Carolina didn’t get to play because of COVID-19, but the Tar Heels still moved up a spot in the AP Top 25 released Sunday afternoon.
The ACC continued to capitalize on the absence of Big Ten and Pac-12 teams, though the former has now released a schedule and will have teams eligible for the Top 25 next weekend. The Big Ten’s games start in October. Word over the weekend was the Pac-12 is reconsidering and may have games start this fall as well.
Carolina checked in at No. 11 on Sunday, behind league brethren Clemson at No. 1 and Notre Dame at No. 7. The Tar Heels were canceled from playing because of the coronavirus report within the UNC Charlotte team.
Miami beat Louisville 47-34 on Saturday night and jumped to No. 12, Virginia Tech is No. 20 without having played a game, Pittsburgh is No. 21 and the Cardinals fell to No. 24.
N.C. State opened its season Saturday night with a 45-42 triumph over visiting Wake Forest, dropping the Deacons to 0-2. Duke fell for the second straight week, humbled at home with five turnovers in a 26-6 loss to Boston College.
Elsewhere, Pitt beat Syracuse 21-10, Notre Dame crushed South Florida 52-0, Georgia Tech was no match at home for Central Florida in a 49-21 rout, and Clemson cruised by The Citadel 49-0.
In Raleigh, families of the players attended and N.C. State treated them to a go-ahead 3-yard touchdown run by Ricky Person Jr. with 5:51 to play. Person also faked a run, jumping to throw a touchdown pass in the third quarter. He finished with 99 yards rushing. Zonovan Knight added 97 rushing yards and a touchdown.
“They just kept fighting,” said Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren.
In Wake’s final bid to tie or regain the lead, Daniel Joseph’s third-down sack of Sam Hartman forced fourth-and-21. Hartman was incomplete with 70 seconds left to essentially end it. Joseph is a transfer from Penn State.
State announced during the week redshirt sophomore Devin Leary would start at quarterback but instead went with Bailey Hockman. The explanation was Leary had quarantined for about 20 days and missed practice time. Hockman threw for 191 yards, one touchdown, ran for a touchdown, and completed his first 12 passes.
In Durham, the Blue Devils trailed 7-6 at intermission but made four of their five turnovers inside the Boston College 20-yard-line. A 351-yard afternoon from the offense included 217 by Chase Brice, the Clemson quarterback transfer. He also threw two interceptions.
Duke’s second-half drives ended in a lost fumble at the Duke 12, missed field goal, punt, lost fumble at the Boston College 14, and an interception after reaching the Eagles’ 33.
The Eagles’ Phil Jurkovec threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns. Zay Flowers hauled in five catches for 162 yards and a touchdown. Jurkovec transferred from Notre Dame.
Boston College scored all four times in the red zone.