ACC Week 9 slate shapes title race as SMU and Wake Forest chase spots

SMU outscored Cal 42-0 in the second half of a 59-20 win.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 2h1 min read

What happened: Week 9 of the Atlantic Coast Conference schedule features SMU hosting Syracuse following a 59-20 victory over California, while Wake Forest hosts Virginia. Duke travels to face Boston College after a comeback road victory, and Louisville returns from an open week to host Stanford.

Why it matters: SMU and Wake Forest remain positioned to challenge for a spot in the ACC championship game opposite Miami, with their upcoming mid-November meeting carrying significant conference stakes. Syracuse enters having secured an overtime road win against North Carolina, while Boston College sits at 4-3 seeking bowl eligibility under Bill O'Brien.

By the numbers: SMU erased a 20-17 deficit against California by scoring 42 unanswered points in Week 8. Boston College posted 49 points in a 49-27 road win over Georgia Tech, while Syracuse held on for an overtime victory in Chapel Hill.

What to watch: SMU hosts Syracuse and Wake Forest welcomes Virginia on Saturday, setting the stage for a Nov. 14 conference clash in Dallas.

Sources

Yahoo CFB 2026-10-30T15:10:50.415509+00:00

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ACC Week 9 slate shapes title race as SMU and Wake Forest chase spots

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