Which teams are looking for the panic button?
Virginia Tech – I can’t even put into words what the debacle of losing at Vanderbilt. Virginia Tech was a darkhorse ACC Title game contender by many. Promptly one game into the season they face planted in spectacular fashion. They fell behind 17-0, fought to take the lead back 27-20 late in the 4th quarter only to collapse and lose in OT 34-27. The defensive line that some thought would be a strength was ripped up for 181 rush yards, and let Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia run wild. Suddenly as my podcast partner @AllSportsDACC said, the Hokies ceiling goes from ACC Contendor to 7-5. If the Hokies don’t turn things around rapidly the season couldn’t spiral into disaster. Brent Pry is already looking for answers.
Clemson – There is no shame in losing to Georgia. A lot of programs have done that in the last few years. When you get manhandled in the second half, and your offense looks as inept as ever in a 31-point loss it’s time to hit the panic button. Clemson still has enough talent to be a factor in the ACC, but did that look like a team that could win at FSU? That won’t be upset somewhere else along the line, or wouldn’t get thumped by the ACC’s best-looking team Miami? New year same problems, and we saw last year it led to a 4-4 start before Clemson played better late in the year. Dabo Swinney has to be wondering how he can fix the offensive problems that are now going into year 4.
NC State – OK NC State didn’t lose their opener to FCS Western Carolina. So the Wolfpack doesn’t have to hit the panic button, but they might want to keep it handy. They were trailing in the 4th quarter to FCS Western Carolina and gave up over 6 yards per rush. If NC State WR Kevin Concepcion wasn’t the best player in the stadium, NC State might have lost. Guess who’s next Top 20 Tennessee, and you certainly would have liked to be sharper before that game.
Florida State – This one is easy. If FSU loses to Boston College it is a five-alarm fire after going down to Georgia Tech 24-21 in the opener. I’m not ready to hit the panic button yet. I want to see how the Noles do against BC.
