Football

Week 8 Saturday Preview: Full Slate of Conference Games

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – A full Saturday of Atlantic Coast Conference football highlights Week 8, with five conference matchups featuring 10 teams as the race for a spot in the ACC Football Championship Game moves deeper into October.
 
Saturday’s slate is headlined by a matchup of nationally ranked teams as Pitt visits No. 1 Miami at noon ET on ESPN, while California travels to No. 23 SMU for a noon ET kickoff on The CW. The afternoon continues with Boston College at Georgia Tech at 3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network, followed by Virginia Tech at Clemson in ESPN primetime at 7 p.m. ET. Syracuse closes the day at North Carolina at 7:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network.
 
Entering Week 8 of the 2026 season, the ACC continues to demonstrate depth across the league, with 11 teams ranked in ESPN’s FPI Top 50 and 12 of its 17 programs at .500 or better. Sixteen ACC teams have already recorded a conference victory, the highest share of any FBS league.
 
That depth has translated to a highly competitive conference race, as ACC games have produced an FBS-best 28 second-half lead changes and 16 fourth-quarter lead changes. Sixteen league games have been decided by one possession, including seven by three points or fewer.
 
 
Saturday, October 24
Pitt at #1 Miami | Noon ET
Series: Miami leads series, 30-12-1
Last meeting: Miami, 38-7 (2025)
TV: ESPN
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 84 / SiriusXM 258
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 84 / SiriusXM 258
  • No. 1 Miami hosts Pitt on Saturday in a matchup of two of the ACC’s top teams and two of the league’s most complete defensive units.
  • Miami and Pitt meet for the 44th time, with the Hurricanes holding a 30-12-1 advantage in the all-time series. Miami has won five of the last six meetings, including a 38-7 road win at Pitt in 2025.
  • Saturday’s matchup features the nation’s top two rushing defenses. Pitt enters the week ranked No. 1 nationally in rushing defense, while Miami ranks No. 2, setting up a premier line-of-scrimmage battle between two of the FBS’s most disruptive front sevens.
  • Pitt enters Saturday at 5-2 overall and 2-2 in ACC play, looking to respond after consecutive one-score losses by a combined 10 points, including a 21-17 defeat to North Carolina and a 27-21 road loss at Boston College.
  • Pitt owns the nation’s No. 1 rushing defense, allowing just 57.3 rushing yards per game and 2.0 yards per carry. The Panthers have held five of seven opponents below 100 yards rushing.
  • The Panthers also rank third in the ACC in scoring defense, allowing 16.4 points per game, and fourth in total defense at 306.3 yards per game.
  • Pitt’s opportunistic secondary leads the ACC with nine interceptions and has produced two interceptions in each of its four conference games. The Panthers also rank second in the ACC in red-zone defense.
  • Offensively, Pitt ranks fourth in the ACC in total offense at 450.1 yards per game and is tied for second in the league with 18 touchdown passes. Eleven different Panthers have caught a touchdown pass.
  • True freshman running back Damon Ferguson Jr. leads the Panthers with 438 rushing yards and has totaled 533 yards from scrimmage with four touchdowns. He is coming off a career-best 119 rushing yards on 17 carries at Boston College.
  • No. 1 Miami enters Saturday at 6-0 overall and 4-0 in ACC play, coming off a dramatic 43-35, double-overtime win over Florida State that kept the Hurricanes unbeaten.
  • Miami owns the nation’s No. 1 scoring offense at 48.5 points per game and ranks No. 7 nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 14.0 points per game.
  • The Hurricanes have produced a resume that includes three Power Four road wins — at Stanford, Wake Forest and Clemson — while also securing a rivalry victory over Florida State last week.
  • Quarterback Darian Mensah has been one of the nation’s most efficient players, leading the FBS in Total QBR (89.4) while completing 80.8 percent of his passes for 1,764 yards, 18 touchdowns and only one interception.
  • Wide receiver Malachi Toney is Miami’s top playmaker, leading the team with 50 receptions, 758 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. He had 11 catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns against Florida State.
  • Miami’s defense has been especially stingy against the run, allowing only two rushing touchdowns through six games. That front will be tested by a Pitt offense that has averaged 174.5 rushing yards per game in ACC play.
 
 
Saturday, October 24
California at #23 SMU | Noon ET
Series: SMU leads series, 2-1
Last meeting: Cal, 38-35 (2025)
TV: The CW
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 185 / SiriusXM 234 / SiriusXM 263
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 958 / SiriusXM 973
  • No. 23 SMU hosts California on Saturday at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in a noon ET matchup on The CW. The Mustangs enter at 5-1 overall and 3-1 in ACC play, while Cal is 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the league.
  • Saturday marks the fourth meeting between the programs. SMU leads the all-time series 2-1, but Cal rallied for a 38-35 victory over then-No. 21 SMU in Berkeley last season behind Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele’s 330 passing yards and four touchdowns.
  • Cal enters its first of three consecutive ACC road games and its second straight contest against a ranked ACC opponent. The Golden Bears will look to rebound following last week’s loss to No. 21 Wake Forest.
  • The Golden Bears have been among the ACC’s most opportunistic defenses, ranking third in the league and tied for 17th nationally with seven interceptions. Cal also ranks fourth in the ACC in turnovers gained (10) and has scored two defensive touchdowns, tied for sixth nationally.
  • Cal defensive back Kingston Lopa leads the nation with five interceptions, including a three-interception performance against Syracuse.
  • Wide receiver Chase Hendricks leads the Golden Bears with 47 receptions and 415 receiving yards and ranks fourth in the ACC in both receptions and receptions per game.
  • SMU has been ranked in every AP Top 25 poll this season, its longest such streak since 1985. The Mustangs are also No. 20 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.
  • SMU has built sustained conference success under head coach Rhett Lashlee, posting a 17-3 ACC record since joining the league in 2024 — the most conference wins by any ACC team during that span.
  • The Mustangs are coming off a 23-13 win over Virginia and have won three consecutive games since their only loss of the season, a 41-31 road setback at then-No. 23 Louisville.
  • SMU’s high-powered passing attack ranks second in the ACC and fifth nationally at 325.2 yards per game.
  • Quarterback Kevin Jennings continues to climb the SMU record book. He enters the week with a 24-8 record as the Mustangs’ starter and needs one touchdown pass to tie the program career record with 72. Jennings is also the ACC’s active leader in career passing yards (9,548) and total offense (10,202).
  • The Mustangs’ defense has been especially effective on third downs, leading the ACC and ranking No. 4 nationally by holding opponents to a 26.5-percent conversion rate on third down.
 

Saturday, October 24
Boston College at Georgia Tech | 3:30 p.m. ET
Series: Georgia Tech leads series, 8-5
Last meeting: Georgia Tech, 36-34 (2025)
TV: ACC Network
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 185 / SiriusXM 234 / SiriusXM 258
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 258 / SiriusXM 958
  • Boston College travels to Georgia Tech on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ACC Network. Both teams enter at 1-2 in ACC play, with BC 3-3 overall and Georgia Tech at 2-4 overall.
  • Saturday marks the 14th meeting between Boston College and Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series, 8-5, and snapped a three-game losing streak to the Eagles with a 36-34 win in Chestnut Hill last season.
  • Boston College heads to Atlanta with momentum following a 27-21 win over Pitt, its first ACC victory of the season. The Eagles rallied from an early 12-0 deficit and closed the game with a fourth-quarter interception to secure the win.
  • Eagles quarterback Mason McKenzie threw for a career-high 295 yards and two touchdowns against Pitt, while adding to his dual-threat production. His 444 rushing yards are already the fifth-most by a Boston College quarterback in a single season in program history.
  • Wide receiver Landon Wright had a career day in the win over Pitt, totaling 122 receiving yards, including a 69-yard touchdown reception and a key 53-yard catch that set up the Eagles’ final touchdown.
  • Boston College’s defense has been among the ACC’s best at creating takeaways, ranking second in the conference with 11 turnovers forced. The Eagles also rank second in the ACC and 18th nationally in passing defense, allowing just 169.3 yards per game.
  • The Yellow Jackets are looking to rebound from last week’s 34-24 loss at Virginia Tech, despite outgaining the Hokies 428-409 and averaging a season-best 7.3 yards per play.
  • Georgia Tech quarterback Alberto Mendoza threw for a career-high 335 yards at Virginia Tech and has completed 71 percent of his passes this season for 1,528 yards and nine touchdowns.
  • Wide receiver Jordan Allen has emerged as one of the ACC’s most productive targets, becoming the first Yellow Jacket in program history to post consecutive 10-reception games. He has totaled 20 catches over the past two weeks against Duke and Virginia Tech.
  • Georgia Tech’s pass rush recorded a season-high five sacks at Virginia Tech after entering the game with six sacks over its first five contests.
 

Saturday, October 24
Virginia Tech at Clemson | 7 p.m. ET
Series: Clemson leads series, 24-12-1
Last meeting: Clemson, 24-14 (2024)
TV: ESPN
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 132 / SiriusXM 235 / SiriusXM 263
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 959 / SiriusXM 973
  • Virginia Tech travels to Clemson for a Saturday night ACC matchup at Memorial Stadium, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Hokies enter at 5-2 overall and 2-2 in ACC play, while Clemson is 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
  • Clemson and Virginia Tech meet for the 38th time, with the Tigers holding a 24-12-1 all-time series advantage. Clemson has won seven consecutive games in the series, a streak dating to 2011 that includes wins over the Hokies in both the 2011 and 2016 ACC Football Championship Games.
  • Saturday marks only Virginia Tech’s third trip to Death Valley since joining the ACC. Clemson owns a 9-6-1 all-time record against the Hokies in home games, while the Hokies are 1-1 in Memorial Stadium since joining the conference.
  • The game carries important conference implications, as Clemson looks to remain among the ACC’s one-loss teams and Virginia Tech seeks a second straight victory to move above .500 in league play.
  • Virginia Tech enters Saturday following a 34-24 win over Georgia Tech that snapped a two-game skid. The Hokies have been explosive offensively, averaging 37.1 points per game.
  • Hokies quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer has thrown for 1,984 yards and 15 touchdowns, while running back Jeffrey Overton Jr. leads Virginia Tech with 613 rushing yards and four scores.
  • Wide receiver Que’Sean Brown has been one of the ACC’s most versatile offensive threats, leading the Hokies with 46 receptions and 616 receiving yards. He totaled 251 all-purpose yards against Georgia Tech, including six catches for 182 yards and a 63-yard punt return.
  • Virginia Tech’s defense has been disruptive throughout the season, led by Aycen Stevens’ 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 8.0 sacks. The Hokies also enter the week ranked among the nation’s top 10 in rushing defense.
  • Clemson returns to ACC action after a 37-0 shutout of Charleston Southern last week and begins a pivotal stretch of five consecutive conference games. The Tigers are one of five ACC teams with one league loss or fewer.
  • Clemson has played one of the nation’s most challenging schedules, with its two losses coming against No. 18 LSU and No. 1 Miami.
  • Clemson running back Gideon Davidson leads the Tigers with 430 rushing yards and five touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He has produced two 100-yard rushing games, including 159 yards and two touchdowns at California.
 
 
Saturday, October 24
Syracuse at North Carolina | 7:30 p.m. ET
Series: North Carolina leads series, 5-3
Last meeting: North Carolina, 27-10 (2025)
TV: ACC Network
SiriusXM Radio: SiriusXM 185 / SiriusXM 234 / SiriusXM 258
SiriusXM App: SiriusXM 258 / SiriusXM 958
  • North Carolina hosts Syracuse in the ACC Network nightcap Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET from Kenan Stadium. The Tar Heels enter at 4-2 overall and 2-1 in ACC play, while Syracuse is 2-4 overall and 0-4 in league action.
  • Saturday marks the ninth meeting between Syracuse and North Carolina. The Tar Heels hold a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series and have won each of the past three meetings, including a 27-10 victory in Syracuse last season.
  • Syracuse wide receiver Umari Hatcher enters Saturday as one of the nation’s premier pass catchers. He leads the FBS with 8.33 receptions per game and ranks third nationally with 130.7 receiving yards per game.
  • Hatcher is coming off a historic performance against Louisville, posting 13 receptions for 224 yards and a touchdown. The total was the fourth-most receiving yards by an FBS player in a game this season and marked Syracuse’s first 200-yard receiving performance since 2016.
  • The Orange have played four quarterbacks this year due to injuries, with each throwing at least one touchdown pass this season.
  • North Carolina brings a two-game winning streak into Saturday after earning consecutive road victories at then-No. 25 Pitt and Duke. The Tar Heels rallied past the Blue Devils, 24-20, last week to retain the Victory Bell.
  • UNC’s defense has been a major factor in its recent success, allowing 19.2 points per game and holding opponents to 329.8 total yards per game.
  • Tar Heels linebacker Derek McDonald leads the ACC with 55 tackles, including four games with double-digit stops. The Syracuse transfer will face his former program for the first time.
  • North Carolina has also been especially strong in the red zone, ranking second in the ACC and 10th nationally in limiting opponents’ red-zone touchdowns.
  • Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. has thrown for 1,260 yards and nine touchdowns this season, while leading a North Carolina offense that has scored 20 or more points in five of six games.