Biggest Heartbreaks For Each ACC Team Since 1992

Mar. 05, 2017

Is it College Football Season yet?

Anyway, one way to pass the time is doing a weekly bit over something around college football just for the fun of it. Last week, I did the SEC heartbreaks and will continue doing so for the other major conferences. So this week, it is the ACC.

Of course, the ACC has a few teams who haven't been as hot in recent memory thus making it a bit hard so to those schools like Virginia, Wake Forest, and NC State, my sincerest apologies if I get one that may not be as big as a heartbreak.

BOSTON COLLEGE: VS. FLORIDA STATE, NOVEMBER 4, 2007: Hard to think that at one point the Eagles were ranked #2 and fairly late in the college football season. But they were #2 and had a quarterback who was DEALING in Matt Ryan. And it was on a year where the national championship game seemed to be up for grabs for anybody really, including the likes of Kansas and Missouri as well as West Virginia, and South Florida. Boston College was drilling everybody that year, and then they stole a win in Blacksburg against the Hokies, which they got that #2 spot. So a home game against an unranked Florida State team would be easy, right? Well, the pressure of being #2 got to the Eagles and lost by 10 to the Noles. Later on in the ACC Championship, the Hokies gained a measure of revenge on the Eagles, beating them fairly easy. Ryan then goes to the NFL and the Eagles have really not been relevant in college football since.

Maybe if Matty Ice had beaten Florida State, he could have garnered a bit more success early on in his NFL career.

CLEMSON: VS. FLORIDA STATE, SEPTEMBER 20, 2014: Again, we see Florida State hurt their ACC foes and this time it is a foe that has not only threatened FSU's supremacy, but has done so the last few years in Clemson. In 2013, the Tigers got obliterated by a young quarterback in Jameis Winston at Death Valley so the Tigers were looking for revenge in 2014. Winston was suspended for being a giant knucklehead on campus and in came Sean Maguire, who was definitely not Jameis Winston. While Clemson suffered a Week 1 defeat to Georgia, the possibility of winning out and getting a playoff spot still loomed. A win against their rival Noles and pretty much that was it. The Tigers themselves, had a quarterback controversy. Go with Cole Stoudt, the successor to Tajh Boyd or go with a younger gun in DeShaun Watson? The Tigers opted to go with Watson who played pretty well, but nothing like what we would see the next two years and Maguire was mediocre. However, Clemson had a key turnover late when they had the lead and Florida State forced overtime. Clemson got it first, and instead of kicking the FG on 4th & 1 on the 16, Dabo Swinney opted to go for it, and failed. The Noles would score a TD to end it, thus giving a rep for Clemson of a "yeah, they're good but they can't beat the big boys in college football." Of course that changed in 2015 and 2016. But still, at the time, Florida State had been owning Clemson and that game just kept it as a reminder to Clemson fans.

Sean Maguire was never a Jameis Winston, but he was able to beat the Tigers in 2014.

DUKE: VS. TEXAS A&M, CHICK-FIL-A BOWL 2013: Duke hasn't really been considered a major player in college football in the past 25 years. In fact, they are pretty much a Power-5 Whipping Boy alongside the likes of Indiana and Vanderbilt. But from 2013-2015, the Blue Devils had put up some quality teams, including an ACC Championship appearance in 2013 before getting slaughtered by Florida State. Duke found themselves in 2013 in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl against SEC offensive juggernaut Texas A&M and Johnny Manziel. The Aggies, despite some believing 2013 was a letdown (going 8-4 when projected to be in the thick of the college football playoff), still could score. For most of the game, the Blue Devils had been taking it to the Aggies and were up 38-17 at one point. However, Johnny Manziel showed why he was a Heisman winner in 2012 and a candidate in 2013. He led the Aggies back with his running ability and passing ability. The Aggies came back to win the game in a traditional shootout 52-48 including some classic highlights by Manziel, and also some questionable coaching decisions by David Cutcliffe. Had Duke won the game, it may have helped cases for players to go to Duke for football. But it stung for having a big lead and blowing it like they did, as well as having Johnny Football carving up your defense like a Thanksgiving Turkey is never any fun. Duke would get a W in a bowl game in a controversial fashion 2 years later against Indiana, but I know fans of Duke would have preferred the W over Johnny football.

Johnny Manziel gave Duke nightmares to end the 2014 year.

FLORIDA STATE: WIDE RIGHT II-IV & WIDE LEFT, VS MIAMI: If you are a top dog in football like Florida State, close losses ALWAYS sting. An argument could be made for the Noles having their own Kick Six happen to them against Georgia Tech in 2015, but the Seminoles have had the horrors of missing late game-winning field goal after late game-winning field goal to their arch enemies to the South in Miami. Maybe the worst one was the original Wide Right in 1991, but it is just out of the range. So all of these field goal misses really kept the Seminoles out of a national championship, while in reality put Miami in the National Championship consideration. When it comes to field goals late against the Hurricanes, Florida State seems to be snakebit by it. But maybe the curse is reversed as the Noles beat Miami this year on a blocked extra point.

No team has ever been cursed of missing late game-winning FG's against another team like Florida State has with Miami.

GEORGIA TECH: VACATING 2009 ACC CHAMPIONSHIP DUE TO VIOLATIONS: Georgia Tech while they have never been a mainstay at the top of the ACC for the last 10-15 years, has put up some good teams especially under Paul Johnson and has seen a few ACC Championship game appearances (2006, 2009, 2012, 2014), and outside of 2009, have come up short each time. The 2009 game they won in a classic against Clemson and en route to the Orange Bowl against Iowa, who then beat them 24-14. However, the infraction was that Tech had an ineligible player playing and despite the fact the NCAA could not prove the player was ineligible, they still nailed the Jackets because Tech obstructed the investigation. So, Georgia Tech technically hasn't won a conference championship outright since 1990. (1998 they were co-champions with Florida State, but the Noles really had the tiebreak).

Never happened.......

LOUISVILLE: VS. RUTGERS, NOVEMBER 6, 2006: We probably should have seen 2007 where the college football world went upside down and had some odd programs get to #2. Louisville was technically #3 at the time, but was sitting in great position if they would run the table to face off with the Michigan/Ohio State winner for the National Championship. Instead, Rutgers, a team that was starting to climb up in the football world (yes, Rutgers was actually a quality football team) and had a stud running back in Ray Rice. The Scarlet Knights pulled off a huge upset and really got their program rolling thanks to Rice and Schiano. Louisville has been a solid program throughout that point, but until the 2016 season when Lamar Jackson took over at QB, this was the closest Louisville was to being a national championship threat.

Louisville was in the mix for a national championship game appearance in 2006 until Rutgers brought them down.

MIAMI: 2002 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME VS. OHIO STATE: When is heartbreak also being incredibly mad and irate as well? Look at the Hurricanes in 2002. Miami was looking for a 2nd straight national championship to keep "The U" Dynasty going. They weren't as dominant as they were in 2001, but still college football's best team while Ohio State was "squeaking by" in their wins that year. The Buckeyes in the Fiesta Bowl had a 17-7 lead but Miami stormed back to tie it for overtime at 17. The Hurricanes scored in the first OT and had a 4th down on Ohio State. The Buckeyes failed to convert the 4th down as the referees were signaling incomplete and Miami stormed on the field thinking repeat. Instead Terry Porter threw a VERY LATE flag calling Pass Interference. Ohio State punched it in after that and then scored on the 2nd OT. Miami, after being let down from that, did not recover and lost the game. Hurricane fans were livid as many believed the flag was too late AND even Porter signaled incomplete. It also really ended Miami's dominance in the college football world. And it was a blown call by Terry Porter that did it.

Very questionable pass interference call in overtime pretty much ended the Canes run for a repeat.

NC STATE: VS. OHIO STATE, SEPTEMBER 13, 2003: So we have another team that has been plagued with heartbreak and really not the same program since they played Ohio State. Of course NC State is on a lesser level. Back in the early 2000's, the Wolfpack were under Chuck Amato, Bobby Bowden's right hand man for so long at Florida State. He gets the job at North Carolina State and turns their program around early including a 10 win season in 2002. The Wolfpack had an early tilt with the defending-champion-thanks-to-Terry-Porter Buckeyes in Columbus. Philip Rivers was a top tier college quarterback and while the Wolfpack weren't favored, they would be able to make it a game against the Buckeyes. The game was tough throughout and NC State had Ohio State on the ropes a few times. However, it was all for naught as Ohio State beat NC State 44-38 in double overtime. But while people went "well NC State is a legit threat in the ACC," they never regained that form with Rivers nor the next guys after him. And NC State became that team of "never getting over that hump" at all.

Even with Rivers at QB, NC State's loss to Ohio State showed they have not been a consistent contender in college football.

NORTH CAROLINA: VS. FLORIDA STATE, NOVEMBER 8, 1997: It is hard to think at one point North Carolina was a top 4 program at one time. Of course, it was 20 years ago. But Mack Brown had the Tar Heels rolling in 1997, beating everybody they saw. So the biggest game in their program's history arrived and that was............yep you guessed it, Frank Stallone (sorry, Norm MacDonald SNL moment). Well, FSU, the team who breaks other ACC teams' hearts. Florida State showed they were still the power of the ACC, even at Chapel Hill, beating UNC in double digits. While the game wasn't remembered for many moments, it showed the Tar Heels weren't cut out for supremacy at the college football level yet. What made it worse however, was Brown leaving UNC for Texas and got the Longhorns into a national championship contender while UNC fell into mediocrity of the ACC for a long period of time.

Florida State ended UNC's chances of a national championship in Chapel Hill in 1997, and Mack Brown left for Texas after the season.

PITTSBURGH: MOVING OUT OF, AND DEMOLITION OF PITT STADIUM, 1999: No game really for Pittsburgh has been a true heartbreaker since the Panthers haven't been at the forefront of college football for a while. Yes, they won a couple of Big East titles in this run, but somewhat by default. Maybe a loss vs. Utah in the Fiesta Bowl? Anyway, from what has been said about Pitt, while it was never a classic football stadium, it was HOME for the Pitt faithful and knowing a few friends who either went to Pitt or watched Pitt football, they loved the place. And it was a homefield. And then the Panthers considered knocking it down and rebuilding it to have more of the modern amenities. Nope. Instead, with rebuilding, the Panthers would ultimately share the new Steelers football field, Heinz Field afterward, infuriating the Pitt faithful. While most of them love the Steelers, Heinz Field is the STEELERS home, not the Panthers and it isn't on-campus. So drawing at Heinz Field for a Panthers game has been far from well at all as you see NUMEROUS yellow seats all through the stadium, including when the Panthers play the likes of Clemson, Florida State, etc. But fans of the Pitt Panthers have been hurt over and over by some of the decisions the university has made. And this one takes the taco.

Last game at Pitt Stadium in 1999

SYRACUSE: VS. MIAMI, NOVEMBER 21, 1992: Syracuse, much like a lot of the other ACC schools, have not enjoyed much success in the college football world in the past 25 years. But in the early 90's outside of Florida State, the Orange were Miami's big rival. They put up fights to the Canes, even when Miami was dominating. But the year they could have did damage to the Canes was 1992 and Miami was ranked #1 while Syracuse was a top 10 school at the time. A dogfight between Miami and Syracuse took place at the Carrier Dome, which Miami won 16-10 as Syracuse had plenty of chances to win that game. It would have been the closest chance Syracuse has had to being at the top of near the top of the mountain in 25 years.

Had Syracuse beaten Miami, it may have been Alabama vs. Syracuse for the National Championship in 1992.

VIRGINIA: VS. GEORGIA TECH, OCTOBER 25, 1998: Again, like the other programs in the ACC, Virginia has not seen a lot of GREAT success in the past 25 years, but the Cavaliers had a top 10 program in 1998 at the time facing off against Georgia Tech. George Welsh had led a nice run of football teams but they had a great shot at being an Orange Bowl shot or maybe even higher. The Cavs were up 31-17 at halftime and then up 38-17 in the 3rd and in command before Georgia Tech's offense started clicking with Joe Hamilton. Hamilton found Dez White, who made mincemeat out of Virignia's defense and scored late in the 4th quarter to give Tech a 41-38 lead. Virginia tried to put up a late drive but failed. It was the highest the Cavaliers would have gotten in terms of rankings since that point as the Cavaliers really went to futility after a few more seasons with Welsh gone.

Georgia Tech came down from 38-17 to beat #7 ranked Virginia.

VIRGINIA TECH: VS. JAMES MADISON, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010: I think the only consolation for Virginia Tech fans was that Michigan was the first ranked team to an FCS/I-AA school before the Hokies did 3 years before. But it doesn't help. And what really stings is that the notion of Virginia Tech is not a program to be seriously be considered as a national championship threat. The week before, they were stung in their backyard to non-power 5 contender Boise State in Landover, MD and then James Madison punched them in the face. It gave the Hokies the black eye and really that vibe of "they're never going to be a national championship team." Ultimately, Virginia Tech still won the ACC, but the ACC for a good while was DOWN as Clemson wasn't near their time and Florida State was still up & down. Miami at that point was way down and Georgia Tech was really the big boy, which wasn't saying much. But it really hurt the Hokies from a national perspective.

The loss vs. James Madison really hurt the Hokies program as one not to really be taken seriously as a national contender.

WAKE FOREST: VS. NAVY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2008: Sounds like a funny one, I know. Navy was Navy, running their famed option that Paul Johnson re-established and re-perfected. But Johnson was gone to Georgia Tech by then. And Jim Grobe had garnered a few winning seasons including an ACC title in 2006. So, how did Navy beat Wake Forest in Durham? Mistakes. The Deacons made too many mistakes and it costed them the game when they were ranked #15 in the nation while Navy went unranked. The Deacons ultimately got revenge in the EagleBank Bowl and won by 10, but the damage was done. After the Navy loss, the Deacons went 4-5 until the revenge game in 2008. Since that year, Wake Forest has only made two bowl games AND only 1 winning season (which was this past year). So this game really turned Wake's program for the worse.

May have been a "meh" moment, but it really turned Wake Forest's program for the worse in 2008 against Navy.

NOTRE DAME: VS. BOSTON COLLEGE, NOVEMBER 20, 1993: Since Notre Dame is loosely aligned with the ACC in football, I put them here. Of course, the game that really broke the Irish's hearts was the Boston College game. In 1993 everything seemed to have rolled for the Irish. Rudy just came out in the movies and it created a buzz and when #1 Florida State played #2 Notre Dame the week before, many penned the game as the Game of the Century. Notre Dame won a classic, 31-24 with a great stop near the end zone against the Noles. So with the #1 ranking in their pocket, they went up against an unranked Boston College team. The Eagles jumped on them early taking a big lead (up 21) but then the Irish came back, scoring 22 unanswered points. But Boston College, with Notre Dame, the momentum, and the loud fans screaming, kicked a stake through the Irish's hearts with a FG as time expired. It was the first ever win the Eagles had against Notre Dame in the "Holy War." And it was a huge one. You can make an argument Notre Dame never recovered from that.