The ACC championship race turned much more chaotic on Saturday when a pair of nationally ranked contenders misplaced at residence to unranked opponents.
No. 14 Virginia suffered its first convention defeat, dropping its first three fumbles of the season and beginning quarterback Chandler Morris to damage in a 16-9 loss to Wake Forest. Quickly after, No. 15 Louisville misplaced to Cal 29-26 when the Golden Bears scored on fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line in time beyond regulation.
Saturday’s outcomes create a logjam of 5 groups with one convention loss: Virginia, No. 17 Georgia Tech, No. 24 Pitt, SMU and Duke. The Yellow Jackets and Panthers had been off Saturday, whereas SMU crushed Boston School 45-13. The Blue Devils’ 37-34 nonconference loss at UConn on Saturday doesn’t have an effect on the ACC standings, though it weakens the league’s picture.
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Louisville’s second ACC defeat probably ends its hopes of a convention championship or School Soccer Playoff look. The Cardinals’ CFP odds fell from 40 % coming into the weekend to 9 %, in accordance with projections from The Athletic’s Austin Mock.
The Cavaliers entered Saturday in a powerful place for a CFP bid, sitting at 8-1 with their lone loss coming to NC State in a nonconference matchup. Issues acquired a bit muddier Saturday evening for Tony Elliott’s crew, although Virginia isn’t out of the dialog. Now, the Cavs probably have to win the ACC Championship Recreation to lock down a spot. Per Mock’s mannequin, the Cavs entered Saturday with a 20 % probability to make the CFP. These odds have now dropped to 12 %.
A part of the logjam on the prime of the ACC’s standings will work itself out with a pair of de facto elimination video games: Virginia at Duke subsequent week and Pitt at Georgia Tech on Nov. 22.
No. 18 Miami is 7-2 general, however each losses are in convention play. That makes the Hurricanes’ path to an ACC title very troublesome however not unattainable; Miami’s finest shot at making the School Soccer Playoff stays an at-large bid. The Hurricanes blew out Syracuse 38-10 on Saturday.
Morris goes down
Morris was injured halfway by the second quarter when Virginia’s fifth-year switch took off operating and slid, and was hit exhausting within the head/neck space by two Wake Forest defenders. Morris stayed down for a number of moments and acquired medical consideration on the sphere earlier than he was capable of stroll off, flanked by trainers, and head towards the locker room. He missed the complete second half, which put the sport within the fingers of backup quarterback Daniel Kaelin, a switch from Nebraska.
Morris tried simply six passes earlier than he went down, finishing three for 19 yards. He rushed simply that one time for six yards. Ought to Virginia be with out Morris at any level heading down the stretch, it’d solely additional complicate issues for the Cavs. Morris entered Saturday averaging 229.9 yards per sport by the air and has been the unquestioned chief of this Virginia crew.
Kaelin, in the meantime, completed the evening 18-of-28 passing for 145 yards and no touchdowns and fumbled twice, with Wake Forest recovering each occasions. The Cavs had a shot on the finish, beginning their last drive at their very own 42-yard line with 2:28 to play. However Daniel’s fourth-and-3 move with 17 seconds remaining was incomplete and sealed Virginia’s destiny. — Raynor
Louisville’s protection struggles
The Cardinals entered with the ACC’s prime protection, permitting solely 280.5 yards per sport and 4.5 yards per play. Cal, nevertheless, rolled up 427 complete yards, together with 350 within the air.
The Golden Bears scored on 5 consecutive possessions in the midst of the sport earlier than Louisville’s protection tightened up within the fourth quarter.
Freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele delivered arguably one of the best sport of his promising freshman season for the Golden Bears. He accomplished 30 of 47 makes an attempt for a career-high 323 yards.
The Golden Bears had misplaced 14 consecutive video games towards groups ranked within the Related Press prime 25. — Baker
One other Brown steps up
Louisville’s Isaac Brown had established himself as one of many nation’s most explosive operating backs, rating fourth within the nation in yards per carry (8.6), however he missed the sport with a leg damage that’s anticipated to sideline him for a number of weeks.
The Cardinals’ run sport was positive with out him thanks to a different Brown. Keyjuan Brown recorded the primary 100-yard sport of his profession, ending with 136 yards on 14 carries. Louisville’s offense didn’t look fairly the identical with out the opposite Brown, however his absence doesn’t loom as an excuse for a decent contest towards a middling Cal crew. — Baker
Wake Forest is bowl eligible
Give credit score the place it’s as a result of Wake Forest and coach Jake Dickert. When Dickert took over for Dave Clawson, who resigned in December, it felt as if the 2025 season can be a rebuilding 12 months for the Demon Deacons. However after dropping consecutive video games to NC State and Georgia Tech (in heartbreaking vogue) in September, Wake Forest discovered a approach to regroup and has now gained 5 of its final six video games, together with towards an SMU crew that simply beat Miami.
Dickert, who got here to Wake from Washington State, has now recorded two top-15 wins previously three seasons, and he has the Demon Deacons forward of schedule. After ending with the nation’s No. 118 protection a season in the past, Wake’s overhaul on that aspect of the ball has been significantly spectacular.
Wake Forest presently has a top-35 protection. That group was much-needed on an evening when Wake Forest put up simply 203 yards of offense and quarterback Robby Ashford threw for less than 46 yards and no touchdowns. However the Demon Deacons held the Cavaliers’ offense to 112 yards fewer than their common and had been capable of reap the benefits of UVA’s three turnovers. — Raynor
