The Bill Belichick era at North Carolina opened with a bang then quickly fizzled out after that. / Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
The ACC wasted no time making noise on the national stage. Between top-10 upsets, offensive fireworks, and a few surprise storylines, Week 1 showed the league is deeper than most expected. Here’s a rundown of how every team fared.
Boston College (66-10 win over Fordham)
Bill O’Brien’s debut season in Chestnut Hill started with a bang. The Eagles hung 66 points—their most since 2015—on Fordham, led by transfer quarterback Dylan Lonergan, who threw for 268 yards and four touchdowns. BC looks far more balanced than in recent years.
California (34-15 win at Oregon State)
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele became the first true freshman in Cal history to win a season opener, tossing three touchdowns in a 34-15 road win. For Justin Wilcox, it was a perfect ACC debut, showcasing a defense that held the Beavers scoreless after halftime.
Clemson (17-10 loss to LSU)
The defending ACC champs took one on the chin in a heavyweight opener. Cade Klubnik threw for 230 yards, but the Tigers’ offense sputtered in the red zone during a 17-10 loss to No. 9 LSU. Dabo Swinney is 37-10 after losses, so Troy may be walking into a buzzsaw next week.
Duke (45-17 win over Elon)
Manny Diaz wasted no time unleashing transfer QB Darian Mensah, who torched Elon for 389 yards and three touchdowns on nearly 80% passing. The Blue Devils put up their most points in a season opener since 2017, and the passing attack looks explosive.
Florida State (31-17 win over Alabama)
The story of the weekend came out of Tallahassee. FSU bullied No. 8 Alabama in the trenches, running for 230 yards and snapping the Tide’s 20-year streak without a non-conference regular-season road loss. QB Tommy Castellanos added 230 total yards in the program’s biggest win since the Jameis Winston era.
Georgia Tech (27-20 win at Colorado)
Haynes King had himself a historic opener, becoming just the second FBS player since 2000 to throw for 140 yards, run for 140 yards, and score three rushing TDs in a single game. The Jackets ran for 320 yards in a physical 27-20 win that quieted a rowdy Colorado crowd.
Louisville (51-17 win over Eastern Kentucky)
The Cardinals rolled up 542 yards of offense, and sophomore back Isaac Brown picked up right where he left off, rushing for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Louisville has now won 15 straight home openers and looks ready to test James Madison on Friday night.
Miami (27-24 win over Notre Dame)
Carson Beck’s Hurricanes debut couldn’t have gone much better. The Georgia transfer threw two touchdowns and managed the game with poise, while Miami’s defense stifled Notre Dame’s run game in a 27-24 upset of the No. 6 Irish. The win vaulted the Canes to No. 5 in the AP Poll—their highest mark since 2017.
North Carolina (48-14 loss to TCU)
Bill Belichick’s much-hyped UNC debut didn’t go as planned. The Tar Heels gave up nearly 300 rushing yards in a 48-14 loss to TCU on Labor Day. Quarterback Max Johnson connected with his brother, Jack, for a late touchdown, but it was one of few bright spots in a humbling start.
NC State (24-17 win over East Carolina)
The Wolfpack gutted out a season-opening win behind quarterback CJ Bailey, who threw for 318 yards. The defense made key stops late to preserve the 24-17 victory, extending Dave Doeren’s streak of home-opening wins to seven straight.
Pitt (61-9 win over Duquesne)
The Panthers lit up the scoreboard, piling on 61 points. Quarterback Eli Holstein threw four touchdown passes—the first Panther to do so since Kenny Pickett—while Desmond Reid scored twice, including an 88-yard punt return. Pitt’s defense added six sacks in a complete performance.
SMU (42-13 win over East Texas A&M)
The Mustangs are 4-0 in openers under Rhett Lashlee and looked sharp in their ACC debut. SMU’s defense scored twice on interception returns, while QB Kevin Jennings directed a balanced offense in a 42-13 win. Baylor awaits in Week 2 in a rare revival of a long-dormant rivalry.
Stanford (23-20 loss at Hawai’i)
Frank Reich’s first college game was a near miss. Stanford ran for 152 yards, led by Micah Ford’s 113, but turnovers doomed the Cardinal in a 23-20 loss. Reich leaned on the ground game, controlling the ball for over 36 minutes, but a late rally fell short.
Syracuse (45-26 loss to Tennessee)
The Orange were competitive early in the Aflac Kickoff Game before Tennessee’s depth wore them down. QB Steve Angeli passed for 274 yards and a score in his debut, while freshman back Yasin Willis added three rushing touchdowns. Still, the defense gave up 500 yards in a 45-26 loss.
Virginia (48-7 win over Coastal Carolina)
Tony Elliott’s team looked as crisp as it has in years, steamrolling Coastal Carolina 48-7. Chandler Morris managed the game efficiently, but the story was Cam Ross, who became the only ACC player in 30 years to record a receiving TD and a kick-return TD in the same game.
Virginia Tech (24-11 loss to South Carolina)
The Hokies battled but came up short against No. 13 South Carolina in Atlanta. Transfer wideout Donavon Greene showed promise with 94 receiving yards, but the run game never got going in a 24-11 defeat. Still, Brent Pry’s team played with toughness that could carry into their home opener.
Wake Forest (10-9 win over Kennesaw State)
It wasn’t pretty, but Jake Dickert’s debut still goes in the win column. Robby Ashford accounted for 260 total yards, and the defense held Kennesaw State to under 150 passing yards in a 10-9 squeaker. The Deacs have now won 19 straight against FCS opponents.
As we move into Week 2, the ACC looks deeper and stronger than it has in years. Miami and Florida State are legitimate playoff threats, Clemson still has everything in front of it, and teams like Duke, Pitt, and Georgia Tech are flashing real upside. One week in, the league feels wide open and dangerous for anyone looking past it.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
