sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to Blackout Wednesday aka Drinksgiving!
Blackout Wednesday, sometimes referred to as Drinksgiving, takes place the night before Thanksgiving Day, and in some parts of the United States is one of the biggest drinking and party nights of the year. Many college students come back to their hometown for Thanksgiving, and go to bars the night before to meet their friends whom they haven't seen while away at school. Many bars mark the occasion by having promotions and drink specials as well. Thanksgiving is usually a low stress holiday for college aged kids, where gifts don't need to be purchased, and older family members do the preparing of meals. This leaves college aged kids with more expendable cash, and the luxury of eating a big meal the day after drinking without having to prepare it.
Blackout Wednesday has been trending on Google searches since 2004, particularly during the month of November, and there seems to have been an uptick in searches for it starting around 2010. Furthermore, it seems to be most popular around the Great Lakes region. A sad consequence of the day is that a lot of drinking and driving takes place. In some locations it is the top drinking and driving night of the year, and accidents and fatalities are high. Fittingly, many police departments step up their patrols on Blackout Wednesday.
SU News
Chris Gedney puts his hands on his helmet in frustration after being tackled short of the goal line as time expired against Miami on Nov. 21, 1992 at the Carrier Dome.
Miami makes its long-awaited return to Syracuse, and it should feel a bit nostalgic (PS; $; Mink)
Some mid-week scribbles ahead of Syracuse football’s matchup with Miami (Fla.) on Saturday afternoon:
It’s hard to ignore the historical footnotes that help frame this week’s game.
The matchup will mark the first game played in the dome since 1992 in which both teams enter the game with eight or more wins.
The game?
No. 1 Miami’s 16-10 victory against No. 8 Syracuse, best remembered for its epic ending in which local football star Chris Gedney was stopped 3 yards shy of the goal line on the last play of the game.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal was a first-team, All-Big East offensive tackle back then for the Hurricanes, who entered the game riding a 27-game winning streak.
“Loud, loud, loud,” Cristobal told reporters this week when asked what he remembered about the game.
“I remember not being able to hear and trying to look at the ball and trying to get off at the same time and block that absolute monster of a defensive end they had.”
Cristobal is almost certainly referring to Kevin Mitchell, the nose guard who went on to be named defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl vs. Colorado. Mitchell, a second-round NFL draft pick in 1993, played 10 seasons in the NFL with San Francisco, New Orleans and Washington.
Mitchell was one of several All-Big East players and future pros on the turf that day. Four consensus All-Americans suited up, including Gedney, whose school-record 1,334 career receiving yards by a tight end was broken earlier this season by NFL-bound tight end Oronde Gadsden II.
Miami quarterback Gino Torretta won the Heisman Trophy in 1992, and quarterback Cam Ward could end up in New York as a Heisman finalist this year.
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Syracuse SPOILER? Orange host No. 8 Miami in Ward, McCord SHOWDOWN (youtube; podcast; The Orange Zone)
Samantha Croston, Ashley Wenskoski, James Mungro and Rachel Culver preview the BIGGEST MATCHUP OF THE SEASON for Syracuse football. The 8-3 Orange host 10-1 No. 8 Miami at the JMA Wireless Dome this Saturday. The 'Canes need a win to advance to the ACC Championship Game and to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive- while the Orange are looking for their first top-10 win under head coach Fran Brown. It's a McCord vs. Ward SHOWDOWN.
00:00-6:16: What is at stake for SYRACUSE with a win?
6:17-8:35: What's on the line for MIAMI?
8:36-19:11: KEYS to the game for Syracuse
19:12-22:25: When is the last time SU fans experienced a Ward-McCord-caliber QB matchup at the Dome?
22:26-24:54: Broader ACC ramifications
24:55-30:55: PREDICTIONS
The Ostrom Avenue Podcast Episode 206: SU Football Wins Again + What's Going on with Basketball (waer.org; podcast; Ostrom Avenue)
AJ Myers and Griffin Bloomstein break down Syracuse football's win over UCONN this past win that moved the Orange to 8-3 on the year. The guys also discuss the importance of the matchup with Miami this coming weekend. Plus, AJ and Griffin analyze the differing problems for both SU men's and women's basketball. Adrian Autry's squad comes off a tough week in Brooklyn, while Felisha Legette-Jack's crew aims to rebound off a rough start to the year down in Florida.
Syracuse Football gets set for Top-10 Matchup vs. Cam Ward and the Miami Hurricanes (youtube; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)
Syracuse Orange Football takes on AP Top-10 Miami Hurricanes in the JMA Wireless Dome for the final regular season game of the 2024 College Football season. Fran Brown and Kyle McCord could have a tough time keeping pace with Mario Cristobal and Heisman Trophy hopeful Cam Ward, who are seeking a trip to the ACC Title game against the SMU Mustangs. The Hurricanes have the number-one total offense in the country. Miami also has plenty of talent defensively, including Rueben Bain and Mishael Powell. Miami has the number-one total defense in the ACC.
Jackson Holzer breaks down Syracuse Football's next opponent, the Miami Hurricanes, on this edition of the Locked On Syracuse Podcast.
0:00- Miami Overview & Offense
11:21- Defense
20:02- Keys For Cuse
Miami vs. Syracuse Preview and Prediction | PFF (youtube; podcast; PFF College Football)
PFF College Football Show is a college football show hosted by PFF's college football analyst Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman. We'll be interviewing the game's top players as well as diving into various topics around the sport! Subscribe so you don't miss a video!
Cam Ward on Accolades & Facing Kyle McCord and Syracuse Needing a Win for ACC Title Game Spot (youtube; video; InsideTheU)
Cam Ward on Accolades & Facing Kyle McCord and Syracuse Needing a Win for ACC Title Game Spot
UConn vs. Syracuse Full Game Replay | 2024 ACC Football (youtube; video; ACC DN)
The Orange were clicking on all cylinders in their 31-24 victory over UConn. Quarterback Kyle McCord was simply outstanding throwing the rock 47 times and finishing with 470 passing yards and was responsible for 3 scores. Oronde Gadsden II had 11 grabs for 103 yards and a score, and his fellow wideout Darell Gill Jr. registered 9 receptions for 177 yards for SU. 'Cuse had a third receiver go over 100 as Jackson Meeks had 7 receptions for 100 yards, and running back LeQuint Allen rushed for 58 yards and a score.
Miami football predictions, odds: Will Syracuse ruin Hurricanes' ACC championship chances? (palmbeachpost.com; Rorabaugh)
The finish line is in sight for Miami Hurricanes football. Can they cross it Saturday and get to the ACC championship game, or will Syracuse trip them up?
No. 7 Miami (10-1, 6-1 in ACC) bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 42-14 win last week over Wake Forest. That game was close until the fourth quarter, and Cam Ward finished with less than 300 passing yards for just the second time all season. But the Heisman contender did complete more than 70% of his passes for the first time since Sept. 21, and Jacolby George led UM in receiving for the second straight game while hauling in both of Ward's touchdowns.
Syracuse can't be overlooked. The Orange (8-3, 4-3) are on a two-game win streak. Quarterback Kyle McCord has overtaken Ward as the FBS leader in passing yards with 3,946 and is tied for seventh with 26 TDs. The Ohio State transfer is coming off a career-high 470 yards and a season-best .787 completion percentage in last week's 31-24 win vs. UConn.
PickDawgz: Bet the over
David Racey writes: "Miami comes into this matchup with just one loss on the season, but they have had a couple of close calls. The Miami offense is one of the best in the nation, but their defense has some holes. Syracuse has one of the better passing attacks in the country and I think they are going to throw the ball all over this Miami defense. I expect both teams to score plenty of points and I think we are in for a shootout here."College Football Network: Miami wins 35-27
Will Helms writes: "If McCord has to press, I think he’s the first to blink and will make a big mistake at some point. Expect points, but maybe not a combined 68 points. Likewise, expect the Hurricanes to win, but probably not to cover. Syracuse deserves more respect than to be a double-digit home underdog to a team that has won several close games this season. But, the Orange aren’t likely to win outright."Picks & Parlays: Miami wins 44-34
Eddie Kline writes: "Miami is riding a six-game winning streak against Syracuse, but these two teams have not faced each other since 2017. The Orange have been in every game this season with the exception of a 41-13 road loss against Pittsburgh. The Hurricanes tend to keep things interesting and find a way to win. Look for Miami to win in a shootout that goes over the total."Inside the Loud House: Miami wins 38-30
Neil Adler writes: "During the 2024 season, the Hurricanes have had several close calls, so I do think that the 'Cuse has a legit shot to upset Miami. That being said, the Hurricanes offense is ridiculously explosive, which I think will prove too much for the Syracuse football defense."...
'We're going to shock the world,' says new Syracuse football 2025 4-star DB commit (itlh; Adler)
Kaylib Singleton, a top-flight defensive back who verbally committed to the 'Cuse on Monday night, has some big-time plans during his future tenure on the Hill suiting up for Syracuse football.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Singleton, a speedy athlete who also runs track and field at his Florida high school, took an official visit to the Orange this past weekend, as the 'Cuse hosted and defeated non-conference foe UConn by seven points on Saturday afternoon.
Singleton, rated a four-star senior by , had been pledged to Big Ten Conference member Rutgers but de-committed from the Scarlet Knights more than a month ago. Leading up to his official visit to the 'Cuse, and then again earlier this week, multiple national analysts and recruiting experts logged predictions in the Orange's direction for Singleton.
Those projections rang true, as Singleton said via his X page on Monday evening that he was flipping to Syracuse football ahead of the early signing period for 2025 football prospects, which runs from December 4 through December 6.
More than anything else, a huge congrats and welcome from 'Cuse Nation to Kaylib!
New 4-star DB commit Kaylib Singleton discusses why he chose Syracuse football.
In an interview this week with top 247Sports analyst Mike McAllister, Singleton dished on why he verbally pledged to the Orange and its first-year head coach Fran Brown, an ace recruiter who before leading the 'Cuse was most recently the defensive backs coach at Southeastern Conference powerhouse Georgia.
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Syracuse football recruiting: Orange land three new commitments (TNIAAM; Wall)
Fran Brown and the Syracuse Orange continue to build for next season and beyond as they’ve received three recent commitments.
Florida cornerback Kaylib Singleton chose Syracuse over a number of other offers including Florida, LSU and Texas A&M. The 6’1 corner from Fleming Island, Florida is considered a four-star by Rivals and is a consensus top 70 corner in the 2025 class.
Singleton will be joined in the 2025 class by Miami defensive end Deangelo Thompson. The 6’4 225 pound Thompson was committed to Florida Atlantic but decided to flip over the weekend. He also had offers from Kentucky, Coastal Carolina and FIU.
The third recent commit is 2026 defensive back Jaxson Gates from La Verne, California. The 6’1 Gates is a three-star in his class and he becomes the second Syracuse commit in the 2026 class.
Syracuse’s 2025 class is now up to 32 commits and ranks 37th by 247 and 44th (#brand) by On3.
ACC bowl watch: How did win over UConn improve Syracuse football’s bowl possibilities? (PS; $; Carlson)
The bowl picture improved for both Syracuse and the ACC over the weekend, thanks to the Orange’s win over UConn and the SEC’s cannibalism.
Syracuse’s 31-24 win over the Huskies ensured that it will finish among the top half of the ACC when it comes to overall record, a season performance that should ensure the Orange has a Power-Four matchup during bowl season.
At the same time, the odds of two ACC teams and Notre Dame making the College Football Playoff jumped substantially following losses from Alabama, Mississippi and Texas A&M.
Each of those SEC teams now has three losses, which will almost certainly put them behind the three one-loss teams from the ACC pool in the updated College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday night.
It is unclear what the committee will do when Miami or SMU eventually loses its second game of the season, particularly if the second loss comes in the ACC Championship Game. Syracuse can probably knock Miami out of the picture with a win on Saturday. Cal could probably do the same to SMU.
Regardless of the result in the JMA Wireless Dome this week, Syracuse does seem poised to land an interesting bowl matchup.
The most popular projected matchups this week pit Syracuse and Southern California in the Sun Bowl and Fran Brown against Deion Sanders in the Holiday Bowl. Two other predictions this week placed Syracuse in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against either Nebraska or Michigan.
Here’s how the ACC picture could play out
College Football Playoff: Miami, Notre Dame, SMU
With so many SEC teams with three losses it looks like the ACC now has a good chance at getting two teams and Notre Dame into the College Football Playoff. That allows all the teams below to slide up in the bowl hierarchy.
Pop Tarts Bowl vs. Big 12: Clemson
Clemson played in the Gator Bowl last year and this game three years ago. I think that’s enough time to bring the Tigers back to Orlando and take advantage of their local fanbase rather than shipping them off to the West Coast. The Holiday Bowl is the other option.
Gator Bowl vs. SEC: Louisville
I’d give Syracuse this spot with a win over Miami or with a Louisville loss to Kentucky. But this projection assumes those games go the way Las Vegas expects. With its win on the road over Clemson this season and just one loss against a team that isn’t in the Top 10 nationally, Louisville would be an especially deserving 8-4 team.
Holiday Bowl vs. Pac-12: Duke
I’d prefer to see Syracuse get the nod over Duke here because the Blue Devils’ strength-of-schedule is terrible. But Duke will probably end the year with a slightly better record than SU. That’s enough to give Duke the edge, especially in a year when SU has already tapped into its West Coast alumni twice to attend football games.
Pinstripe vs. Big Ten: Boston College
I feel like the winner of Pittsburgh-Boston College on Saturday gets this one. Pitt hasn’t played since 2016. Boston College hasn’t played since 2017. The Eagles are playing better right now.
Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs. SEC: Syracuse
You could flip these next two and I wouldn’t be stunned. There’s a reason multiple experts picked both destinations. The Orange has earned a Power-Four matchup. I gave it a date in Charlotte with the Big Ten.
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Syracuse football: what’s college football saying about the Orange after week 13? (TNIAAM; Wall)
Each week, we’ll take a look at what other college football media sites are saying about the Syracuse Orange. Let’s see what they are saying after the Orange’s win over UConn.
Syracuse.Com
Brent Axe puts Syracuse 5th this week between Georgia Tech and Duke.
ESPN
In this week’s SP+ rankings Syracuse is up three to the 53rd spot with the offense 28th while the defense ranks 82nd and special teams 103rd. The Orange are ranked between Utah and UCF. Miami is ranked 8th with their offense 1st, defense 31st and special teams 12th.
The Football Power Index has Syracuse up two to 60th place between UCLA and Rutgers. FPI gives the Orange a 19% chance to win next week as it ranks Miami 10th this week.
ACC/ESPN Media
Andrea Adelson has Syracuse 4th and Miami 1st this week.
CBS Sports
In the CBS Sports power rankings Syracuse is up one spot to 29th between Missouri and Louisiana. Miami is 9th in these rankings.
The Athletic
The Orange bump up two spots to 28th in The Athletic’s Top 134 Power Rankings placing them in between Army and Louisville. Miami is 11th this week.
AP and Coaches Poll
Syracuse received 37 votes in the AP Poll and 19 votes in the Coaches Poll
Awards
Darrell Gill and Oronde Gadsden were named to PFF’s ACC Team of the Week.
ACC Week Thirteen Scores
NC State 29 Georgia Tech 30
North Carolina 21 Boston College 41
UConn 24 Syracuse 31
SMU 33 Virginia 7
Wake Forest 14 Miami 42
Charleston Southern 7 Florida State 41
Stanford 21 Cal 24
The Citadel 14 Clemson 51
Pitt 9 Louisville 37
Virginia Tech 28 Duke 31
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Former Syracuse QB Tommy DeVito has sore arm, uncertain for Giants’ Thanksgiving game (PS; AP)
New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito came out of his first start of the season with a sore throwing arm and his status for Thursday’s game against the Cowboys in Dallas is uncertain.
DeVito, who played college football at Syracuse and Illinois, was not listed on Monday’s injury report and coach Brian Daboll said he did not know about the injury to the quarterback’s right arm until just before the team had a walkthrough practice on Tuesday.
Daboll said he was hopeful DeVito would play, but he added that backup Drew Lock will get a couple of extra snaps in the short workout.
Having played on Sunday, the Giants (2-9) are prepping for the Cowboys (4-7) with walkthroughs.
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Syracuse Football on Instagram: " Players of the Week "
cusefootball on November 26, 2024: " Players of the Week ".
www.instagram.com
ACC News
Will three ACC teams make the College Football Playoff? | Sporting News (TSN; Shoemaker)
With the release of the fourth edition of this year’s College Football Playoff rankings, the ACC made a strong showing, placing three teams in the Top 25—all within the Top 12.
Miami leads the way at No. 6, followed by SMU at No. 9 and Clemson at No. 12.
“I think [Miami is] still a very, very good football team,” analyst Greg McElroy said. “They’re one of those teams where, if they ever put 60 minutes together—look out. That team is extremely dangerous.”
Last weekend’s chaos across college football gave the Hurricanes a boost from their previous No. 8 ranking. Meanwhile, SMU and Clemson saw significant jumps that could have major implications on the playoff, with potentially all three ACC teams making the playoff.
The Mustangs, now 10-1, have already secured their spot in the ACC Championship Game, and their ranking at No. 9 ensures a position among the 12 playoff seeds (for now). If the season ended today, SMU would face No. 10 Notre Dame on the road in the first round. This recognition marks a breakthrough for the Mustangs after weeks of being overlooked.
Clemson’s No. 12 ranking places them as the first team out of the current playoff field but keeps them very much in contention. The Tigers are set to face in-state rival South Carolina, which jumped from No. 18 to No. 15 in this week’s rankings. The winner of Saturday’s matchup could potentially claim a playoff berth. Clemson’s chances improve even further if Miami loses to Syracuse, which would open the door for the Tigers to make the ACC title. A win there gives them an automatic selection.
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ACC Poised for Multiple College Football Playoff Bids While SEC and Big 12 Fall (SI; Forde)
With carnage occurring all around it, the Atlantic Coast Conference has navigated a path toward at least two members in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Maybe three.
That’s the takeaway from the latest rankings by the playoff selection committee Tuesday night, which put the Miami Hurricanes at No. 6, the SMU Mustangs at No. 9 and the Clemson Tigers at No. 12. If all three win this weekend, the ACC seems assured of a second team in the CFP field—and improved chances at a third.
SMU already clinched a spot in the ACC championship game. Miami will do the same if it beats the Syracuse Orange. If the Hurricanes lose, Clemson gets that title-game slot. Even if Clemson doesn’t reach the game in Charlotte, they could conceivably get a third bid for the league by beating a red-hot South Carolina Gamecocks squad.
“Obviously, they’re at 9–2, with only two losses,” committee chair Warde Manuel said of Clemson. “The teams right behind them have three losses. We just felt, as a committee, as we looked at their body of work, with three straight wins after their loss to Louisville, including back-to-back wins against Virginia Tech and Pitt, that they deserved to move up into that 12th position.”
The SEC’s communal meltdown Saturday—when three ranked teams lost to unranked opponents—paved the way for this. Clemson is now ranked directly ahead of the No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide, No. 14 Mississippi Rebels and No. 15 South Carolina. If the Tigers beat the Gamecocks, none of those three teams will jump them. If someone in the top 12 loses, their chances increase.
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ACC Football: UNC informs Mack Brown that he will not be back as football coach (augustafreepress.com; Graham)
Mack Brown, on Monday, indicated that he planned to be back on the UNC Football sidelines in 2025.
On Tuesday, the school announced that he will not be back – the official word in a press release from UNC Athletics being, Bubba Cunningham, the AD, informed Brown that he will not be returning as head coach.
That escalated quickly.
The press release indicated that Brown will coach the team Saturday in its season finale against NC State at Kenan Stadium; a decision has not been reached on whether Brown will coach in a bowl game.
“Mack Brown has won more games than any football coach in UNC history, and we deeply appreciate all that he has done for Carolina Football and our University,’’ Cunningham said. “Over the last six seasons – his second campaign in Chapel Hill – he has coached our team to six bowl berths, including an Orange Bowl, while mentoring 18 NFL draft picks. He and his wife, Sally, have done an outstanding job supporting the Carolina community, including raising funds for UNC Children’s Hospital while hosting other popular events such as the Ladies Day Clinic. Both also have been terrific in leading our program during some incredibly tough stretches, including the tragic passing of wide receiver Tylee Craft this season.
“Coach Brown has led the Carolina Football program back into the national conversation as we improved the program’s facilities, significantly increased the size of the staff, invested in salaries and bolstered our nutrition and strength and conditioning programs. He also has been a dedicated fundraiser, strengthening the Football endowment while also supporting our other sports programs.
“We thank Coach Brown for his dedication to Carolina, and wish him, Sally and their family all the best,” Cunningham said.
This is awkward as hell, obviously, on the heels of Brown’s comments to the media about his intention to return for a seventh season.
“You never talk to your athletic director until the year’s over. Everybody always does that. My total focus is on NC State. What an awful thing to be talking about me when we just played a bad game and need to beat State,” said Brown on Monday, referencing the “bad game,” a 41-21 loss to Boston College on Saturday, that snapped a modest three-game winning streak.
Brown, who has three years left on his contract, is 44-32 in his second stint at UNC, with a 6-5 mark in 2024 heading into the regular-season finale.
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College football bowl projections get overhaul with Tennessee, ACC joining playoff (usatoday.com; Smith)
Just when we thought the playoff picture was becoming clearer, college football went and did its thing with a series of surprising results in Week 13 that have shaken up the situation like a holiday snow globe.
The changes to the College Football Playoff in this week's bowl projections start with the SEC. Mississippi and Alabama both were stunned as big favorites on the road, eliminating them from the conference title game. Now thrown into the at-large pool with three losses, don't expect the Rebels or Crimson Tide to have a way back into the field.
The losses open the door from two of their SEC brethren to benefit and the ACC to place two teams in the field. The first team that gets a boost is Tennessee. The Volunteers can be their league's four representative with a defeat of Vanderbilt. Georgia also now is set for a trip to the conference title game and are forecast to be the No. 2 seed in the field by winning in Atlanta in two weeks.
In the ACC, it's likely both SMU and Miami will make the field should they meet for the conference title. A loss by the Hurricanes against Syracuse would open the door for Clemson to play the Mustangs and give the Tigers an opportunity to join the field.
UP AND DOWN: Winners and losers from Week 13 in college football
TIEBREAKERS: Where Power Four conference races stand after Week 13
There are other changes from the weekend with Colorado's loss to Kansas and Arizona State's defeat of Brigham Young altering the outlook in the Big 12. The Sun Devils now look positioned to be the league's champion should they win their final two contests.
Notes: Legacy Pac-12 schools in other conferences will fulfill existing Pac-12 bowl agreements through the 2025 season. Some conferences may not fulfill their bowl allotment. Asterisks denote a replacement pick
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Virginia Football: ACC Football Week 14 Power Rankings (SI; Baller)
Eighth? Really?
13 weeks of the college football season are in the books with one ticket clinched in the ACC championship and the other still up for grabs. Let's check in on the Atlantic Coast Conference to see who's trending up, who's trending down, and who has a chance to make the ACC Championship Game. Here are our week 13 ACC Football Power Rankings:
1. SMU (10-1, 7-0 ACC)
The Mustangs steamrolled the Cavaliers on Saturday 33-7 to punch their ticket to the ACC Championship, where they'll have a shot to earn an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff. SMU has taken the ACC by storm, and its win over Virginia perfectly encapsulated the Mustangs' season to this point. Kevin Jennings deserves more national attention as he lights up opposing defenses every weekend.Up next: vs. California
2. Miami (10-1, 6-1 ACC)
The Hurricanes dominated the Demon Deacons via a 22-0 second half and Cam Ward, though no longer a probable Heisman winner, bounced back after a tough loss to Georgia Tech and gave Miami a chance to control its destiny to the College Football Playoff. If the Hurricanes win at Syracuse on Saturday and then beat SMU in the ACC Championship, the Canes will be dancing in December in the 12-team College Football Playoff.Up next: At Syracuse
3. Clemson (9-2, 7-1 ACC)
A dominant 51-14 win against The Citadel definitely does not say much but the Tigers have sneakily built up a resume that may allow them to sneak into the College Football Playoff. After Alabama, Ole Miss, Indiana and Texas A&M all lost last week, the Tigers now have a 24% chance to make the playoff. Although the Tigers do not have full control of their destiny, they could significantly strengthen their case with a win over South Carolina on Saturday. Clemson would need Miami to lost to Syracuse in order to make the ACC title game.Up next: vs. South Carolina
4. Louisville (7-4, 5-3 ACC)
The Cardinals delivered a strong 37-9 win over Pittsburgh this past Saturday, bouncing back after a brutal loss to Stanford. Louisville has had quite the rollercoaster season with losses to SMU, Notre Dame, Miami and Stanford, but a strong win over Clemson. The Cardinals may be one of the best four-loss teams in the nation.Up next: At Kentucky
5. Duke (8-3, 4-3 ACC)
The Blue Devils continue to press on after a strong win over Virginia Tech. Eli Pancol is the real deal after racking up 188 yards and three touchdowns on only five receptions. With Wake Forest next week, the Blue Devils have a solid shot to earn their ninth win before a shot at their first 10-win season since 2013.Up next: At Wake Forest
6. Georgia Tech (7-4, 5-3 ACC)
The Yellow Jackets move up in the rankings this week with their second win in a row, defeating NC State 30-29 fresh off a bye and a massive upset win over Miami the week before that. Georgia Tech's quarterback tandem of Aaron Philo and Haynes King continues to impress and will have a shot to produce one of the most shocking upsets of the season this Saturday in Athens.Up next: At Georgia
7. Pittsburgh (7-4, 3-4 ACC)
With Eli Holstein injured, the Panthers continue to spiral out of control, picking up their fourth straight loss. Holstein's injury is quite unfortunate as Pittsburgh was bound for so much more than a 7-4 record. Nonetheless, with Holstein returning next year, Pat Narduzzi will look to have Pittsburgh ready to make an ACC title push in 2025. The Panthers badly need a win over Boston College to end this regular season on a high note, though.Up next: at Boston College
8. Syracuse (8-3, 4-3 ACC)
Syracuse has a win streak once again after defeating UConn 31-24. With an 8-3 record, the Orange have put together quite the sneaky good season with Kyle McCord leading the charge at quarterback. After two solid wins against UConn and Cal, the Orange have the ability to make a statement heading into bowl season while shaking up the ACC Championship by upending Miami.Up next: vs. Miami
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LIVE Week 14 ACC Football Preview | Rivalry Week! Miami @ Syracuse! Cal @ SMU! More! (youtube; podcast; Basketball Conference)
0:00:00 Intro
0:03:00 Rhoback Lookback (Mack Brown and CFP Talk)
0:24:00 Lookback at Week 13 Locks
0:25:40 Stanford-San Jose State
0:30:35 Georgia Tech-georgia
0:42:15 Clemson-South Carolina
0:51:45 Louisville-Kentucky
0:56:50 Florida State-Florida1:02:35 Duke-Wake Forest
1:08:50 Pitt-BC
1:13:37 Miami-Syracuse
1:20:11 Cal-SMU
1:24:10 NC State-UNC
1:28:00 VT-UVA
1:34:27 Bowling Green
1:35:33 Recap of Locks
College Football Week 14 | Miami Hurricanes Vs Syracuse Orange Preview & Prediction (youtube; podcast; Everything College Football)
College Football Week 14 | Miami Hurricanes Vs Syracuse Orange Preview & Prediction
Mack Brown FIRED by North Carolina Tar Heels + ACC College Football Playoff Representation Talk (youtube; podcast; Locked on ACC)
Can the ACC make a splash in the College Football Playoff? With the surprising firing of Mack Brown from the North Carolina Tar Heels, the landscape of ACC football is shifting. Dive into the latest developments as we explore the potential for teams like the Miami Hurricanes and Clemson Tigers to secure their spots in the playoff.Join Jackson Holzer and Kenton Gibbs as they break down the implications of Mack Brown's departure and analyze standout performances from players like Kevin Jennings and Kyle McCord. Discover how these changes could impact the ACC's representation in the College Football Playoff and what it means for the future of college football.
CFP Ranking Nov 26 (RX; HM)
CFP Ranking Nov 26
The 4th iteration of the College Football Playoffs ranking is out. Here's their Top 25, with ACC teams and projected playoff teams highlighted:
| College Football Playoff Rankings | ||||
| Rk | Team | Conf. | W-L | Chng |
| 1 | Oregon | Big Ten | 11-0 | |
| 2 | Ohio State | Big Ten | 10-1 | |
| 3 | Texas | SEC | 10-1 | |
| 4 | Penn State | Big Ten | 10-1 | |
| 5 | Notre Dame | Indep. | 10-1 | ^1 |
| 6 | Miami | ACC | 10-1 | ^2 |
| 7 | Georgia | SEC | 9-2 | ^3 |
| 8 | Tennessee | SEC | 9-2 | ^3 |
| 9 | SMU | ACC | 10-1 | ^4 |
| 10 | Indiana | Big Ten | 10-1 | v5 |
| 11 | Boise State | Mtn West | 10-1 | ^1 |
| 12 | Clemson | ACC | 9-2 | ^5 |
| 13 | Alabama | SEC | 8-3 | v6 |
| 14 | Ole Miss | SEC | 8-3 | v5 |
| 15 | S Carolina | SEC | 8-3 | ^3 |
| 16 | Arizona St | Big 12 | 9-2 | ^5 |
| 17 | Tulane | American | 9-2 | ^3 |
| 18 | Iowa State | Big 12 | 9-2 | ^4 |
| 19 | BYU | Big 12 | 9-2 | v5 |
| 20 | Texas A&M | SEC | 8-3 | v5 |
| 21 | Missouri | SEC | 8-3 | ^2 |
| 22 | UNLV | Mtn West | 9-2 | ^2 |
| 23 | Illinois | Big Ten | 8-3 | ^2 |
| 24 | Kansas State | Big 12 | 8-3 | NR |
| 25 | Colorado | Big 12 | 8-3 | v9 |
If the playoffs began today, the top four seeds would be Oregon, Texas, Miami and Boise State.
The home teams for the first round would be Ohio State, Penn State, Notre Dame, and Georgia.
The visiting teams would be Tennessee, SMU, Indiana and Arizona State.
The first four out would be Clemson, Alabama, Ole Miss, and S. Carolina.
Clemson is still alive for the ACC's autobid, but they need Miami to lose to Syracuse. The Tigers are also holding onto hope that an at-large spot will open up; for that, they must beat S. Carolina.
As we see from last week, a lot can change, so stay tuned!
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From ESPN's
CFP Anger Index: Who should be most angry in Week 14?
Here are the ACC-related highlights:
1. The Big 12
Imagine the following scenario: Boise State and Tulane both win out, earning conference championships. The Big 12's champion, however, is three-loss Kansas State, three-loss Colorado or even a two-loss Iowa State. All of them are currently ranked behind both Tulane (the presumed AAC champ) and Boise State (the presumed Mountain West champ), which could lead us to this eventuality: Two Group of 5 champs get in, and the Big 12 is shut out completely..2. Everyone with playoff hopes not named Clemson (9-2, No. 12)
Somehow the Tigers... are now our first team out... Clemson might have the single thinnest résumé of any team in the top 25... Clemson's best win by SP+ came against Virginia Tech... Clemson's next best win came against Pitt by four points... the same Pitt currently embroiled in a four-game losing streak. Pitt is the only Power 4 team with a winning record to lose to the Tigers...3. Duke Blue Devils and Syracuse Orange (both 8-3, unranked)
There are 10 schools from Power 4 conferences with 8-3 records after Week 13. Eight of them are ranked. The two who aren't are both in the ACC... Does it really matter? Neither would sniff the playoff anyway. And yet... recognition is meaningful... it matters, too, for the other [ACC] teams making a case for the playoff... When "ranked wins" are a metric... it matters....
2024 Award Finalists (RX; HM)
The finalists for the Davey O'Brien are Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward.
McCord has 3946 yards passing, with 26 TDs. Gabriel has 3066 yards passing, with 22 TDs.
Sigh.
2024 Award Finalists
There were so many ACC award finalists that I just decided to put them all in one post. Original text is from the official ACC press releases, as indicated by the title links below.Miami’s Cam Ward Tabbed a 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year Finalist
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Miami quarterback Cam Ward continues to get recognized for his outstanding season in 2024, as the Hurricanes’ signal-caller has been named one of three finalists for the 2024 Walter Camp Player of the Year award, the Walter Camp Football Foundation announced on Tuesday.
The fourth-oldest college football award in the nation, the Walter Camp Player of the Year award is presented by McDermott Lexus of New Haven.
In his first season at Miami, Ward has thrown for 3,774 yards and 34 touchdowns. He has also recorded 177 rushing yards with four touchdowns while leading the nation’s top-ranked offense to a 10-1 mark on the season. He has already set both the Miami single-season record for touchdown passes and passing yards.
Ward leads all Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) quarterbacks in passing touchdowns (34) and quarterback rating (87.2). He also ranks second nationally in passing yards (3,774), points responsible for (242) and total offense (359.2), and ranks fourth in passing efficiency (171.2).
The Walter Camp Player of the Year is voted on by the 134 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors and will be announced on ESPN’s The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Thursday, December 12.
Miami’s Cam Ward Named a Davey O’Brien Award Finalist
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Miami quarterback Cam Ward has been named one of three finalists for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, announced by the Davey O’Brien Foundation on Tuesday.
In his first season at Miami, Ward has thrown for 3,774 yards and 34 touchdowns. He has also recorded 177 rushing yards with four touchdowns while leading the nation’s top-ranked offense to a 10-1 mark on the season. He has already set both the Miami single-season record for touchdown passes and passing yards.
Ward leads all Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) quarterbacks in passing touchdowns (34) and quarterback rating (87.2). He also ranks second nationally in passing yards (3,774), points responsible for (242) and total offense (359.2), and ranks fourth in passing efficiency (171.2). Ward is bidding to become the third Miami quarterback to ever win the Davey O’Brien Award, following Vinny Testaverde (1986) and Gino Torretta (1992).
The winner will again be chosen based on voting from the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee as well as bonus ballots awarded from the third and final round of the Davey O’Brien Fan Vote.
For the fifth straight year, the Fan Vote takes place on the award’s three social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (X)—and the top vote getter on each platform will receive bonus committee member ballots which will be added to the votes cast by the National Selection Committee.
To participate in the Fan Vote, fans must like the original Davey O’Brien Award (@daveyobrien) post highlighting their quarterback. The winner will be announced live on Thursday, December 12, at The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.
The Davey O’Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award was first issued in 1981. Over its time, the Davey O’Brien Foundation has given away more than $1.3 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life.
The 48th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, February 17, 2025, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
North Carolina’s Hampton Selected as Doak Walker Award Finalist
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton has been named as one of three finalists for the 2024 Doak Walker Award, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced on Tuesday.
The Doak Walker Award, presented by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum, has been awarded to the nation’s top running back since 1990.
Hampton, who was a semifinalist for the award last year, leads the ACC and ranks third nationally with 1,475 rushing yards and an average of 134.1 rushing yards per game this season. Hampton, who has rushed for over 100 yards in nine of the 11 games this season, including eight straight games, the second-most in ACC history, leads the ACC in rushing touchdowns (14) and total touchdowns (15). Hampton became just the third Tar Heel with three 200-rushing yard games in his career following career-highs of 244 rushing yards and 35 carries in a win over Wake Forest on Saturday, November 16. Hampton is the only FBS player to rush for 1450 or more yards and 14 touchdowns in each of the last two seasons.
The winner will be unveiled live on ESPN during The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 12. The formal presentation of the award will take place at the annual banquet scheduled for January 31, 2025.
Clemson’s Carter Tabbed a Finalist for the Butkus Award
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter has been named a finalist for the 40th annual Butkus Award, the Butkus Foundation announced on Monday. The Butkus Award is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels.
One of the leaders on the Clemson defense this season, Carter has registered 61 tackles, including 31 solo stops, 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks over the Tigers’ 11 games this season. Tabbed a Midseason All-American by both The Athletic and Sports Illustrated, Carter has recorded double-digit tackles in three games with 10 stops versus Stanford (September 28) and at Florida State (October 5) and a season-high 12 at Pitt (November 16). He also matched his career-high with 3.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack versus Stanford. Carter led Clemson with 12 tackles, including 2.0 tackles-for-loss, 0.5 sacks and a pass breakup at Pitt, surpassing 30.0 tackles-for-loss for his career. In the home win over The Citadel on November 23, Carter recorded a four-yard rushing touchdown, becoming the first Clemson defensive player to score an offensive touchdown since 2020.
The 51-member Butkus Award selection committee will select top linebackers at the collegiate and high school levels using a 3-2-1 weighted vote with a write-in option. Winners will be named by December 10, with the pro winner selected in early 2025.
A Butkus Award celebration featuring the three winners is planned for Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois, where the Award’s namesake, the late Dick Butkus, established his legendary career. The celebration will be featured in the Butkus Award special airing on the Big Ten Network in February 2025. More information will be at www.butkusfoundation.org.
The 51-person Butkus Award selection committee comprised of coaches, scouts and journalists guides the selection process emphasizing qualities that defined Dick Butkus’ career: toughness, on-field leadership, competitiveness, football character and linebacking skills. The Award is increasingly focused on recognizing linebackers who consistently play off the ball on their feet in a two-point stance in traditional form.
Last season’s collegiate winner was Payton Wilson of NC State (now Pittsburgh Steelers), the high school winner was Sammy Brown of Jefferson, Georgia (now Clemson) and the pro winner was Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens, who also won the pro award in 2022 and the collegiate award in 2017.
Florida State’s Mastromanno Tabbed a Ray Guy Award Finalist
...Other
Rolls from Di Lauro's, hot tomato oil from Pastas and a 'flat' from Columbus. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)(Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
Hot tom, Columbus flats and Utica greens: Syracuse locals share the CNY favorites they bring to Thanksgiving (video) (PS; Miller)
Thanksgiving is all about stuffing: the turkey, your face and your table with traditions that feel like home. So, why not serve up a little taste of Central New York on Thursday?
While I was, ahem, “working” last week (er, sneaking in some last-minute shopping with a notepad somewhere in my pocket), I chatted up some locals who cook for a living and some area newsmakers for ideas. Between bites of inspiration, they shared some of their holiday traditions.
Some of their ideas just might make your turkey jealous.
Cindy and David Hoyne, owner of Kitty Hoynes in downtown Syracuse: “We always get a pie from Navarino Orchard,” Cindy said. “We go there every year, and it’s always so good.”
David is responsible for ordering a tray of Utica Greens from Tuscarora Golf Club. “Peter does a great job with those,” he said.
The restaurant, run by Peter Cappucilli, is open to the public.
Sara Rius, owner of Mamacitas Puerto Rican Kitchen in North Syracuse: “Since I don’t bake ... my passion is cooking ... I would definitely check out Biscotti’s Cafe for all of our homemade baked good, cakes, cookies and pies.”
Ryan McMahon, Onondaga County executive: They’re expecting a big crowd this year, so Ryan and his wife are loading up on desserts. Aunt Missy is always on the hook for her apple pie, so Ryan is bringing a blueberry pie from Harrison Bakery and a sweet potato pie from Sweet Praxis.
He’s also thinking about leftovers for the next day. “I highly suggest you stop by Columbus Bakery for their flatbread for turkey sandwiches the next day,” he said.
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Biden administration signs another multibillion dollar CHIPS deal: Is Micron next? (PS; Coin)
The Biden administration has finalized another multibillion dollar deal to build semiconductor plants in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced today it has signed a deal with Intel Corp. to provide nearly $8 billion in grants, the largest award under the CHIPS and Science Act. Intel plans to build and upgrade its fabrication plants, or fabs, in Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Ohio.
The money comes as Intel is planning to lay off 15,000 employees. The company’s expansions using the CHIPS money are expected to create 10,000 manufacturing jobs, the Biden administration said today in a news release.
That leaves just two of the biggest CHIPS deals to be finalized: Samsung and Micron Technology. Micron has already started construction of a fab at its corporate headquarters in Idaho and plans to break ground a year from now on a massive complex in Central New York.
The Commerce Department has also reached final deals with GlobalFoundries to expand its plant in Saratoga County and with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world’s largest chipmaker, to upgrade and build fabs in Arizona.
Micron’s deal would be final by the end of the year, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told syracuse.com in late September.
The Biden administration is racing to seal the tentative deals before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January. Trump has criticized the CHIPS Act, passed in 2022, and House Speaker Mike Johnson said in Syracuse Nov. 1 that Congress might repeal or alter the law.
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