ACC Football Notebook: Week 3

Clemson needs to be able to throw downfield

The feeling at #2 Clemson is that opponents are stacking the box and daring the Tigers to beat them downfield.

Texas A&M stifled Clemson offensively in the Tigers’ 28-26 win Saturday night. Clemson gained 413 yards, but only ran for 115, averaging 3.6 yards per attempt.

Quarterback Kelly Bryant had a meh 205 yards on 12-of-17 passing.

Bryant has weapons that he needs to be able to connect with downfield to be able to open up the run game and the middle of the field passing game.

Duke loses QB Daniel Jones

Awful news for 2-0 Duke after its impressive 21-7 road win at Northwestern on Saturday. Quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a broken clavicle in the win, and had surgery on Sunday, though his injury is not now considered season-ending.

Cornerback Mark Gilbert is out for the season after suffering a freak hip injury.

Jones is the ACC’s top-rated passer through two games, with 389 yards passing and four TDs.

Junior Quentin Harris is likely to get the start this weekend against Baylor. Harris has registered 15 pass attempts in mop-up action in parts of three seasons at Duke.

Hurricane Florence impacting weekend schedule

The first game impacted is Thursday’s Boston College-Wake Forest matchup. Based on the current weather forecast related to Hurricane Florence, the game, originally scheduled for 7:30 p.m., has been moved to 5:30 p.m. The game will air on ESPN.

The league office, Boston College and Wake Forest will continue to monitor Hurricane Florence and make future adjustments as necessary.

Also announced Tuesday, UNC has canceled its game with Central Florida, and NC State canceled its game with West Virginia, though the two schools are working to find a make-up date.

And: Virginia has moved its game with Ohio U. to Nashville on the campus at Vanderbilt with a 4:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff.

Still in the crosshairs of Florence:

• East Carolina at #13 Virginia Tech, Saturday/12:20 p.m.
• Georgia Southern at #2 Clemson, Saturday/3:30 p.m.

Column by Chris Graham