Nov 07, 2017

ACC & Big 12 Week 10 Recap: As ACC’s Division Favorites Emerge, Bedlam Lives Up to Name

Standings and Results

ACC

Big 12

AP Top 10

1. Alabama
2. Georgia
3. Notre Dame
4. Clemson
5. Oklahoma
6. Wisconsin
7. Miami
8. TCU
9. Washington
10. Auburn

‘Cane You Dig It?

Those skeptical of Miami’s legitimacy after its 7-0 start were silenced on Saturday, when the Hurricanes dismantled No. 13 Virginia Tech 28-10 at Hard Rock Stadium. The win gave UM — ranked No. 7 in the latest AP poll — a two-game lead in the ACC Coastal division with two conference games left to play, all but assuring the team’s first-ever trip to the ACC Championship Game. (Miami’s last conference title came in 2003, as a member of the then-Big East.)

On Saturday, Miami took charge in the second quarter, taking a 7-0 lead on a nine-play, 87-yard drive midway through the frame before going up 14-0 thanks to a 64-yard touchdown run from Travis Homer less than three minutes later.

The Hokies cut the lead to 14-3 before the half and got as close as 14-10 early in the third, but the Hurricanes — the ACC leaders in turnovers forced and turnover margin — came up with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries over the Hokies’ final six possessions and added two more scores of their own to seal the win.

Up next for the ‘Canes? A top-10 matchup with Notre Dame in South Florida on Saturday.

Clemson Holds Off Pesky NC State

The favorite to potentially play Miami in the ACC title game? For now it’s looking like Clemson, which dealt North Carolina State its first conference loss this weekend in Raleigh. With the win, the Tigers moved to 6-1 in ACC play, with only this weekend’s home tilt with Florida State left on the ACC schedule. In order to claim the Atlantic Division title, the Wolfpack would need to sweep their final three games at Boston College, at Wake Forest and vs. North Carolina and have the Seminoles upset Clemson at Death Valley.

Clemson and NC State traded body blows for most of the game Saturday, with the Wolfpack taking a 21-17 lead into the locker room at halftime. Clemson eventually regained the advantage with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Kelly Bryant to Deon Cain with 3:31 left in the third, but it was ultimately Tavien Feaster’s 89-yard touchdown scamper on the last play of the third quarter that put the Tigers in control.

North Carolina State did cut the lead to 31-28 early in the fourth quarter, but a Bryant touchdown run put the Tigers back up by 10, and NC State quarterback Ryan Finley’s last-second pass into the Clemson end zone was picked off, preserving the win for the defending national champs.

Although, in the “little victories” department, NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb was able to repeatedly annoy the Clemson quarterback Bryant, even if he didn’t ultimately get the win.

WHY THO ?

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Bedlam Lives Up to Name

If you’re going to call your rivalry Bedlam, it better fit the bill. Fortunately for Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, the teams’ game Saturday did just that, as the Sooners emerged victorious with a 62-52 win that included more than 1,400 yards of offense between the teams.

As usual, one of the major players in the game was Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield, who set a school record with 598 passing yards in the victory, including 265 to Marquise Brown, whose effort also set a school record. One hundred sixty one of Brown’s yards came on touchdown grabs of 84 and 77 yards, the first to put OU up 28-17, with the second stretching the lead to 55-45 with 11:43 to play.

Despite putting up 785 yards of offense — a record for an Oklahoma State opponent — the Sooners’ effort was far from a runaway, as Oklahoma State had a massive day on offense, as well. Quarterback Mason Rudolph, himself a popular Heisman Trophy candidate, threw for 448 yards and five touchdowns, and running back Justice Hill ran for a career-high 228 yards to keep the game competitive until the very end.

With Oklahoma’s shootout win and West Virginia’s upset win over Iowa State in Morgantown, only the Sooners and TCU remain tied atop the Big 12 at 5-1 in conference play, with the Cowboys, Mountaineers and Cyclones all knotted at 4-2. This weekend’s matchup between Oklahoma and TCU will break that tie for now, but, as usual, the conference is far from decided.

Team Selection Committee Recap

The Florida Citrus Sports Team Selection Committee held its latest meeting of the 2017-18 season Monday morning at Camping World Stadium in the newly-renovated Varsity Club — and after another week of memorable college football, there were more than a few exciting stories to go around. READ MORE >>>

Vote for the Play of the Week

Each week, we scour the airwaves for the most memorable plays in the Big 12 and ACC. This week, we’ve got two strong contenders for the Play of the Week crown.

1) Another highlight from the Clemson-North Carolina State showdown — this time with the Tigers’ Ray-Ray McCloud taking a Wolfpack punt 77 yards to paydirt:

2) Kansas may be having a tough season, but we’re a fan of any successful fake punt. So good on you, Cole Moos:

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