ACC Power rankings, Week 11: Clemson embarrasses Louisville, Pitt leads Coastal
Bobby Petrino’s coaching career may have hit a new low this week. Clemson blasted their ACC foe to keep the Cardinals in the conference basement.
Clemson continues to pulverize any ACC team they’re required to play and remain atop our ACC power rankings and No. 2 really isn’t even anywhere close to their level. Beating Louisville at home this week didn’t surprise anyone, but lighting Bobby Petrino’s squad up for 77 sent a message to the rest of the league. The Tigers are only getting stronger as the season marches on.
The large margin of victory for Clemson may also change the course of Louisville’s program. Petrino headed into this game on thin ice and getting blown away on the national state certainly won’t quiet any of his doubters. The rumors about his job status are only going to intensify this week.
Special credit this week also goes to Boston College and Pittsburgh. Each team went on the road and scored big wins inside the ACC. Neither school is going to catch Clemson anytime soon but wins over Virginia Tech and Virginia was big for both programs.
Without further delay, let’s dive a little deeper into the misery at Louisville who comes in at the bottom of this week’s ACC power rankings.
No one has ever accused Petrino of being a defensive guru, but his group was completely inept against Clemson. The Tigers have a solid rushing attack, but giving up 492 yards to Dabo Swinney’s team on the ground is unacceptable.
In fairness, the Cardinals’ offense wasn’t much better. Jawon Pass helped spur the route by throwing two picks on just 24 throws. It continues to look like Louisville needs to find a different option under center. The only question is whether or not the school’s administration will give Petrino the chance to make that change.
It’s pretty hard to win when you give up 461 yards on the ground. We realize the triple option is tough to prepare for, but looking so bad against it could serve to be another nail in Larry Fedora’s coffin. Nathan Elliott didn’t help his coach either. He threw three costly interceptions that really cost North Carolina any chance to pull off the upset. Chalk it up as another missed opportunity for the Tar Heels. At this point, it’s too late to really turn this season around in Chapel Hill.
Wake Forest is going to struggle to win games anytime Sam Hartman turns the ball over three times. His two lost fumbles and one interception really cost the Demon Deacons any chance they had to upset Syracuse on Saturday. Giving up 264 yards rushing didn’t help Wake Forest’s chances either. This defense has let the offense down all season long. Dave Clawson’s team always competes, but this year’s edition of the Demon Deacons is short on talent.