University of Miami Athletics
Week 2 reminded everyone why the ACC has earned its “conference of quarterbacks” tag. Between explosive passing numbers and high-scoring offenses, the league looked both deep and unpredictable heading into Week 3.
Florida State flexes
The Seminoles didn’t just beat East Texas A&M—they annihilated them 77–3. Mike Norvell’s team jumped into the AP top 10, and the offensive output was the most points by an ACC team since 2021. After already knocking off Alabama in Week 1, FSU looks like it might be the team to beat.
Georgia Tech making noise
The Yellow Jackets lit up Gardner-Webb for 59 points behind freshman QB Aaron Philo, who threw for 373 yards in his first career start. Georgia Tech is averaging 547.5 yards per game, second in the ACC, and has quickly gone from an afterthought to a potential dark horse.
Clemson steadies the ship
After a frustrating opening loss to LSU, the Tigers bounced back with a 27–16 win over Troy. Cade Klubnik wasn’t spectacular, but the Tigers showed resilience by erasing a 16-point halftime deficit—something Clemson had only done six other times in school history.
Duke rides Mensah’s arm
Transfer QB Darian Mensah has been electric, throwing for 334 yards in a loss to Illinois and 389 in his Blue Devil debut. He leads the nation’s second-ranked passing offense (372.5 ypg). Defense, however, remains a concern after allowing 45 points in Week 2.
Pitt piling up points
The Panthers are quietly putting up video game numbers—averaging 53 points per game through two weeks. Eli Holstein has continued his streak of tossing 3+ TDs in non-conference games, and Pitt’s defense has matched with one of the league’s best rushing stops (34.5 ypg).
Miami looks the part
The Hurricanes handled Bethune-Cookman easily, 45–3, keeping Carson Beck spotless as a starter (26–3 in his career). Combined with their Week 1 win over Notre Dame, Mario Cristobal’s group sits at No. 5 nationally and has an early case as the ACC’s best CFP contender.
As we move into Week 3—with Clemson-Georgia Tech, NC State-Wake Forest, and Miami-South Florida on tap—the ACC looks balanced, dangerous, and as quarterback-driven as any league in the country.
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.
