Football

ACC Football Players of the Week for Week 6

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced its Football Players of the Week following standout performances in Week 6. The honorees were selected by a vote of a select media panel.
 
QUARTERBACK – Gio Lopez, Sr., QB, Wake Forest (Madison, Alabama)
  • Led Wake Forest to its largest road victory at NC State in 83 years, throwing three touchdown passes and adding a rushing score in the Demon Deacons’ 38–14 victory in Raleigh.
  • Completed 26-of-33 passes for 303 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers while adding 10 rushing yards and a fourth-down touchdown run.
  • Came alive in the second half as Wake Forest scored 31 unanswered points, completing 15-of-16 passes in the final 30 minutes for 218 yards, two passing touchdowns and a rushing score.
  • Completed three passes of 20 or more yards, including a 52-yard connection with Jack Foley.
  • Connected with both Carlos Hernandez and Jack Foley for 100-yard receiving days, marking the first time Wake Forest had a pair of 100-yard receivers in the same game since November 6, 2021.
  • One of only two quarterbacks nationally in Week 6 to record at least 300 passing yards, four total touchdowns and zero interceptions.
  • Earned the highest overall offensive grade (91.7) and passing grade (91.8) among ACC quarterbacks in Week 6, according to Pro Football Focus.
 
RUNNING BACK – Isaac Brown, Jr., RB, Louisville (Miami, Florida)
  • Rushed for a career-high 235 yards on just 17 carries, scoring touchdowns from 97 and 68 yards in Louisville’s win over Florida State.
  • Added seven receiving yards and a 71-yard kickoff return to finish with 313 all-purpose yards.
  • Recorded the most rushing yards and all-purpose yards in a game by any FBS player this season.
  • His 97-yard touchdown run was the longest play from scrimmage in Louisville program history and tied for the longest rush by any FBS player this season.
  • Was part of a Louisville rushing attack that totaled 397 yards, the second-most ever allowed by Florida State in a single game.
 
OFFENSIVE RECEIVER – Jack Foley, So., WR, Wake Forest (Bend, Oregon)
  • Helped lead Wake Forest to a win at NC State, recording career highs in receptions (8) and receiving yards (156) while scoring a touchdown for the second consecutive week.
  • His 156 receiving yards were 30 more than any other ACC wide receiver recorded in Week 6.
  • Fueled Wake Forest’s second-half surge, totaling 108 of his 156 receiving yards in the third quarter, including a touchdown.
  • Recorded a receiving touchdown in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.
  • His 19.5 yards per reception led all ACC wide receivers in Week 6.
  • Recorded the longest reception of the game on a 52-yard connection with quarterback Gio Lopez.
 
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Lance Robinson, 5th, OL, Louisville (Camilla, Georgia)
  • Played all 58 offensive snaps in Louisville’s win over Florida State.
  • Started at right tackle before moving to left tackle to finish the game.
  • Helped Louisville rush for 397 yards, the second-most ever allowed by Florida State in a single game.
  • Helped pave the way for Isaac Brown’s career-best 235-yard performance, the most rushing yards by an FBS player in a game this season.
  • Graded out at 90 percent with three knockdowns.
 
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – Xavier Lewis, So., DL, North Carolina (Rolesville, North Carolina)
  • Tallied a career-high 10 tackles to lead the Tar Heels to their first win against a ranked opponent since 2023, as North Carolina defeated No. 25 Pitt, 21–17.
  • Surpassed his previous career high of seven tackles, set in the season opener against TCU, by three.
  • Added a half-sack and now has 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 sacks this season.
  • His 1.90 tackles-for-loss per game rank second nationally and lead the ACC, while his 1.30 sacks per game rank fourth nationally and lead the conference.
  • Played 73 of UNC’s 86 defensive snaps and helped the Tar Heels hold Pitt to 0-for-4 on fourth down in the second half and just 2.4 yards per rush.
  • Helped North Carolina earn its first ranked road win since 2020.
 
LINEBACKER – Vincent Firenze, Sr., LB, Wake Forest (Syracuse, New York)
  • Tied for the team lead with eight total tackles and four solo stops to help lead the Demon Deacons to their largest road victory at NC State in 83 years.
  • Forced a fumble by NC State quarterback CJ Bailey on the opening drive, leading to Wake Forest’s opening touchdown in its 38–14 victory.
  • Helped the Demon Deacons hold NC State to just 0.6 yards per rush, the lowest average allowed by an ACC program in a game this season.
  • The 0.6 yards per rush allowed also tied for the second-lowest average in a Power Four matchup this season.
  • Was named to Pro Football Focus’ National Team of the Week after earning the second-highest defensive grade among all linebackers at 90.1.
 
DEFENSIVE BACK – Tre Miller, Sr., DB, North Carolina (Birmingham, Alabama)
  • Put together his best game in a Tar Heel uniform to help lead North Carolina to a 21–17 victory at No. 25 Pitt.
  • His performance helped head coach Bill Belichick earn his first ranked win as North Carolina’s head coach and lifted the program to its first ranked win since 2023.
  • Tallied four tackles, two pass breakups and his first career interception, which he returned 18 yards.
  • According to Pro Football Focus, allowed only two yards on four targets while compiling a 91.0 coverage grade and an 89.4 overall defensive grade, the highest by either team in the game.
  • Played 53 of UNC’s 86 defensive snaps and helped the Tar Heels hold Pitt to 0-for-4 on fourth down in the second half and just 2.4 yards per rush.
 
SPECIALIST – Daniel Sparks, 7th, P, Virginia (Gadsden, Alabama)
  • Averaged 52.2 yards on six punts, including a long of 72 yards, in Virginia’s come-from-behind win over Syracuse.
  • Downed three punts inside the 20-yard line, bringing his ACC-leading season total to 15.
  • Became only the third Cavalier to record at least two punts of 70 or more yards in the same season and the second to produce 70-yard punts in back-to-back games, joining Will Brice in 1994.
  • Leads the ACC and ranks third nationally with a 49.9-yard punting average.
     
ROOKIE – Braylon Outlaw, Fr., LB, Georgia Tech (Montgomery, Alabama)
  • Recorded four tackles and played a key role in Georgia Tech’s 28–25 win over Duke.
  • Was part of a defensive effort that held Duke running back Nate Sheppard, the nation’s rushing leader entering the game, to a season-low 99 yards—62 yards below his season average entering the contest.
  • As a team, Duke rushed for 159 yards, 85 fewer than its 12th-ranked rushing attack was averaging entering the game.