The ACC’s opening weekend left plenty of bruises, and not many league teams helped their case in the non-conference spotlight. Clemson, Georgia Tech, Louisville and Cal all came up short in games that offered chances to make a statement, while Miami looked every bit the heavyweight the conference is hoping it is.
At the top, Miami wasted no time backing up the hype. The Hurricanes rolled past Stanford by 39 points, and nothing about that performance softened the expectation that they are the ACC’s best team and a national championship contender.
Darian Mensah was almost flawless in his debut, and Malachi Toney put his name in the Miami record book with a single-game receiving mark. Florida A&M comes next on Thursday night, and that one should not be much of a test.
Pitt also made noise, even if it didn’t get the same attention. The Panthers buried Miami (OH), a team expected to be in the MAC race, and quarterback Mason Heintschel was the star of the show with seven touchdown passes. That offense looked explosive, and UCF is up next in a non-conference chance to keep building.
Duke handled Tulane in a messy but successful opener, and Nate Sheppard stood out in the win. The Blue Devils now have a shot at one of the league’s better early résumé builders with a road trip to Illinois.
Virginia Tech’s debut under James Franklins in Blacksburg was as lopsided as it gets. The Hokies crushed VMI 73-3, and while the opponent was overmatched, the performance still popped. Old Dominion is next, and that gives Virginia Tech a chance to try to settle an old score.
SMU escaped with a win over Florida State in a game that swung on mistakes. The Mustangs turned it over four times and still survived after Florida State missed a field goal.
Kevin Jennings piled up more than 400 passing yards, but he also threw multiple interceptions. The good news for SMU is that UC Davis should be a much easier task before the Sept. 19 showdown with Louisville.
Louisville nearly pulled off the upset against Ole Miss, but the Cardinals came up just short. The offense found its rhythm after halftime and looks like one of the ACC’s most dangerous units, but the defense still has plenty of issues to clean up before that SMU game in week three. Villanova is next, and that should be a comfortable one.
Georgia Tech’s first impression was rough. The Yellow Jackets struggled to run the ball with Justice Haynes and Malachi Hosley, the offensive line had a bad day across the board, and Colorado had success on the ground in the second half. Alberto Mendoza was solid in his debut, and the secondary held up better than expected, but Brent Key needs a sharper showing against Tennessee or Georgia Tech could be staring at 0-2.
Cal also let one slip away. The Bears were tied with UCLA at 24-24 in the fourth quarter before losing control, and the offense looked sloppier than expected.
The defense may also have some real problems ahead. Syracuse on the road is next, and that’s no easy trip.
Clemson drew the toughest opening-week opponent in the league, but the Tigers still landed near the bottom because the performance was that troubling. The offense was abysmal, and LSU’s run game had its way with the defense. It’s only one game, but it was a jarring start for a team that now leaves plenty of questions about how many wins are coming.
Florida State had chances against SMU and still couldn’t cash in at home. The running game looked sharp again, but the defense was poor and the quarterback play was worse. The Seminoles are off this weekend before heading to Alabama.
Syracuse made a clean statement by dominating New Hampshire in a rout. That kind of result should move the Orange up if they can carry it over against better competition, starting with California this weekend.
Wake Forest opened with a solid showing against Akron, but that only goes so far. Purdue is waiting on Saturday, and that matchup could matter a lot if the Demon Deacons want to stay on track for bowl eligibility.
Boston College wasn’t expected to be strong this season, and a 19-point loss to a subpar Cincinnati team didn’t change much. Rutgers comes to town Friday night, giving the Eagles a chance to respond.
Stanford is 1-1 and at least looks more organized than it did a year ago. The Cardinal were missing several players and got overwhelmed by Miami, but the 45-6 final score doesn’t tell the whole story about how they moved the ball through the air.
Davis Warren has started the season well, and tight end Benji Blackburn has too. Stanford is off in week two.
North Carolina didn’t play last weekend and will face ETSU on Saturday.
NC State also had the week off and will host Richmond in week two.
Virginia was off this week as well and returns Friday against Norfolk State.
In Other News...
Georgia Tech Opener Now Comes With An Unexpected Arion Carter Twist
Arion Carters season has taken on a different kind of spotlight, and it will arrive early for Georgia Tech. The Tennessee linebacker, who missed part of the 2026 college football season after accepting a flight from his agent, had his suspension cut from three games to one after an appeal, and he has since put a charitable twist on his return by pledging $427 to cancer research for every tackle he records this year.
For the Yellow Jackets, that means the Sept. 12 opener against Tennessee carries an unexpected layer beyond the usual nonconference intrigue. Carters donation drive begins that day, turning each stop he makes into something with a broader purpose, and giving Georgia Tech an early look at a defender whose season will be followed for reasons that extend well beyond the box score. [Read more 🡒]
What Georgia Tech Just Learned From Colorados Defensive Breakout
Colorados front made a strong opening statement against Georgia Tech, and a lot of it came from a name the Yellow Jackets likely knew only in passing. Lamont Lester Jr., a transfer from Monmouth, was the anchor of the Buffaloes defensive line in Week 1, finishing with three sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and five total tackles while helping power a disruptive effort that set the tone for the game.
The recognition followed quickly, with Lester earning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors and Colorados defensive line being graded as the best in Week 1 by Pro Football Focus. The unit also picked up Big 12 Defensive Line of the Week honors, a reminder for Georgia Tech that the matchup offered an early look at a front capable of changing games before opponents can settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Already Looks Dangerous In One Area Yellow Jackets Will Notice
Georgia wasted no time looking sharp in its 2026 opener, and from a Tech perspective the most unsettling part may be how effortless it all appeared. At Sanford Stadium, Gunner Stockton settled in quickly, giving the Bulldogs clean quarterback play while Nate Frazier turned a handful of touches into three scores, the kind of early-season efficiency that can make a rival start looking ahead with a little more concern than expected.
Kirby Smart talked after the game about depth, but he also had to address a sloppier side of the performance, with penalties and a special teams mistake leaving room for correction even on a day that otherwise belonged to Georgia. For the Yellow Jackets, the takeaway is less about Tennessee State and more about the fact that the Bulldogs already look dangerous in the area that usually travels best as the season gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]