mysa
The Atlantic Coast Conference's Week 10 schedule features a marquee non-conference showdown as top-ranked Miami travels to face No. 4 Notre Dame on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The game carries significant weight, recalling last season's meeting when the Hurricanes defeated the Fighting Irish, a result that ultimately helped Miami secure a College Football Playoff berth over Notre Dame. The Hurricanes parlayed that opportunity into a run to the CFP title game, while the Irish chose not to participate in postseason play.
Miami enters with an unblemished 8-0 record, powered by the nation's highest-scoring offense at 47.6 points per game. Quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Malachi Toney are both Heisman Trophy contenders, though the Hurricanes' defense showed vulnerability in a comeback win at North Carolina last Saturday. Notre Dame's only loss came at No. 7 BYU on Oct. 17, and this matchup marks the first of four consecutive games against ACC opponents to close out the Irish's regular season.
Key Analysis
The Miami-Notre Dame game is undoubtedly the weekend's centerpiece, with playoff positioning and bragging rights on the line. The Hurricanes' high-powered offense will test a Notre Dame defense that has been stout aside from the BYU setback. Meanwhile, the undercard features a critical ACC clash as Virginia Tech (6-2, 3-2 ACC) visits SMU (6-2, 4-2) on Friday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Mustangs are coming off a loss to Syracuse that dropped them behind No. 14 Wake Forest in the race for the ACC championship game, placing them in a logjam of two-loss teams that includes the Hokies, who are in James Franklin's first season in Blacksburg. This game has the feel of an elimination contest.
Clemson (5-3, 3-2) faces Syracuse (4-4, 2-4) on Saturday at noon ET on ESPN2. The Tigers, with losses to Miami and Virginia Tech, have no margin for error as part of the two-loss group. Syracuse started 0-4 in league play but has since edged North Carolina in overtime and upset SMU last week.
In impactful player news, NC State running back Davion Gause ran 19 times for 104 yards and a touchdown in the weekend win against California, the first game under interim coach Todd Goebbel. With starter Duke Scott still sidelined by injury, Gause's performance was his best since transferring from UNC, and he is positioned for a role even when Scott returns. Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz has rushed for five touchdowns in the Cardinals' current three-game winning streak, and the team can't afford a stumble at Georgia Tech on Saturday.
Duke running back Nate Sheppard ranks No. 5 nationally in rushing (121.5 yards per game) and third in rushing touchdowns (14) after scoring five times in a blowout of Boston College. Florida State visits Boston College on Saturday in its first game under interim coach Rick Stockstill following the firing of Mike Norvell. The Eagles had scored 27 points in a win against Pittsburgh and 49 points in a win at Georgia Tech, only to lose 47-2 last weekend to the Blue Devils.
North Carolina defensive line coach Bob Diaco returns to UConn on Saturday when the Tar Heels face the Huskies program he led as head coach from 2014-16, going 11-26 in those three seasons. Wake Forest (5-1 ACC) steps out of conference play to host Merrimack having scored 38 or more points in four straight games, including last weekend's 51-7 win against Virginia. California, Pittsburgh, Stanford, and Virginia are idle this week.
Originally reported by mysa.