ACC power rankings: Notre Dame gives Syracuse reality check, Pitt continues to impress

Taking on Notre Dame in Yankee Stadium seemed like a dream come true for Syracuse fans. Unfortunately, reality washed over the fan base like an avalanche once the game kicked off. The Orange were simply no match for Notre Dame. The difference at quarterback between the two sides was particularly striking. The Orange defense had zero answers for Ian Book. Neither Eric Dungey or Tommy DeVito was able to get anything going on the other side of the ball. Dungey went off early due to injury, and DeVito was completely ineffective. 14 for 31 for just 105 yards and two interceptions is enough to get you beat each and every week.

Credit Dave Doeren’s team for bouncing back after a tough loss to Wake Forest. They capitalized on their long week by blowing out Louisville on the road. Ryan Finley, in particular, had a strong game for the Pack. He went 26 for 36 for 316 yards and four touchdowns. He doesn’t have the strongest arm in the world, but his accuracy is going to win him fans at the next level. This was certainly a game that Finley will want scouts to watch.

Notre Dame fans are happy to thank Brandon Wimbush for his service, but this is Ian Book’s offense. He was devastatingly efficient against Syracuse. His final line of 23 of 37 for 292 yards and two touchdowns put this game out of reach pretty early for the Irish. Brian Kelly’s defense was also excellent on the afternoon. They limited the Orange attack to just 115 yards passing and 119 on the ground. They dominated the line of scrimmage from the minute the game kicked off. This game was a physical mismatch at the point of attack and Notre Dame took advantage.

Dabo Swinney’s team didn’t exactly sprint out of the gates against the Blue Devils, but they dominated down the stretch en route to a 35-6 victory. Special credit goes to Swinney’s defense. Their front seven made life miserable for Duke’s offense all day long. They held the Blue Devils offense to just 262 total yards on the night.

Offensively, Clemson spread the ball around in this one. Trevor Lawrence was solid, but not spectacular. He threw for 251 yards and a pair of scores, but he missed some throws. Interestingly, the offense ran the ball 36 times but no single player had more than nine carries. It’s pretty clear Swinney is protecting his team for bigger tests down the line. They did plenty to survive and advance in this one.