The ACC’s quarterback picture got a little clearer in Week 7, even if the league itself is still full of questions.
Florida State and Miami delivered the most compelling passing matchup of the weekend, with Darian Mensah and the Hurricanes escaping 43-35 in double overtime. Ashton Daniels pushed Miami all the way to the finish, making Florida State the first team to stay within a score of the Hurricanes all season. Mensah, though, still found a way to close it out.
Wake Forest’s Gio Lopez was even sharper in a more one-sided result. Against California, he put together a 267-yard, three-touchdown performance and did all of his damage through the air with deep shots, leaning on Dominick Barry and Kam Shanks while Carlos Hernandez was out. Lopez didn’t even need to play the fourth quarter of the 41-7 rout, but the showing was strong enough to push him up to No. 2 in the ACC QB rankings entering Week 8.
Miami’s own quarterback led with production, too. Mensah finished with 326 yards and three passing touchdowns against Florida State, despite throwing a season-high 11 incompletions and a bad third-quarter interception. His pass to Daylyn Upshaw in the second overtime set Miami up to take the lead for good.
Elsewhere, Louisville got a wild one from Lincoln Kienholz. The Cardinals beat Syracuse 34-26, though Kienholz and Malachi Nelson combined for five turnovers in a game that featured over 300 passing yards from both teams.
Kienholz’s underthrown interception helped put Louisville behind early, but he answered with an 82-yard touchdown run and also connected deep with Lawayne McCoy, Trey’Shun Hurry and Tre Richardson. Isaac Brown scored on a 46-yard screen from Kienholz for Louisville’s lone touchdown pass.
Ethan Grunkemeyer also flashed in Virginia Tech’s 34-24 win over Georgia Tech. He hit Que’Sean Brown for 182 of his 250 passing yards, including a 60-yard touchdown on the third play of the game, and later added a 20-yard rushing touchdown on the Hokies’ second scoring drive.
For Georgia Tech, Haynes King had only one costly mistake in the loss - a miscommunication with a receiver that turned into an interception. Even so, he still went 29-of-38 for 335 yards and two touchdowns. One of those scores was a deep ball to a wide-open Dalen Penson that pulled the Yellow Jackets back within one score.
The Week 8 slate brings more uncertainty at quarterback across the league. Syracuse could be down to its fourth-string quarterback against North Carolina, with both Amari Odom and Malachi Nelson sidelined and Steve Angeli questionable.
Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi is still deciding between Holden Geriner and Corey Dailey before the Panthers visit No. 1 Miami.
California may also be making a change. Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reported that the Golden Bears are expected to go back to Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele against SMU. Sagapolutele returned last week against Wake Forest but spent the first three quarters behind Jackson Brousseau.
That sets up one of the more interesting quarterback matchups of the weekend if Sagapolutele is at full strength, because Kevin Jennings will be on the other side for SMU. Jennings helped the Mustangs handle Virginia 23-13, using his legs and arm to control the game. He had a 33-yard run to set up a field goal late in the first quarter, then sparked SMU’s first touchdown drive with a deep completion to Yannick Smith before hitting Jalen Hale on a difficult throw that turned into a 37-yard touchdown run to seal it.
There are a few other games worth watching, too: NC State at Stanford on Friday night, Boston College at Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech at Clemson on Saturday.
As for the rankings themselves, the top eight are taking shape around a mix of production, wins and survival acts. Daniels remains in the conversation after throwing for 298 yards and four touchdowns against Miami, nearly pulling off the comeback before his second-overtime Hail Mary to Micahi Danzy was erased by a holding penalty and his next try was intercepted by Bishop Fitzgerald after going through the hands of Duce Robinson. He and the Seminoles get a bye before returning to face Clemson in Week 9.
Bailey, meanwhile, is coming off a bye for NC State after throwing for 1,507 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions through the Wolf Pack’s first six games, including a win over Louisville in their second ACC game. NC State heads to Stanford on Friday night at 10:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN, and the Cardinal has yet to hold an FBS opponent under 27 points through seven games.
Virginia Tech now turns toward Clemson, while SMU stays home to face California at noon EDT on CW. Wake Forest gets Week 8 off before hosting Virginia on Halloween. Miami remains at Hard Rock Stadium for a noon EDT meeting with Pittsburgh on ESPN.
In Other News...
FSU Heads Into Clemson With One Huge Problem To Solve
Florida State is heading into its bye week with plenty to sort out after a double-overtime loss to Miami left the Seminoles at 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the ACC. The timing gives the staff a chance to reset before a trip to Clemson, where the matchup has a familiar feel for a team still searching for answers on both sides of the ball.
Clemson has had its own issues moving the offense, with shaky quarterback play showing up often enough to keep things uneven, but the Tigers have leaned on the run game and Gideon Davidson to stay productive. Their defense has been the steadier part of the equation, giving up 21.5 points per game, which puts even more pressure on Ashton Daniels and a Florida State offense that may not be at full strength when the next challenge arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Faces Real Pressure In A Clemson Game It Can Win
Florida State heads into its meeting with Clemson with a rare chance to change the tone of its season. The matchup looks different from the kind of Clemson-FSU game that used to tilt heavily one way, because the Tigers have not looked as imposing on defense and have been trying to sort through inexperienced quarterback play and a defense that has been merely middling. For the Seminoles, Ashton Daniels strong showing in the recent game offered a reminder that the offense can still carry some punch when it is on schedule.
Still, this is no free pass for a team that has endured a losing record under Mike Norvell and has dropped 12 straight true road games. That is what makes this trip feel so important for Florida State: it is one of those matchups the Seminoles can realistically win, which raises the pressure to finally turn opportunity into something more tangible. Clemson may not be the same powerhouse it once was, but if Florida State cannot take advantage here, the questions around this season only get louder. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Exposed A Miami Problem Pitt Will Be Watching
Florida State pushed Miami into a game that had everything the rivalry usually promises, including late chaos and a finish that needed replay help to settle. The Seminoles nearly turned two Hail Mary shots into the kind of comeback that can linger for a while, and in the process they exposed some real issues for a Miami defense that allowed 35 points, a season high against the Hurricanes.
That is exactly the sort of tape Pitt will study closely. Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman and linebacker Chase Smith both pointed to the strain of handling screen passes and late-game coverage, two areas that can get tested again if the opponent is patient and disciplined enough to keep the Hurricanes from dictating terms. [Read more 🡒]