Florida State is in, Duke is out. That means the ACC will have seven bowl-eligible teams this year, falling short of the nine guaranteed slots and last year’s NCAA-record 10 bowl-eligible teams. That won’t matter much, though, if the seven teams that are bowl eligible can continue to win this postseason. North Carolina is putting itself in position for a more lucrative bowl, as it should finish the regular season with nine wins, and the ACC championship game will obviously play a factor in the selection process.
For now, though, here are the latest bowl projections for the ACC, and keep in mind, they're all based on my wacky prediction that Clemson upsets Georgia Tech in the championship game:
For now, though, here are the latest bowl projections for the ACC, and keep in mind, they're all based on my wacky prediction that Clemson upsets Georgia Tech in the championship game:
- FedEx Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. BCS at large
- Chick-fil-A Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. SEC
- Gator Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Big East or Notre Dame
- Champs Sports Bowl: North Carolina vs. Big Ten
- Music City Bowl: Miami vs. SEC
- Meineke Car Care Bowl: Florida State vs. Big East
- Emerald Bowl: Boston College vs. Pac-10
- EagleBank Bowl: N/A
- GMAC Bowl: N/A
Here’s a look at what we learned in the ACC in Week 12:
The ACC is not so hard to figure out this year. Clemson and Georgia Tech are the two best teams in the conference, and will meet again in the Dec. 5 ACC championship game. The Tigers clinched the Atlantic Division when Boston College lost to North Carolina, but they made sure there weren’t any doubts about it by defeating Virginia in their home season finale, 34-21. This refreshing matchup will give the ACC championship game a much-needed boost in both interest and attendance.
Duke will have to wait another year to try for a bowl. The Blue Devils still have a chance at a six-win season when they finish with Wake Forest on Saturday, but because NC Central is a provisional FCS team, Duke needed seven wins to become bowl eligible this season. That slipped away in the fourth quarter against Miami on Saturday, when Duke relinquished its lead and was outscored 21-0. It’s still a successful season for Duke, which earned one more win than it did a year ago, but it’s not the finish it was aiming for.
BC’s offense hasn’t made enough progress against better defenses. It’s not as if the Eagles haven’t faced tenacious defenses this season. They played Clemson and Virginia Tech before hosting North Carolina on Saturday. But BC lost all three of those games, never scoring more than 14 points in the process. We knew the Eagles had issues when they left Death Valley with just 54 yards of total offense in September, but the turnovers have only gotten worse. BC has racked up 13 turnovers in those three losses, and this time, the home-field advantage didn’t help.
Florida State isn’t ready for Florida. OK, so most of us realized this long before the Noles were almost embarrassed at home on Senior Day by a two-win Maryland team using its backup quarterback, but it’s a question I get asked every week since Florida State won four of its past five games and became bowl eligible. The gap between Florida State and Florida is as big as it is in the rankings right now. Backup FSU quarterback E.J. Manuel looked good in the win at Wake Forest, but he reminded us on Saturday with three interceptions that he’s still a rookie, and Florida’s defense will humble him in the Swamp.
It’s time to give Dabo Swinney some credit. After his quick promotion from receivers coach to head coach, many questioned whether Swinney was the right man for the job. After a 2-3 start to the season, those doubts grew louder. As far as job descriptions go, though, Swinney has accomplished one major task his predecessor did not: earning the school’s first trip to the ACC championship game. He made a good hire in first-year offensive coordinator Billy Napier, another move that was questioned this offseason, and he made one of the best hires of the offseason in defensive coordinator Kevin Steele. This staff has gotten better as the season progressed, and in turn has made the players better. For that, it’s time they get some credit.
The ACC is not so hard to figure out this year. Clemson and Georgia Tech are the two best teams in the conference, and will meet again in the Dec. 5 ACC championship game. The Tigers clinched the Atlantic Division when Boston College lost to North Carolina, but they made sure there weren’t any doubts about it by defeating Virginia in their home season finale, 34-21. This refreshing matchup will give the ACC championship game a much-needed boost in both interest and attendance.
Duke will have to wait another year to try for a bowl. The Blue Devils still have a chance at a six-win season when they finish with Wake Forest on Saturday, but because NC Central is a provisional FCS team, Duke needed seven wins to become bowl eligible this season. That slipped away in the fourth quarter against Miami on Saturday, when Duke relinquished its lead and was outscored 21-0. It’s still a successful season for Duke, which earned one more win than it did a year ago, but it’s not the finish it was aiming for.
BC’s offense hasn’t made enough progress against better defenses. It’s not as if the Eagles haven’t faced tenacious defenses this season. They played Clemson and Virginia Tech before hosting North Carolina on Saturday. But BC lost all three of those games, never scoring more than 14 points in the process. We knew the Eagles had issues when they left Death Valley with just 54 yards of total offense in September, but the turnovers have only gotten worse. BC has racked up 13 turnovers in those three losses, and this time, the home-field advantage didn’t help.
Florida State isn’t ready for Florida. OK, so most of us realized this long before the Noles were almost embarrassed at home on Senior Day by a two-win Maryland team using its backup quarterback, but it’s a question I get asked every week since Florida State won four of its past five games and became bowl eligible. The gap between Florida State and Florida is as big as it is in the rankings right now. Backup FSU quarterback E.J. Manuel looked good in the win at Wake Forest, but he reminded us on Saturday with three interceptions that he’s still a rookie, and Florida’s defense will humble him in the Swamp.
It’s time to give Dabo Swinney some credit. After his quick promotion from receivers coach to head coach, many questioned whether Swinney was the right man for the job. After a 2-3 start to the season, those doubts grew louder. As far as job descriptions go, though, Swinney has accomplished one major task his predecessor did not: earning the school’s first trip to the ACC championship game. He made a good hire in first-year offensive coordinator Billy Napier, another move that was questioned this offseason, and he made one of the best hires of the offseason in defensive coordinator Kevin Steele. This staff has gotten better as the season progressed, and in turn has made the players better. For that, it’s time they get some credit.
Here are the ACC's top five performers for Week 12:
UNC’s defense -- It’s impossible to single out one player in such an impressive group effort. Cam Thomas and Kendric Burney each had defensive touchdowns in the Tar Heels’ 31-13 win over Boston College on Saturday. Deunta Williams had three interceptions, returning one 39 yards to the BC 6-inch line with 4:42 left in the game. Boston College finished with six turnovers.
FSU freshman Greg Reid -- His 48-yard punt return set up the game-winning touchdown with 32 seconds remaining and kept Florida State’s streak of 28 straight bowl games alive in a 29-26 win over Maryland. Reid returned three punts for 88 yards and now has 350 yards on 19 returns going into next week's game at rival Florida.
Miami quarterback Jacory Harris -- It wasn’t a flawless performance, but it was gritty, and led the Hurricanes to a 34-16 come-from-behind win over Duke on Saturday. Harris, who played through pain in his thumb, threw for 348 yards and two touchdowns. It was his third 300-yard game in the past four games. Duke was outscored 21-0 in the fourth quarter.
Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams -- Mark this guy down as a future Heisman candidate. He rushed for 120 yards and four touchdowns against a beleaguered NC State defense, sending the Hokies’ seniors out with a 38-10 win over the Wolfpack. Williams broke the school's single-season record for rushing yards with his third straight 100-yard rushing game. He also had one of the more impressive plays of the day, dragging NC State safety Earl Wolff about 12 yards into the end zone.
Clemson’s seniors -- On its final home game in Memorial Stadium, this group left its legacy. Linebacker Kavell Conner finished with a career-high 15 tackles. Receiver Jacoby Ford had a career-high 211 all-purpose yards. C.J. Spiller set the ACC single-season record for all-purpose yards. And together they led the Tigers to a 34-21 win over Virginia and their first-ever appearance in the ACC title game.
UNC’s defense -- It’s impossible to single out one player in such an impressive group effort. Cam Thomas and Kendric Burney each had defensive touchdowns in the Tar Heels’ 31-13 win over Boston College on Saturday. Deunta Williams had three interceptions, returning one 39 yards to the BC 6-inch line with 4:42 left in the game. Boston College finished with six turnovers.
FSU freshman Greg Reid -- His 48-yard punt return set up the game-winning touchdown with 32 seconds remaining and kept Florida State’s streak of 28 straight bowl games alive in a 29-26 win over Maryland. Reid returned three punts for 88 yards and now has 350 yards on 19 returns going into next week's game at rival Florida.
Miami quarterback Jacory Harris -- It wasn’t a flawless performance, but it was gritty, and led the Hurricanes to a 34-16 come-from-behind win over Duke on Saturday. Harris, who played through pain in his thumb, threw for 348 yards and two touchdowns. It was his third 300-yard game in the past four games. Duke was outscored 21-0 in the fourth quarter.
Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams -- Mark this guy down as a future Heisman candidate. He rushed for 120 yards and four touchdowns against a beleaguered NC State defense, sending the Hokies’ seniors out with a 38-10 win over the Wolfpack. Williams broke the school's single-season record for rushing yards with his third straight 100-yard rushing game. He also had one of the more impressive plays of the day, dragging NC State safety Earl Wolff about 12 yards into the end zone.
Clemson’s seniors -- On its final home game in Memorial Stadium, this group left its legacy. Linebacker Kavell Conner finished with a career-high 15 tackles. Receiver Jacoby Ford had a career-high 211 all-purpose yards. C.J. Spiller set the ACC single-season record for all-purpose yards. And together they led the Tigers to a 34-21 win over Virginia and their first-ever appearance in the ACC title game.
Clemson leaves no doubt in Atlantic Division
November, 21, 2009
Nov 21
8:33
PM ET
CLEMSON, S.C. -- They were watching the Boston College-North Carolina game in their hotel rooms. They were checking the score on their cell phones on the way to Memorial Stadium.
And in Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s pregame speech, he informed the Tigers that Boston College had lost, in turn making the Tigers this year’s Atlantic Division champs before they even set foot on the field.
But Saturday was about Clemson -- about avoiding yet another embarrassing letdown when the Atlantic Division was in the palm of their hands, about proving all of the doubters wrong, and about earning their first appearance in the ACC championship game -- not having BC hand it to them.
“We wanted to win it the real way,” said senior wide receiver Jacoby Ford, who did his part in making that happen with a career-high 211 all-purpose yards in the Tigers’ 34-21 win over Virginia.
“We wanted to win it outright,” said offensive guard Thomas Austin. “We didn’t want it to come to a tiebreaker. That’s what championship teams do.”
Now, for the first time since 1991, Clemson has a chance to be a championship team again. Clemson will meet Coastal Division winner Georgia Tech at 8 p.m. on Dec. 5 ACC championship game. The Tigers did it with a group effort on offense, and with adjustments in the second half on defense. They did it on a senior day that bid farewell to some of the program’s most accomplished players. They did it with a first-year coach who just turned 40 on Friday, a 30-year-old first-year offensive coordinator, and a redshirt freshman quarterback.
Sometimes, though, change is good.
“Our first goal was to clinch the ACC Atlantic Division, and we did that,” said Swinney, who received a rendition of “Happy Birthday” from the crowd with about three minutes left in the game. “Our next goal is to win a state championship against South Carolina next weekend. Our third goal is to win the ACC championship game. Our fourth goal is to win a bowl game. We’re happy today, but we’re not done yet.”
They can finally exhale, though.
After watching the Atlantic Division title slip away in 2005, 2006 and 2007, despite being in position to win it, even some of Clemson’s most loyal fans had lingering concerns heading into Saturday’s game against Virginia. Clemson did little to assuage those fears in the first half, holding a precarious 24-21 edge over a Virginia team that entered with a 3-7 record and hadn’t won a game since mid-October. Those 21 points were more than UVa had scored in each of its previous four games. The Cavaliers surprised Clemson with a lot of gimmick plays in the first half, but ran out of them in a scoreless second half.
“We got in at halftime and made some adjustments,” said first-year defensive coordinator Kevin Steele. “There were some technical things we needed to help them on, some calls, so we dusted off a few calls and gave it to them.”
Kavell Conner finished with a career-high 15 tackles, and the defense finished with seven sacks for 54 yards. It was a pedestrian performance for C.J. Spiller’s Heisman hopes -- he set the ACC single-season record for all-purpose yards, but finished with 58 rushing yards and one touchdown. Still, he got what he came back for -- the division title.
“I think people were still on the edge of their seats,” Spiller said. “I’m pretty sure a lot of people probably still doubted us, that we would have a letdown, but the good thing about this team, we never worry about what people say about our team. We worry about what we can control and the main thing for us is having a great week of preparation and going out and proving everyone wrong.”
That seemed to be the theme on Saturday -- quite a change from the program’s previous disappointments.
“It feels good to prove people wrong,” said Ford. “Can Clemson do it? Obviously yes, we can.”
And in Clemson coach Dabo Swinney’s pregame speech, he informed the Tigers that Boston College had lost, in turn making the Tigers this year’s Atlantic Division champs before they even set foot on the field.
AP Photo/Richard ShiroClemson wide receiver Jacoby Ford's career-high 211 all-purpose yards led the Tigers to a victory over Virginia.
But Saturday was about Clemson -- about avoiding yet another embarrassing letdown when the Atlantic Division was in the palm of their hands, about proving all of the doubters wrong, and about earning their first appearance in the ACC championship game -- not having BC hand it to them.
“We wanted to win it the real way,” said senior wide receiver Jacoby Ford, who did his part in making that happen with a career-high 211 all-purpose yards in the Tigers’ 34-21 win over Virginia.
“We wanted to win it outright,” said offensive guard Thomas Austin. “We didn’t want it to come to a tiebreaker. That’s what championship teams do.”
Now, for the first time since 1991, Clemson has a chance to be a championship team again. Clemson will meet Coastal Division winner Georgia Tech at 8 p.m. on Dec. 5 ACC championship game. The Tigers did it with a group effort on offense, and with adjustments in the second half on defense. They did it on a senior day that bid farewell to some of the program’s most accomplished players. They did it with a first-year coach who just turned 40 on Friday, a 30-year-old first-year offensive coordinator, and a redshirt freshman quarterback.
Sometimes, though, change is good.
“Our first goal was to clinch the ACC Atlantic Division, and we did that,” said Swinney, who received a rendition of “Happy Birthday” from the crowd with about three minutes left in the game. “Our next goal is to win a state championship against South Carolina next weekend. Our third goal is to win the ACC championship game. Our fourth goal is to win a bowl game. We’re happy today, but we’re not done yet.”
They can finally exhale, though.
After watching the Atlantic Division title slip away in 2005, 2006 and 2007, despite being in position to win it, even some of Clemson’s most loyal fans had lingering concerns heading into Saturday’s game against Virginia. Clemson did little to assuage those fears in the first half, holding a precarious 24-21 edge over a Virginia team that entered with a 3-7 record and hadn’t won a game since mid-October. Those 21 points were more than UVa had scored in each of its previous four games. The Cavaliers surprised Clemson with a lot of gimmick plays in the first half, but ran out of them in a scoreless second half.
“We got in at halftime and made some adjustments,” said first-year defensive coordinator Kevin Steele. “There were some technical things we needed to help them on, some calls, so we dusted off a few calls and gave it to them.”
Kavell Conner finished with a career-high 15 tackles, and the defense finished with seven sacks for 54 yards. It was a pedestrian performance for C.J. Spiller’s Heisman hopes -- he set the ACC single-season record for all-purpose yards, but finished with 58 rushing yards and one touchdown. Still, he got what he came back for -- the division title.
“I think people were still on the edge of their seats,” Spiller said. “I’m pretty sure a lot of people probably still doubted us, that we would have a letdown, but the good thing about this team, we never worry about what people say about our team. We worry about what we can control and the main thing for us is having a great week of preparation and going out and proving everyone wrong.”
That seemed to be the theme on Saturday -- quite a change from the program’s previous disappointments.
“It feels good to prove people wrong,” said Ford. “Can Clemson do it? Obviously yes, we can.”
Clemson WR Jacoby Ford talks with ACC blogger Heather Dinich about his career high 211 all-purpose yards in the win over Virginia.
Clemson did it. Regardless of what happened in Chestnut Hill, the Tigers can head to Tampa knowing they avoided the upset in their home season finale against a struggling Virginia team, winning by a final score of 34-21. With 3:03 still left on the clock, the fans in Memorial Stadium sang Happy Birthday to coach Dabo Swinney, who turned 40 on Friday.
He couldn't possibly find a better way to celebrate it.
At the end of the day, Clemson left no doubt it was the better team, and sent the Cavaliers limping home to face a strong Virginia Tech team still playing for 10 wins. The Tigers have momentum and confidence heading into their season finale against South Carolina knowing that for the first time in school history, they'll play in the ACC championship game. And for the first time since 1991, they might actually win it.
He couldn't possibly find a better way to celebrate it.
At the end of the day, Clemson left no doubt it was the better team, and sent the Cavaliers limping home to face a strong Virginia Tech team still playing for 10 wins. The Tigers have momentum and confidence heading into their season finale against South Carolina knowing that for the first time in school history, they'll play in the ACC championship game. And for the first time since 1991, they might actually win it.
Clemson penalty Virginia's best offense
November, 21, 2009
Nov 21
6:25
PM ET
This has been Virginia's problem all year -- offense -- and save for the magic tricks the Cavaliers used in the first half -- a 15-yard facemask penalty by Clemson here in the second has been the Cavs best push forward. Virginia has had just two first downs in the second half. Clemson's defense has been everywhere here in the fourth quarter, smothering Virginia. It's unfortunate for Al Groh because he fired his son only to be in this position. Then again, how many of these players are Mike Groh's recruits? It doesn't matter now.
NC State scored a touchdown in the first quarter and hasn't gotten another one since. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech has become the latest team to embarrass NC State's defense. Virginia Tech leads 38-10 in the fourth quarter, and with what the Hokies are doing in Lane Stadium and what Virginia isn't doing here at Clemson, it's setting up to be a rather lackluster likely sendoff for Virginia coach Al Groh. Ryan Williams has scored four rushing downs so far today, racked up over 100 yards -- again -- and it isn't over yet. If NC State has to have a scapegoat this year, this is another case for it to be defensive coordinator Mike Archer, though I still believe it would be the wrong decision. Especially in a game like this, where the offense has turned it over four times.
CLEMSON, S.C. -- I'm looking at Virginia tailback Mikell Simpson on the sideline and he's got some sort of orange protective wrap around his shin and ankle and an ice bag wrapped around his leg. My apologies to Al Groh for the previous post. Looks like Simpson's absence isn't by choice. No word up here in the press box as to what the injury is or how severe it might be.
CLEMSON, S.C. -- After being the best offensive option the Cavaliers had in the first half, Virginia tailback Mikell Simpson has disappeared again. Why? Why no Simpson for the first two series of the second half? It's almost as baffling as Simpson not playing at all last weekend against BC. Without Simpson, Virginia's offense has stalled so far. It doesn't matter if Jameel Sewell or Vic Hall is getting the snap. Virginia isn't going to be passing. Not against this secondary. Their best bet is what we saw in the first half -- running it with Simpson. Apparently they left that game plan in the locker room.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Heather Dinich
Dinich covered ACC and Big Ten football for five seasons before joining ESPN.com in November 2007. She's an Indiana grad but somehow her favorite day of the week is Saturday.
