Let’s take a look.
1) Tony Elliot – Virginia
Tony Elliot has turned Virginia into arguably the ACC’s most resilient team. Pre-season picked #14 in the ACC, Elliot has Virginia 9-2 (6-1) and in position to reach the ACC Championship game. Following a tough loss to Wake Forest, Virginia responded with their best game of the year, thumping Duke in Durham. If they beat arch-rival Virginia Tech, they will find themselves in Charlotte with a chance to reach the playoffs.
2) Jake Dickert – Wake Forest
Wake Forest is 8-3 (4-3) and has exceeded all expectations. If they finished 9-3, Dicket might very well win ACC COY. Dickert has done an amazing job, and the Deacs are getting better with each passing week. The only scenario where Dickert doesn’t win the award is if Elliot wins the ACC. I don’t think anyone below can overtake Dickert even if they lose to Duke in the finale.
3) Rhett Lashlee – SMU, Pat Narduzzi – Pittsburgh
Lashlee and Narduzzi need help, but both can still reach the ACC Title game. At the moment, both teams are 8-3 with just one ACC loss, but the 0-3 record against the Big 12 keeps them behind the others. Lashlee has found himself one game from the ACC Title, and his SMU Mustangs are a different team than earlier in the year. Yes, even some ACC teams can say this. Narduzzi de-emphasizing the Notre Dame game publicly, then getting trounced, was a bad look, but how do you bounce back from that? You go on the road and dominate a top 20 Georgia Tech team playing their biggest regular season in over 10 years. I don’t see either winning the award, but they’ve made a nice run.
4) Brent Key – Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech is 9-2 (6-2) and was having a special season, but they’ve lost 2 of their last 3. They’ve gotten worse, not better in the month of November. If somehow Georgia Tech could beat Georgia, Key will get a look, but it’s been a November that Georgia Tech don’t want to remember.
