There was a point Saturday evening heading in to the late games that I was hoping that when I woke up from a nap, what had happened was just a dream. Kansas, who had scored three points the week prior in losing to North Dakota State, really didn’t beat Georgia Tech. James Madison, an FCS school, really didn’t go in to Blacksburg and beat Virginia Tech just days after playing an epic game against Boise State. Florida State really didn’t embarrass themselves on a national stage and get obliterated by Oklahoma. Jacory Harris didn’t throw four interceptions and help Miami lose to Ohio State. I woke up, but the things above really did happen. All I could do was shake my head. Here was an opportunity for the ACC to make some noise on a national stage. But it was nothing more than a whimper. It was a flat out embarrassing day for the prestige of the ACC. And it wasn’t long before columns were up taking the ACC behind the woodshed and just beating it to a pulp.
As the later games got started, there was little the teams playing at night could do in terms of damage control. Clemson and Maryland were playing FCS schools, and after what happened earlier in the day to Virginia Tech, you had to wonder if it was possible for one of them to go down. Fortunately, those games were over by the end of the first quarter. Crisis averted on those games. At the same time, NC State was kicking off against Central Florida. Here’s another game that has the potential for an ACC loss. NC State gets out to an early lead, and things are looking good. The Wolfpack take a 28-7 heading in to the fourth quarter. Okay, this one looks to be in pretty good hands. Then Central Florida scores a touchdown. Not a big deal, it’s still a two score game. A few minutes later, they score again, and it’s 28-21. Could another implosion happen? The Wolfpack then go three and out, and have to punt. The punt goes 14 yards. Central Florida gets the ball back, and is driving deep in to NC State territory. Could they tie it? A pass is completed inside the NC State 15, and there’s a fumble. NC State recovers. Whew. A few kneel downs ends it. NC State somehow wins. A very minor victory for the ACC.
The last game of the night kicks off. Virginia is taking on USC in Los Angeles. Most people didn’t really expect UVA to be in the same zip code with USC. USC gets the ball first. They go three and out, and punt to Virginia. The Cavs mount a drive, and are in field goal range. Virginia misses the field goal. USC gets the ball back. A sacks cause a fumble, which UVA recovers. Okay, UVA’s in business and have a chance to strike first. Then, Marc Verica gets picked off in the end zone. Damn it, an opportunity squandered.
The game stays scoreless well in to the second quarter. USC strikes first and takes the lead. Now I’m thinking that the best chance for UVA to make a statement has evaporated. But alas, I was wrong. Virginia immediately goes down on the next possession and ties it back up. What? We’re this late in to the game, and Virginia is tied with USC? Is that possible? But it didn’t last long. USC goes and scores just seconds before halftime, and lead 14-7. A good game, but Virginia could easily be up 17-14 at this point. The score stays the same until the middle of the fourth quarter, when USC kicks a field goal that gave them a 10 point lead. It was pretty much out of reach at that point, although Virginia scored a touchdown with four seconds left and made it 17-14, which ended up being the final score. Another loss for the ACC, but aside from that, it was a very impressive effort by Virginia. But they could have won that game. The Cavs were without two of their starters from the secondary in Ras-I Dowling and Rodney McLeod, and they were still able to hold Matt Barkley to 202 yards passing. And they outgained USC 340-329. A small slice of positivity on a day that was full of nothing but bad news.
The day had ended, and the ACC was 4-5 in non-conference games. It was a very disappointing day for fans of the ACC. It was now the laughing stock of college football. Saturday was a day that will scar the ACC in terms of prestige for quite some time, and what momentum had been built over the past couple of seasons had literally been squashed. It will now take another season or two before the ACC has a chance to build some momentum on the prestige front, if it even can. We will have to wait and see.
