By Brian Murphy, WRAL

You’ll forgive ACC fans if they get a good laugh out of the starts for both Florida State and Clemson — the two schools that are suing the league to make it easier to exit.

Since the Seminoles filed their lawsuit in December, they are 0-3, including a blowout bowl loss to Georgia (understandable given the number of players sitting out), a season-opening loss to Georgia Tech in Ireland and a home loss to Boston College on Monday night.

Ouch.

The Seminoles won’t have to worry about a playoff snub this year. They have to worry about Memphis on Sept. 14.

Clemson was drubbed by Georgia in a high-profile opener Saturday. And while there is no shame in losing to Georgia, even 34-3 (gulp), Clemson just doesn’t look like its old self.

The Tigers look pedestrian on offense. And they have the record to prove it: 8-7 in their last 15 games against Power 5 competition.

Clemson hosts App State on Saturday (8 p.m., ACC Network).

Sure, there’s still time for coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers to turn it on and make their near-annual visit to the ACC title game. But it appears the days of Clemson being a national title contender might be over.

The struggles of Florida State and Clemson could open the ACC door for Miami, which took care of in-state rival Florida in its opener, and NC State.

Game of the Week: No. 15 Tennessee (1-0) vs. No. 24 NC State (1-0) in Charlotte

No. 4 Texas at No. 9 Michigan (Noon, FOX 50) is going to get all the attention nationally — and it should. Both teams were in the four-team College Football Playoff last season, and Michigan won the title. Both are top contenders to be in the 12-team playoff this season.

But Saturday night’s game in Charlotte also has playoff implications. With Florida State and Clemson struggling, NC State’s path to an ACC Championship Game is clearer than ever. A victory over a top-15 SEC team would do wonders for the Wolfpack’s chances of reaching the 12-team playoff.

It won’t be easy.

“This is one of the most talented, if not the most talented, rosters we’ll face in the regular season for sure,” NC State head coach Dave Doeren said. “There’s value in that. Your players going up against elite guys on their sideline.”

Related: NC State’s Devan Boykin out for the rest of the month

A new look for UNC

North Carolina hasn’t been known as a tough, physical team during Mack Brown’s second stint in Chapel Hill.

But that’s what these Tar Heels are going to have to be.

“We are a team that’s going to run the ball and stop the run,” Brown said Monday.

The Tar Heels (1-0) delivered a gritty 19-17 win on the road at Minnesota — and lost starting quarterback Max Johnson in the process. Those aren’t the types of games UNC has won a lot of in recent years, even with star quarterbacks Sam Howell and Drake Maye.

This UNC team is going to look a lot different, relying on its running game, defense and special teams, which were terrific against Minnesota. It’s a different way to win games than trying to outscore everyone behind the brilliance of Howell and Maye.

Running back Omarion Hampton is the team’s best player. He carried 30 times for 129 yards against Minnesota — and that type of workload isn’t likely to be out of the norm as quarterback Conner Harrell takes over.

The Tar Heels take on Charlotte on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ACC Network).

Related: UNC QB Max Johnson has second procedure on broken leg, will have two years of eligibility remaining

 

Heisman watch: KC Concepcion, NC State

Concepcion, a sophomore, had nine catches for 121 yards and three touchdowns — and appeared to be the best player on the field in NC State’s lackluster win over Western Carolina.

Concepcion looked anything but lackluster. He’s exhilarating, a jolt of electricity every time he touches the ball. NC State added tons of skill players to its offense to compliment Concepcion, but he’s a difference maker.

“We wanted to be a lot harder to zero in on from a personnel standpoint,” Doeren said. “We new we had a special player in KC and to put pieces around him where if the feature of the defense is being heavy in the slot, you’ve got some weapons elsewhere for the quarterback.”

Duke on the road vs. Big Ten team

The Blue Devils are hoping to pull off precisely what the Tar Heels did last week — win a weeknight game vs. a Big Ten team on the road.

Duke visits Northwestern on Friday night (9 p.m., FS1) for its first road game under new head coach Manny Diaz — and a step up in competition from Elon, which Duke handled 26-3 in its season opener.

In-state results, schedule

Thursday, Aug. 29

NC State 38, Western Carolina 21

Wake Forest 45, North Carolina A&T 13

Wofford 21, Gardner-Webb 20

North Carolina 19, Minnesota 17

Friday, Aug. 30

Duke 26, Elon 3

Saturday, Aug. 31

Georgetown 46, Davidson 24

App State 38, East Tennessee State 10

East Carolina 42, Norfolk State 3

Liberty 41, Campbell 21

James Madison 30, Charlotte 7

Sunday, Sept. 1

NC Central 31 Alabama State 24

Friday, Sept. 6

Duke at Northwestern, 9 p.m. (FS1)

Saturday, Aug. 7

Campbell at Western Carolina, 1 p.m.

Charlotte at North Carolina, 3:30 p.m. (ACC Network)

Gardner-Webb at James Madison, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)

East Carolina at Old Dominion, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)

Elon at North Carolina Central, 6 p.m.

Virginia at Wake Forest, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Winston-Salem State at North Carolina A&T, 7 p.m.

Catawba at Davidson, 7 p.m.

Tennessee vs. NC State in Charlotte, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)

App State at Clemson, 8 p.m. (ACC Network)

Source: wralsportsfan.com