ACC Week 5 Recap: Contenders Stave Off Upset Bids

© Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

After a week of blowout wins and offensive fireworks galore, many of the top teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference faced much stiffer tests in Week 5. From a controversial a game-winning Hail Mary that was overturned to multiple double-digit fourth quarter comebacks, here is all the action you missed from a wild week in the ACC.

Miami, Duke Stay Perfect

After breezing through a relatively light nonconference schedule, fans were wondering how the No. 8 Hurricanes (5-0, 1-0 ACC) would respond when faced with adversity in a tightly-contested game. On Sept. 27 in Hard Rock Stadium, fans got the answer much sooner in the season than they were expecting.

The Virginia Tech Hokies (2-3, 0-1) were electric on offense, riding a hot rushing attack to a 10-point lead over the Hurricanes with just 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter. With their backs against the wall, quarterback Cam Ward and Miami delivered. Ward capped two consecutive drives with touchdown passes to take a 38-34 lead over the Hokies with less than two minutes on the clock. The Hokies were reeling and it seemed like any hope of a comeback was over.

But then, for one fleeting minute, it was not. With no time left on the clock,Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones launched a Hail Mary from the Miami 40-yard line. The ball miraculously came down in the hands of wide receiver Da'Quan Felton among a host of Miami defenders and seemingly gave Virginia Tech the game-winning touchdown. After a lengthy review, however, the call of a catch was overturned, and Miami somehow emerged victorious.

The controversial call gave Miami head coach Mario Cristobal the first 5-0 start of his career. Cristobal probably would have preferred a much more comfortable victory over a reeling Hokies team that has lost to Vanderbilt (2-2, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) and Rutgers (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten Conference) already this season. But the Hurricanes proved that they have what it takes to pull through in the face of adversity, a lesson that will be valuable as the season progresses.

The Duke Blue Devils (5-0, 1-0) were facing a similar test of adversity against the North Carolina Tar Heels (3-2, 0-1) on Sept. 28. Staring at a 20-0 deficit with under six minutes in the third quarter, though, the Blue Devils offense shifted into fifth gear. Running back Star Thomas led a charge of 3 touchdowns in four drives, and the defense stiffened when it matter most for the Blue Devils to come away with a 21-20 victory.

The miraculous comeback gave the Blue Devils a 5-0 start to the season for the first time since 1994. Duke has faced criticism thus far for their struggles on offense and ugly wins against weak competition. But, despite their flaws, Duke's leaders on both sides of the ball have consistently stepped up and thrived in the face of adversity. As the competition gets stronger, it will be interesting to see if this Blue Devil team can continue their success.

Boston College, NC State Survive Scares

After a promising start to the season, expectations have been high for the Boston College Eagles (4-1, 1-0). Even with the announcement that starting quarterback Thomas Castellanos would be out in Week 5, many fans did not think that the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (3-2, 1-0 Conference USA) would pose a threat to a hot Eagles team. As the Eagles trailed 20-7 entering the fourth quarter, however, fans realized they should have given the Hilltoppers more respect.

Backup quarterback Grayson James was stifled in the first three quarters, giving away two costly turnovers that nearly cost the Eagles the game. The Eagles were desperate for someone to step up and rally the team, and finally, defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku did just that. Ezeiruaku brought life through a ferocious pass rush, sacking quarterback Caden Veltkamp three times and forcing a fumble that shifted the momentum of the game toward the Eagles.

Boston College did not lead until the last three minutes of the game, and they were dominated on both sides of the ball for a majority of the game. But, like Miami and Duke, their key players stepped up when it mattered the most. As a result, their promising season can continue for at least one more week.

The North Carolina State Wolfpack (3-2, 0-1), in contrast to Boston College, has disappointed in nearly every game to start a season that began with high expectations. Playing a dangerous Northern Illinois (2-2) and starting backup quarterback CJ Bailey, the Wolfpack faced the reality of a 2-3 start and absolute humiliation in front of a home crowd at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Instead, the defense stepped up with an inspiring performance and gave the Wolfpack a reason to celebrate. Safety DK Kaufman returned a fumble for a touchdown at the start of the second quarter to bring the crowd to life and give NC State a touchdown lead. The fumble was one of just 4 turnovers that highlighted a season-defining performance by the defense.

The Wolfpack may not have College Football Playoff aspirations, but they do have the talent to compete in a crowded ACC and earn a prestigious bowl berth. If the defense continues to step up, they can still achieve great things this season.

Louisville Falls Short

For all the teams that faced adversity and came out on top, there were some that fell just short. The No. 22 Louisville Cardinals (3-1, 1-0) had put together a promising start to the season, and many believed they were more than capable of pulling off the road upset against the No. 14 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-1).

The Cardinals were sloppy, giving away 3 turnovers and getting stopped on fourth-down three times. But thanks to a 14-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 24-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks, Louisville still had a chance to win in the fourth quarter. With under two minutes to play, The Cardinals drove the ball to the Notre Dame side of the field with a chance to tie, but were stopped on fourth-down for the fourth time to give the Fighting Irish a 31-24 win.

While the Cardinals did not preserve their undefeated season, there were still positive takeaways from their performance. Louisville outgained Notre Dame 395-280 in total yardage, and they performed well under pressure after going down 21-7 in the first quarter. If the Cardinals can clean up the miscues, they will continue to be a factor in the ACC title race late in the season.

Looking Ahead: ACC Week 6

The Week 6 schedule is loaded with exciting matchups as the conference slate kicks into full gear. Louisville will hope to rebound against an explosive SMU Mustangs (4-1, 1-0) team coming off a blowout win against Florida State (1-4, 1-3). Boston College will face a Virginia Cavaliers (3-1, 1-0) team hoping to prove itself as a legitimate threat in the ACC. The Pitt Panthers (4-0) will put their undefeated record on the line as they travel to face the Tar Heels. Fans can only hope for the same level of intensity and emotion as the Week 5 slate.