UNC: The eligible players have tuned out the NCAA cacophony and found ways to win games, despite the absence of several of the program's top stars. Even short-handed, wins over Rutgers and East Carolina were expected. Clemson has equal or more talent, but that did not deter the Tar Heels.
N.C. State: State needed to flush the Virginia Tech loss and it did, crushing Boston College. Before a team can be great, it has to learn how to win the games it is supposed to win. The Wolfpack did just that on Saturday.
LSU: A tip of the hat to the Mad Hatter. A week after Les Miles escaped with a ridiculously lucky win over Tennessee, in which he and his staff mangled the clock at the end of the game, the LSU coach had his Tigers in perfect position, and in sync with the clock, on the final, game-winning drive at Florida. The fake field goal call was as daring as it was brilliant.
Miami: Four years ago, Miami's administration convinced itself it could go cheap and promote Randy Shannon instead of hiring a proven coach. Shannon's record is 24-19 after his latest soul-crushing loss, at home to Florida State, and he has proven to be more costly than if "The U" had done it right the first time.
Ranking the ACC
1. Florida State: Bobby who?
2. Virginia Tech: Hokies won't be challenged again until their visit to UNC.
3. N.C. State: Trip to Charlotte on the line vs. FSU on Oct. 28.
4. Miami: Talented team with no direction.
5. Georgia Tech: Coveted Groh Bowl goes to Jackets.
6. North Carolina: Still might win the Coastal.
7. Clemson: See Miami.
8. Maryland: We'll know more about Terps after this week.
9. Boston College: The offensive line has been a huge disappointment.
10. Virginia: Mike London won't be allowed on the "Grounds" if the UNC streak ends on his watch.
11. Wake Forest: Frosh QB Tanner Price just might be a keeper.
12. Duke: In survival mode with Miami and VT next up.
No translation necessary
This space is usually reserved for the "Coachspeak-to-English" translation, but Clemson's Dabo Swinney spoke with such rare honesty and humility, his words require no translation.
"This is just not a very well-coached football team right now, and it's my fault," Swinney said after Clemson's 21-16 loss at UNC. "I'm embarrassed. I'm extremely disappointed in myself. I'm better than this, and it's my job to get it fixed."
Dabo Swinney, Clemson head coach
Kudos to Swinney for accepting the blame.
