and Charleston Southern.
It’s easy to see why the Seminoles have allowed only 137.7 yards per game, which is third nationally.
“My heart starts beating [excitedly] when I wake up every morning for class,” FSU cornerback Greg Reid (Lowndes) said. “[It’s tough] being calm and relaxed, but we’re understanding what the coaches want us to do and how to do it.”
Burning question
Where will Frank Beamer end up on the NCAA’s list for career coaching victories?
Beamer, who coached Murray State for six seasons before taking the Virginia Tech job in 1987, is ninth with a record of 242-118-4 and could surpass Lou Holtz (249 wins) this year.
Next up is former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne, who has 255 career victories, who could be put in Beamer’s rearview mirror as soon as next year, and then former BYU coach LaVell Edwards with 257.
Beamer, who is 200-95-2 with the Hokies, will turn 65 next month, so he could easily reach 300 career wins if Virginia Tech continues to win at least 10 games a season as it has in 10 of the past 12 years.
Just think. He was 5-17 after his first two years at Virginia Tech.
In focus
Former Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner has been cast to play sharpshooting superhero Hawkeye in upcoming movies, but Hollywood might want to take a look at another guy named Renner for that role.
North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner has completed 42 of his 49 attempts this season, to give him the nation’s top completion percentage of 85.7. Even more remarkable, four of his incompletions have been intercepted, meaning only three of his attempts haven’t ended up in another player’s hands.
Renner replaced longtime starter T.J. Yates (Pope), who is a rookie with the Houston Texans, this season and has set the school record with 19 consecutive completions.
Despite his success, Renner focused on correcting the bad after North Carolina’s 24-22 victory over Rutgers.
“I need to play better,” he said. “When you turn the ball over its unacceptable.”
Etc.
Clemson linebacker Corico Hawkins (Baldwin) is tied for second on the team with 14 tackles and defensive tackle Rennie Moore (Camden County) has 12, tied for third. ... Debrale Smiley (Thomas County Central) is the No. 2 fullback at FSU. ... Cornerback Detrick Bonner (Luella) has played in one game, making two tackles for Virginia Tech. ... FSU’s Shawn Powell (Darlington) is third in the ACC in punting, averaging 42.8 yards, just ahead of Clemson’s Dawson Zimmerman (Brookwood) at 42.1. ... Wake Forest’s Terence Davis (Brookwood) has two catches for 40 yards.
By the numbers
3 Catches by FSU freshman receiver Rashad Greene, all of them for touchdowns.
294 Combined receptions for Duke receivers Donovan Varner (152) and Conner Vernon (142), the most of any current pair of teammates in the ACC.
Quotable
“[Auburn is] coming in with a 17-game win streak, and I have a lot of respect for them. They always find ways to win. When you win games like that, you develop a swagger, a confidence that you’re going to make a play. You expect to win, and that’s a tough nut to crack.” — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney
“This game is still a big game, and everybody is going to make it’s like the game of suspended players, or something like that, but we’re going to go out there and play our type of game. Just like Ohio State, we’re going out here to give everybody a show.” — Miami quarterback Jacory Harris
Schedule
Saturday
Auburn at Clemson, noon (ABC)
West Virginia at Maryland, noon (ESPNU)
Duke at Boston College, 12:30 p.m. (WUPA)
Kansas at Georgia Tech, 12:30 p.m. (SPSO)
Virginia at North Carolina, 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Arkansas State at Virginia Tech, 4 p.m. (FSSO)
South Alabama at North Carolina State, 6 p.m.
Gardner-Webb at Wake Forest, 6:30 p.m.
Ohio State at Miami, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Oklahoma at FSU, 8 p.m. (ABC)
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