ACC Week 6 Recap: Star QBs Shine, Conference Picture Clears

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In a week of historic upsets creating noise around the country, few teams managed to survive the chaos. Through all the drama and adversity, however, true stars are born, persevering through the storm to lead their team when all hope seems lost. Teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference saw several stars rise above the chaos to deliver victory to their team against the odds.

The conference slate for ACC teams is still just getting under way, but the race has already taken several unexpected turns. The Florida State Seminoles (1-5, 1-4 ACC) and North Carolina State Wolfpack (3-3, 0-2) were expected to be a vital part of the story of 2024, but early season collapses have turned preseason expectations upside down. Instead, stars have carried teams like the No. 6 Miami Hurricanes (6-0, 2-0), No. 25 SMU Mustangs (5-1, 2-0) and No. 22 Pitt Panthers (5-0, 1-0) to the forefront of the national conversation. Can these teams continue to rely on their stars to defy expectations? Or will they come crashing down when the pressure becomes too much?

Here were the performances that defined a wild week of action in Week 6.

Ward Works Wonders for Hurricanes

Faced with a 35-10 deficit to the Cal Golden Bears (3-2, 0-2) with under fives minutes to play in the third quarter, it would have been easy for quarterback Cam Ward and Miami to accept defeat. It would have been easy to rely on excuses to explain their poor performance, like the fact that they traveled across the country to play a match that started at nearly 11 p.m. EST. Instead, Ward led the Hurricanes to one of the greatest comebacks of the 2024 season.

In the eventual 39-38 victory, Ward accounted for all three of the Hurricanes' final 3 touchdowns. The star transfer quarterback displayed his unwavering confidence under pressure in helping convert game-deciding fourth downs on three straight drives. In all, Ward went 35-of-53 passing for 437 yards and 2 touchdowns with 1 interception. He also added perhaps his most impressive touchdown of the day on the ground, showing off his quick decision-making and elite ability to read the defense in finding a lane and getting into the end zone to keep the Hurricanes hopes alive.

The second straight nail-biting victory has earned Miami the nickname the "Cardiac Canes." But thanks to the heroics of Ward, the Hurricanes remain undefeated and continue to control their own destiny in a crowded ACC title race.

Jennings Justifies Jubilation for Mustangs

While SMU had shown potential in wins over the Seminoles and the TCU Horned Frogs (3-3, 1-2 Big 12 Conference), many people expected them to falter when facing the explosive Louisville Cardinals (3-2, 1-1). Instead, SMU thrived under the pressure of a ranked conference game on the road, jumping out to an early lead and holding steady when faced with adversity. But how did the conference newcomers pull it off?

The Mustangs began the season with a rotation of quarterbacks, often starting games with incumbent quarterback Preston Stone and switching to sophomore Kevin Jennings if the offense needed a boost. After a disappointing 18-15 loss to No. 14 BYU (5-0, 2-0), head coach Rhett Lashlee knew he needed to make a decision at the quarterback position. During the Mustangs' subsequent bye week, Lashlee officially announced Jennings would be the permanent starting quarterback, giving the young, talented quarterback the vote of confidence he desperately needed to succeed.

Against Florida State and TCU, Jennings was steady, taking care of the football and getting the ball in the hands of the various offensive weapons boasted by the Mustangs offense. Against Louisville, though, Jennings truly shined. He finished the game 21-of-27 passing for 281 yards while adding 10 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown on the ground. His 59-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter helped SMU jump out to a 24-13 halftime lead.

When Louisville charged back and tied the game at 27, Jennings remained poised. He led the Mustangs offense on a 11-play, 89-yard touchdown drive that ultimately gave SMU a 34-27 victory. As a result of his star performance, the Mustangs have asserted themselves as a legitimate contender for the ACC title.

Klubnik Keeps Cool for Tigers

Quarterback Cade Klubnik received tons of hype as a five-star prospect coming out of high school. Throughout a disappointing 2023 season as the starter for the No. 10 Clemson Tigers (4-1, 3-0), though, he failed to deliver on the hype, showing flashes of brilliance but consistently collapsing in the big moments. Many people lost hope that Klubnik was the answer to Clemson's offensive struggles going forward.

After scoring 16 touchdowns in a three-game stretch in 2024, however, Klubnik has completely reinvented the narrative. Through his bold, aggressive play style, Klubnik has shown the college football world that he has the talent to lead a top offense in the nation. He has not yet had much opportunity to show that he can perform under pressure, though.

In the Oct. 5 game against the Seminoles, fans got a small glimpse at Klubnik's leadership and poise in the face of adversity. The Tigers offense was explosive at the start, jumping out to a 17-0 lead and looking like they would pull away with another blowout win. Instead, the Seminoles scored a touchdown and blocked a Clemson field goal on the following drive to seemingly swing the momentum of the game. Clemson finally got the ball back with under five minutes in the half, and Klubnik was not panicked. He led two clinical drives down the field, and the Tigers scored field goals that helped re-establish Clemson's momentum going into halftime.

Klubnik did not have the chance to put up another wild stat-line in the 29-13 victory over Florida State. But the leadership and poise he brings to the Clemson offense is equally as important as his explosive ability. In order for Clemson to reach their ultimate goal of a berth in the College Football Playoff, Klubnik will have to continue to show that he can thrive in the big moments.

Holstein Heightens Hype for Panthers

Quarterback Eli Holstein has burst on to the scene for the Pitt Panthers this season, leading Pitt to their first 5-0 start since 1991 and a spot in the Associated Press Top 25. Many have questioned how long Pitt will be able to remain undefeated, as they have already won against the odds in several game this season. No one, however, can question just how important Holstein is for Pitt to continue to defy what is possible.

Pitt was once again in a battle on the road on this past week, tied 24-24 heading into the fourth quarter against the North Carolina Tar Heels (3-3, 0-2). Holstein was unwavering, capping off an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown rush to give the Panthers a touchdown lead. On the next drive, the young transfer quarterback directed an 18-play, 73-yard drive that took over seven minutes off the clock. The resulting field goal iced the 34-24 victory for the Panthers. Holstein finished the day 25-of-42 passing for 381 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. He added 10 carries for 76 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground.

Pitt faces a difficult schedule ahead with road dates at SMU and Louisville and a home tilt against Clemson. As long as the Panthers continue to trust Holstein to lead their offense, it is impossible to tell just how high the ceiling can be for Pitt in the ACC.

Week 7 will bring even more opportunities for stars to shine and for teams to separate themselves as conference title contenders. The Panthers will hope to defend their undefeated record when they welcome an angry Cal team to Pittsburgh. Louisville will hope to rebound and establish positive momentum against an explosive Virginia Cavaliers (4-1, 2-0) offense. Fans can only hope to witness the same level of drama as Week 6 provided.