ESPN College Football

WEEK 5

Welcome back to the ACC’s ultimate road trip. In case you’re just joining us, this series is your ticket to each of the best games in the ACC every week. These are the games that -- if you had the money and the time -- you would want to be at this fall. The season is still a long ways off, but here in the blogosphere, we’re already into Week 5:

Saturday, September 29

• Clemson at Boston College
• Duke at Wake Forest
• NC State at Miami
• Florida State at South Florida
• Middle Tennessee at Georgia Tech
• Idaho at North Carolina
• Louisiana Tech at Virginia
• Virginia Tech at Cincinnati (FedEx Field, Landover, Md.)

My choice: Stay home.

Ok, ok, NC State at Miami.

Why: I’ve done the Landover/Virginia Tech thing, and it was a better matchup and game with Boise State. The Cincy game doesn’t exactly scream sellout. NC State at Miami should be a decent game, but if the Wolfpack is going to be a serious contender this year, it has to win some conference road games. Winning at North Carolina and at Clemson will be extremely difficult. This is a great opportunity for Tom O’Brien, as it is still early in the schedule for a young Miami team, and the Canes will have already played three of four games on the road, including two league games. This is also a good chance to get to Miami, and that’s one stop in the ACC you just can’t miss. Of all of these games, don’t be surprised if the Duke-Wake Forest game is the most entertaining, but that game will likely be more meaningful to Duke’s bowl chances than it will the conference race.

More in this series

Out with the old, in with the new. The ACC has lost a lot of talent from 2011, including arguably the best player in the conference in former Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly. There are still a lot of names for fans to be excited about, though, as we get closer to summer camp. Which players in the conference will emerge as the best? Well, based on past performances and their bubbling potential, here’s the first guess. As part of “College Football Live’s” 100 Days Till Kickoff countdown, here’s a look at the top 10 players in the ACC:

1. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson: He broke all of the ACC’s single-season pass receiving records, finishing the 2011 season with 82 catches for 1,219 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was one of the most exciting, explosive players in the country as a true freshman. Watkins averaged 25 yards on 33 kickoff returns, including an 89-yard touchdown against Maryland.

2. David Amerson, CB, NC State: He led the FBS with 13 interceptions -- six more than any other player. It was the most in the FBS since 1968 and tied as the second-best total in FBS history. He broke the ACC’s single-season interception record in the upset of No. 7-ranked Clemson. He also broke the school’s 73-year-old single-season interception record of nine.

3. Giovani Bernard, RB, UNC: He was the leading freshman rusher in the nation. His total of 1,253 rushing yards was the third best by a freshman in ACC history. He also had 13 touchdowns on 239 carries, and was third in the ACC with 96.4 rushing yards per game. He had 45 catches for 362 yards and a touchdown.

4. Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech: Thomas set a school record for rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback with 11, and he broke the school's single-season total offense record set by Tyrod Taylor in 2010. His 234 completions, 391 attempts and 3,013 yards passing all rank second in school history for a single season.

5. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson: He completed 298 of 499 pass attempts for 3,828 yards, 33 touchdowns and 12 interceptions over 14 starts. He completed 59.7 percent of his passes and had a 141.2 pass efficiency rating. He also had 218 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. He had 4,046 total yards and was responsible for a school-record 38 touchdowns.

6. Kyle Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech: Fuller played at nickel back/whip linebacker and corner. He had an interception in the Sugar Bowl against Michigan, and eight tackles against Clemson in the ACC title game. He finished 2011 with 14.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He also had two interceptions, nine passes defended, five quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble.

7. Joe Vellano, DT, Maryland: Vellano led the FBS in tackles by a defensive lineman with 7.8 per game. He finished third on the team with 94 tackles, had 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. His jaw-dropping 20 tackles against Georgia Tech was unforgettable.

8. Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State: He was second in the ACC with eight sacks for a loss of 62 yards, and had 12 tackles for a loss of 79 yards. He finished with 41 tackles, one pass breakup and five quarterback hurries. He was the team defensive MVP of the nation’s No. 4-ranked defense, and he was still disruptive despite facing double teams throughout the entire season.

9. Bruce Taylor, LB, Virginia Tech: He only played in eight games in 2011 before a season-ending injury, but Taylor still had 53 tackles, seven TFLs and five sacks. He led Tech in tackles in 2010 with 91 and in TFLs (15.5) and was second in quarterback sacks (6.0). He also had four pass breakups and eight quarterback hurries.

10. Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State: Despite missing four games with injuries, Greene led FSU in receiving with 38 catches, 596 receiving yards, and seven touchdown catches as a true freshman. He averaged 15.7 yards a catch and 14.7 yards on three runs from scrimmage.

Florida State. Big 12. SEC. Rumors. Sigh ...

• On second thought, maybe this is a good time to jump ship ...
• What kind of a ripple effect will the new SEC-Big 12 bowl have?
• The ACC could lose its spot at the playoff table.
• That means FSU, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Miami should start looking out for themselves.
• Is luring Notre Dame to the league the answer?
• In other news, Virginia Tech kicker Cody Journell could have his suspension lifted.
• Heart problems haven't deterred NC State tight end Asa Watson.
• Miami's quarterback situation just got even more interesting.
• Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson doesn't see much merit in Twitter.

My colleague Mark Schlabach has released his post-spring top 25, and the ACC has fared well:

7. Florida State
16. Clemson
23. Virginia Tech
25. Georgia Tech

I've got the first three in the same order in my post-spring conference power ranking, but I've apparently got more faith in NC State than Schlabach (and probably a lot of other people). Call it instinct. Call it a gut feeling. Call it Mike Glennon's ability to throw the ball, but I think the Wolfpack have the potential for a special season this year -- more so than Georgia Tech.

I do believe the Yellow Jackets can win the Coastal Division this season, but I'm still not sold on Al Groh's defense or on Tevin Washington as a difference-maker at quarterback. Washington is good -- he has proven he can run the offense. But can he PASS the offense? Especially without two of the top receivers from a year ago? Georgia Tech still seems to be lacking the player who can dazzle us like Jonathan Dwyer and Joshua Nesbitt did in years' past. And up front, there are questions on defense.

NC State, on the other hand, has a drop-back passer who is ready to show the rest of college football that he can hit his receivers just about anywhere on the field, and he's got an experienced offensive line to work with. This program seems ready to turn the corner under coach Tom O'Brien, and if there is a fourth ACC team worthy of a preseason top 25 nod, NC State would get my vote.

Now that spring practices are over, it’s time to re-evaluate the ACC pecking order for 2012. There wasn’t much change at the top from the pre-spring power rankings, but Georgia Tech did get a slight bump, along with two teams on Tobacco Road. Here’s a look at the latest ACC power rankings:

1. Florida State: The Noles’ defensive line should be one of the deepest and best in the conference, if not the country, and they’ve got an outstanding quarterback in EJ Manuel. If the young offensive line can mature quickly and the running game improves from 2011, there’s no reason the Seminoles shouldn’t be contending for the ACC title.

2. Clemson: The Tigers could open the season without star receiver Sammy Watkins, who is awaiting his punishment after he was arrested on misdemeanor drug charges, but as long as he’s in the lineup and the offensive line is playing well, Clemson has enough talent to defend its 2011 ACC title.

3. Virginia Tech: It’s hard to forget how the Hokies fared against Clemson in two meetings last season, but they enter this season with the better defense. The question is how quickly the revamped offensive line can come together, and who will emerge as the next star running back.

4. NC State: This team is quietly preparing a championship-caliber roster. Quarterback Mike Glennon is still under the radar, and he’s got an experienced offensive line to work with. This is a team that could surprise some people.

5. Georgia Tech: The Jackets had a promising spring, but the defensive line has to replace two of three starters, and last season’s atrocious special teams still have a lot to prove. One thing is for sure: These guys will be able to run the ball on just about anyone.

6. Wake Forest: Much like the rest of its division, Wake Forest’s success will hinge in part on how quickly the new starters on the offensive line come together. The Demon Deacons have an experienced and much-improved quarterback in Tanner Price, and last year they made a statement that they’re not to be overlooked in the ACC race.

7. North Carolina: The two biggest questions for the Tar Heels are how quickly they can adapt to and execute a new system under first-year coach Larry Fedora, and where they will find their motivation now that the NCAA has banned them from the postseason. This spring revealed a positive outlook for the new offense, which should give quarterback Bryn Renner a chance to shine.

8. Virginia: The ACC’s 2011 Coach of the Year has quickly raised expectations, but they should be tempered because seven starters have to be replaced on defense. Michael Rocco is the undisputed starting quarterback -- unless Alabama transfer Phillip Sims has something to say about it.

9. Miami: With Stephen Morris out this spring with a back injury, quarterback transfer Ryan Williams had a chance to impress the coaches. The position is one of many questions still looming for the Canes, a young team still waiting for closure from an NCAA investigation.

10. Maryland: The Terps had a good spring and were able to move forward with players who wanted to be there. It was a positive vibe, but coach Randy Edsall is still tangled in the shadow of last year’s two-win season. He’ll have to improve upon it without the services of former quarterback Danny O’Brien.

11. Boston College: Several offseason staff changes were embraced this spring, and quarterback Chase Rettig made strides under yet another offensive coordinator, Doug Martin. The Eagles have to find a way to win without two of their most valuable players in running back Montel Harris, who was dismissed from the team, and linebacker Luke Kuechly, who left early for the NFL.

12. Duke: The Blue Devils had a good spring and are still buying into the philosophies of coach David Cutcliffe. They’ve been on the verge of making the postseason before, but fans are looking for them to finally break through in Year 5 under Cutcliffe. Quarterback Sean Renfree can get them there if they minimize the turnovers and play better defense.

The ACC has announced game times and TV networks for all home games for the league in its first three weeks of the season, as well as for all of its 2012 Thursday night games on ESPN and all of national television games confirmed to date.

The 2012 Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game, which will be played Dec. 1 in Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., will be nationally televised by either ABC, with an 8 p.m. kickoff, or ESPN at 7:45 p.m.

This year's Chick-fil-A Kickoff will feature both NC State and Clemson. NC State faces Tennessee on Friday, Aug.31, in a 7:30 p.m. game which will be nationally televised by ESPNU. Clemson will play Auburn on Saturday, Sept. 1, in a 7 p.m. contest that will be nationally televised by ESPN.

The ACC's full schedule for the first three weeks is as follows:

Heard any news about FSU? Me either ...

• ACC commissioner John Swofford isn't worried about something that hasn't happened yet, and might not happen.
• He remains confident in the current and soon-to-be-expanding structure of the league.
• The topic of Florida State and the Big 12 was not a formal discussion at the ACC spring meetings.
• This recruit picked Georgia Tech over FSU strictly because of the academics.
• Georgia Tech's beat writer answers some important questions about the Yellow Jackets.
• The ACC coaches believe conference champs should matter when it comes to a playoff format.
• Concussions ended the NFL career of a former Clemson fullback.
• NC State quarterback Mike Glennon is ready for the Pack to have a big year.

This is your ticket -- a free ride to each of the best games in the ACC every week. These are the games that -- if you had the money and the time -- you would want to be at this fall.

It’s the ultimate ACC road trip.

We’ll start today and go week by week in the ACC schedule looking at the can’t-miss game of the week. In reality, my travel schedule unfolds with the season, and the conference race usually dictates where I wind up. For now, I’ll compile this itinerary based on what I think will happen this year, and which games will have the most meaning.

Welcome to Week 1.

Schedule:

Friday, Aug. 31

• Tennessee vs. NC State, ESPNU, Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga.

Saturday, Sept. 1

• Auburn vs. Clemson, ESPN, Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga.
• Miami at Boston College
• Florida International at Duke
• Murray State at Florida State
• William & Mary at Maryland
• Elon at North Carolina
• Richmond at Virginia
• Liberty at Wake Forest

Monday, September 3

• Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech ESPN, 8 p.m.

My choice:

• Tennessee vs. NC State
• Clemson vs. Auburn
• Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech

This is only kind of cheating. If I really could swing it (and it’s definitely possible), I would go to all three of these games. Fly to Atlanta, camp out there until Sunday, and then head to Blacksburg. Hey, it’s the ultimate road trip, right? Gotta start off with a bang.

Why: The doubleheader in Atlanta is going to be a statement weekend for the ACC. It’s yet another chance (stop me if you’ve heard this one before) for the league to boost its reputation on a national level, and wins against the SEC would do wonders for the ACC’s image. I also think that the ACC has a great chance to come out of the Georgia Dome with a 2-0 record. As for the game in Blacksburg, it’s THE most important game of Week 1, and you could even argue of the Coastal Division season. This game has determined the Coastal Division winner every year since the ACC split into two divisions. It has the potential to be that important again.

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- The topic of what the ACC has to do to improve its football image has been rehashed over and over, particularly after its BCS bowl losses.

But that did not stop Clemson coach Dabo Swinney from weighing in on the topic during the ACC spring meetings. Swinney came to his league's defense after a reporter wondered how he dealt with the perception that the ACC was not a football conference. Then he gave his own twist on what the future looks like in this league, predicting that a national champion would eventually emerge.

Pretty bold statement. You guys know the BCS record. You guys know what happened to Clemson in the Orange Bowl last season. You guys know Florida State and Miami have been down, and Virginia Tech hasn't quite gotten over the top. So does Swinney, which must give him confidence that teams in this league are ready to turn a corner.

These are his comments, in their entirety:

"The ACC is a tremendous football conference. It’s a tremendous conference as a whole," Swinney said. "We’ve got to do a better job as far as developing a dominant team from within our conference. We’ve had some good teams, but we haven’t produced that 13-0 team yet, that 12-1 team that’s going to get on the national scene. You look at us this year, we got to fifth. We're on our way and we just didn’t quite finish like we need to finish. That’s coming.

"I think we’ve got a lot of good programs. In five years from now, we’ll look back and say this is where it changed. You look at the SEC and some of the traditionally really good teams that maybe haven’t been as good of late. They’ll get back. It’s the same thing in our conference. Heck, it’s been 20 years since we won the ACC. Twenty years. I was still playing 20 years ago. We’re heading in the right direction as a conference. This is a tremendous conference. At some point we’ll produce a national champion again, there’s no doubt in my mind about that."

The ACC could have as many as four teams ranked in the preseason top 25 come August. Expectations are high at Florida State once again, while Clemson and Virginia Tech are near-certainties to be ranked. NC State could very well make the list, too. There no doubt have been opportunities.

We'll see if a different script is written in 2012.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has played in the ACC title game twice as the Tigers’ head coach and won it once, yet if you ask Clemson fans, most would probably tell you he still needs to prove he can beat South Carolina. Swinney is hardly the only one in the ACC, though, with something to prove this fall. There are plenty of players, coaches and position groups who need to make a statement this season. We’ll start with the Atlantic Division, where the development of a few offensive lines could be a huge factor in the division race. Here’s a look at who in the division has the most to prove this fall:

1. Maryland coach Randy Edsall. There is no bigger burden being carried in the ACC than the one Edsall shoulders, as he inherited a nine-win bowl team and finished last year with a 2-10 record. Many questioned the hire to begin with. Another disastrous season would further fuel the critics.

2. Boston College coach Frank Spaziani. The Eagles fell as low as 1-6 overall and 0-4 in the ACC last year -- the second straight season they started with four straight conference losses. BC’s streak of 12 straight bowl games came to an end and the program suffered its first losing season since 1998. Spaziani has to turn it around quickly, and he’ll have to do it without star running back Montel Harris, who was dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules.

3. Clemson’s offensive line. The Tigers have to replace three starters up front and five seniors who were in the rotation on last year’s ACC championship team. Tyler Shatley had a good spring after moving from nose tackle to right guard, but this group has a lot to prove if Andre Ellington is going to get his yards.

4. Florida State’s offensive line. This was the weak link in the Noles’ offense last year, but it matured before our eyes in the Champs Sports Bowl win over Notre Dame. Both starting offensive tackles have to be replaced, and it’s still an extremely young group.

5. NC State’s linebackers. This was a strength for the Wolfpack last year, with Audie Cole and Terrell Manning among the best in the league. They’ll be tough to replace. Dontae Johnson has some starting experience at linebacker, but he’s more of a safety and played a crossover role last year. D.J. Green, who was injured, is the only returning starter.

6. Wake Forest’s offensive line. The Deacs gave up 35 sacks last year and must do a better job of protecting Tanner Price. That could be easier said than done, as Wake Forest has to replace four starters. Coach Jim Grobe has said he’s comfortable about three of those spots after spring practices, but the Deacs will need more to build upon last year’s surprising success.

Don't forget the chat today!

• Feeling lucky? Might want to bet on a few ACC quarterbacks this fall. The league is loaded.
• Here's a look at what the new ACC/ESPN deal could mean for Georgia Tech.
• FSU and the Big 12 haven't talked, but everyone is still talking.
• FSU is the ACC's top money maker, but it still trails nine SEC schools.
• There are plenty of mixed messages coming out of Tally.
• Syracuse has no immediate plans to join Pitt's fight against the Big East.
• Is Miami's new football policy fair to its athletes?
• Just how big are the nonconference openers for NC State and Clemson this year?

A few items of interest for you from around the league this afternoon ...

• Former Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly, the ACC's top man in the middle, will see some time at outside linebacker in the NFL, writes Andrew Jones.
• Texas A&M won ESPN's College GameDay contest and will host the crew's next commercial, but ACC fans represented well in the contest. The league had three teams finish in the top 10. Here's how they fared in the final top 25 of the voting:

4. Clemson (29,851 votes)

7. NC State (19,371)

9. Virginia Tech (15,699)

16. Florida State (9,649)

• Recruiting Nation's Dave Hooker spoke recently with Clemson-committed linebacker Dorian O'Daniel about getting an Opening invite.

That's right, I'm back (uh, guys, I WAS gone for a while). I know, you missed me. But you'll never miss your links ...

• It's never too early to recruit for 2014 (yeah it is).
• Future Maryland quarterback Shane Cockerill made a name for himself at the Nike Football Training Camp at McDaniel College.
• Why are FSU fans so unhappy?
• David Teel says to start beating Wake Forest, FSU, and maybe the league will make more money.
• Matt Hayes says the Big 12 would eat the Noles alive.
• That hasn't stopped folks in Big 12 country from speculating what the league would look like with a few ACC schools in it.
• Here's a look back and a look at what's in store for Duke this fall.
• Former Miami AD Paul Dee has died. He was 65.
• Former NC State star Philip Rivers stole the show at NC State's graduation.
• Will the Hokies win the ACC in 2012? Athlon weighs in.

This just in: Florida State will be in attendance at today's ACC spring meetings in Amelia Island, Fla. The Noles are still a part of the ACC. Jimbo Fisher has been spotted at the posh Ritz-Carlton resort, and he didn't appear to be running toward the Big 12 -- at least not yet.

Thanks, Jimbo, for keeping the expansion talk alive.

Not that today's meetings needed any help. Representatives from Pitt and Syracuse are also in attendance, and Pitt has sued the Big East to leave early and join in 2013.

It's a Monday in May, but there will plenty on the coaches' agenda to talk about at this year's spring meetings. Here are three hot-button issues to keep an eye on:

1. The BCS and current bowl structure. This should be one of the more time-consuming topics on the agenda, as the league aims to find out where the ACC and its coaches stand on the future structure of college football. BCS executive director Bill Hancock will be there.

2. The NCAA. Julie Roe Lach, the NCAA's vice president of enforcement, and Kevin Lennon, the NCAA's vice president of academic and membership affairs, will be there to meet with all groups about enforcement in general and some of the legislation dealing with APR requirements for the postseason. Will the vote on North Carolina come up?

3. Expansion. As mentioned above, Pitt and Syracuse coaches will be there to start their orientation with the league so they are prepared to join when the time comes. Fisher's recent comments about the Big 12 have already made things interesting.

Odds n' ends. As usual, the coaches will also talk about officiating, with a specific focus on any rule changes, and they'll watch film on flagrant hits, etc. The coaches will also meet with ESPN and Raycom executives.

My colleague Andrea Adelson will be there to get the news, so check back for any updates.

Florida State has gotten a head start on its 2014 recruiting class, landing a commitment this week from a second high school sophomore.

Rising junior running back Joseph Yearby (Miami/Central) committed to the Seminoles, joining wide receiver J.C. Jackson (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee) as part of FSU's 2014 class.

Up in Raleigh, N.C., meanwhile, NC State has landed a pair of defensive players this week in cornerback Da'Wan Hunte (Miami/Central) and inside linebacker Ford Howell (Memphis, Tenn./University School).

From the Winston-Salem Journal:

"He liked the coaches," University coach Bobby Alston said of Hunte. "He visited over there, and he liked the setup, and he felt comfortable going to school there and playing there."

The Wolfpack currently have four commits for the Class of 2013.