When can we stop treating ACC Football like a redheaded stepchild?
I mean, really, if this weekend of wacky action around the league isn’t enough to convince everyone not named Paul Finebaum the league is for real, then you might need to move a bit further south.
Here are some things to ponder.
Let’s begin with Florida State and Clemson. Remember when both schools sued the ACC to push a revenue share based on TV ratings?
The FSU-Clemson game Saturday will air on the ACC Network.
Ouch.
The regular season race for the ACC title is void of both the Seminoles and the Tigers. Additionally, with SMU’s win over Miami on Saturday, the Hurricanes are no longer in the hunt.
And to think, just over a month ago, the bigwigs in Charlotte were thinking they finally had an FSU-Miami title game on their hands.
Silly boys.
Currently, the league has six teams with one loss, with Virginia occupying sole possession of first place as the only undefeated team in conference action.
NC State’s 48-36 win over previously unbeaten Georgia Tech moved the Cavaliers to the top of the standings.
The Wolfpack moved to 5-4 overall, with home wins over two 8-1 teams, Georgia Tech and Virginia (the Pack’s win over the ‘Hoos was a non-conference game).
Speaking of Virginia
Finally, the Cavaliers didn’t need overtime to win a football game.
But Saturday’s 31-21 win over Cal was far from easy.
One play after giving the ball back to the Golden Bears with the game on the line, the defense rose to the occasion with a picksix to seal the win.
Remember the complementary football I wrote about after last week’s win over UNC? Apparently, it traveled to the West Coast with UVA.
ICYMI
- #15 ‘Hoos 31, Cal 21: This one didn’t come down to the final play, technically
- UVA Football: #15 ‘Hoos seal game with late picksix, defeating Cal, 31-21
The Virginia win over the Golden Bears, coupled with Georgia Tech’s loss, sets the stage for a huge game Saturday under the lights in Scott Stadium against Wake Forest.
How huge?
Dare I say, the biggest game in Scott Stadium ever?
Ok, for you old-timers (like myself) who want to scream at me and say, “What about the Georgia Tech game in 1990, did you forget about that one?”
Well, no, I did not.
In fact, I was on the sidelines for that Scott Sisson game-winning field goal for GT.
I remember that game well.
Too well.
Nov. 3, 1990. Virginia was ranked #1 in the country, and GT was #16.
We all know how the game ended.
However, that was 1990, 35 years ago, and the stakes in major college football have changed significantly since then.
Even if Virginia hadn’t tripped up and lost that game, they were still at the mercy of the voters who ultimately determined the “mythical” national championship.
Fast forward 35 years, and now it’s the play on the field that, for the most part, decides who takes home the trophy.
And, don’t look now, but Virginia is clearly in control of its own destiny.
The Cavaliers are a firm favorite to land in Charlotte for the championship game on the first Saturday in December.
The ACC champion gains an automatic invite to the College Football Playoff 12-team shootout.
With a strong record, a second team from the ACC may also receive an at-large bid, as did SMU in 2024.
It’s entirely possible that if UVA were to run the table and finish with a 12-1 record, they could even host a first-round CFP contest.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Scott Stadium, possibly the site of a college football contest in mid-December.
Don’t scoff at that thought; it could happen.
But for now, it’s one game at a time.
And that one game is Wake Forest, Saturday night in Charlottesville.
And that’s my reasoning for this being the most crucial contest in iconic Scott Stadium ever.
Sorry, Georgia Tech, you just got replaced.