Clemson beat North Carolina 28-20 in a wild Week 3 showdown between two of the ACC’s biggest names, and the rest of the conference had a mixed bag of results. The updated Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 for the ACC reflect the league’s uneven start to the season.
The Belichick-Swinney Showdown
The biggest game of the week featured a rare meeting of coaches with real NFL and college football records. Dabo Swinney of Clemson has multiple national championships, while Bill Belichick of North Carolina has multiple Super Bowl titles.
The game had a notable weather delay, and Clemson came back from behind to win 28-20 thanks to 13 fourth-quarter points.
SMU and Louisville Battle It Out
SMU and Louisville played a high-scoring affair, with SMU ranked No. 16 and Louisville unofficially ranked No. 27 in the country. Jeff Brohm’s Cardinals won 41-31 to move to 2-1 on the season.
The result gave Louisville a 2-1 record on the season.
Nonconference Troubles
The ACC had its struggles in nonconference play this week.
- In Tuscaloosa, Mike Norvell’s Florida State team raced out to a 21-6 first-half lead before losing 50-36 to No. 10 Alabama.
- In Nashville, a disastrous final play by NC State quarterback CJ Bailey cost the Wolfpack a win against Vanderbilt.
- Tony Elliott’s Vanderbilt squad fell 38-27 to Rich Rodriguez and West Virginia.
There was one bright spot: Virginia Tech downed Maryland 35-26.
The game didn’t disappoint, with Clemson overcoming a notable weather delay to come from behind and beat Belichick’s Tar Heels 28-20 , thanks to 13 fourth-quarter points.
The week’s games were a reminder that even the ACC’s top teams are not immune to close calls. Alabama’s 50-36 win over Florida State was a warning sign for the rest of the league. And NC State’s late-game error against Vanderbilt showed that even a strong program can fall apart in a moment.
Here’s how the key games shaped up:
| Team | Result |
|---|---|
| Clemson vs UNC | 28-20 |
| SMU vs Louisville | 31-41 |
| FSU vs Alabama | 36-50 |
| NC State vs Vanderbilt | Lost on final play |
The ACC’s Week 3 results were a mixed bag, with Clemson rallying to beat UNC 28-20 in the biggest game of the week.
What This Week Means for the Poll
The Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 will likely reflect this uneven performance as the season moves forward. Clemson remains the clear ACC favorite, but the league’s standing is far from settled after three weeks. Alabama’s dominance over FSU and West Virginia’s win over Vanderbilt show that nonconference opponents are not pushovers, and the ACC will have to prove itself against those teams in the coming weeks.
The league’s uneven start to the season is a reminder that even strong programs can slip up. Clemson’s win over UNC was the highlight, but the rest of the conference had its share of results that did not go its way.
The ACC’s Week 3 results were a mixed bag, with Clemson rallying to beat UNC 28-20 in the biggest game of the week.
Source material: “College football rankings after Week 3: Updated Coaches Poll, AP Top 25 for ACC,” Yahoo Sports.
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