LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Keyjuan Brown ran for a career-high 163 yards and a pair of long touchdowns on 10 carries to guide No. 23 Louisville to a 41-31 victory over 16th-ranked SMU. The preseason media picks to finish second (SMU) and third (Louisville) in the Atlantic Coast Conference traded the lead eight times before the Cardinals sealed it on Isaac Brown’s 27-yard touchdown with 5:32 remaining. Trailing 17-14 at halftime, Louisville regained the lead in the opening minute of the third quarter on Keyjuan Brown’s 58-yard run. His 53-yarder with 10:02 left put the Cardinals ahead for good. Kendrick Raphael rushed for a career-best 197 yards and tied a personal high with three scores to lead the Mustangs.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — With three seconds left in the game and a Vanderbilt win seemingly out of reach, Miles Capers forced the fumble and Cayden Daniels recovered for the touchdown that gave Vanderbilt a 35-31 victory over N.C. State. N.C. State quarterback CJ Bailey was attempting to run out the clock or take a safety on what could have been the final play of the game, but he fumbled as he was being tackled. After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff there was enough time for one play but the Wolfpack were stopped on their side of the 50-yard line. Jared Curtis went 20-of-34 for 277 yards and three touchdowns, leading Vanderbilt's rally after twice trailing by 17 points.
UNDATED (AP) — Call this one the Music City Miscue. N.C. State quarterback CJ Bailey fumbled in the end zone while trying to take an intentional safety in the final seconds and essentially handed Vanderbilt a 35-31 victory no one saw coming in Nashville. It was as improbable a finish as the Music City Miracle, the famous last-second kickoff return in January 2000 that gave the NFL’s Tennessee Titans a 22–16 playoff win over the Buffalo Bills. It also was reminiscent of Miami’s debacle against Georgia Tech in October 2023, when the Hurricanes opted against taking a knee and fumbled away a victory.
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Gideon Davidson ran for 105 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown with five minutes remaining as Clemson rallied from a 14-point first-half deficit to beat North Carolina 28-20 at Memorial Stadium in a game that lasted nearly six hours. Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds completed 20 of 29 passes for 215 yards with a touchdown and one interception for Clemson in his first career start. Billy Edwards was 13 of 30 for 135 yards with one touchdown and one interception for UNC. Clemson trailed 17-15 early in the fourth and UNC had a second and goal at the Tigers 7 when lightning was detected in the area and the game delayed 2 1/2 hours.
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Dabo Swinney has faced criticism for Clemson's recent struggles and reluctance to adapt to the NIL and transfer portal era. On Saturday, his team showed resilience with a 28-20 win over North Carolina, overcoming a 14-point deficit and a lengthy weather delay. Swinney has been Clemson's head coach for two decades filled with championships and big wins. This victory kept Clemson's hopes alive for an ACC title after finishing seventh last season. Swinney praised his players' "unshakeable belief." The win eased pressure on Swinney, but challenges remain for both Clemson and North Carolina's Bill Belichick.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Hawkins accounted for 313 yards of total offense and five touchdowns and West Virginia beat No. 25 Virginia 38-27 on Saturday night in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at the Carolina Panthers’ Bank of America Stadium. Hawkins, who started five games at Oklahoma the previous two years before transferring to West Virginia in January, has guided the Mountaineers to a 3-0 start for second-year coach Rich Rodriguez. Virginia, which lost its second game in Charlotte in the last 10 months, fell to 2-1. The Cavaliers lost 27-20 to Duke in the 2025 ACC title game in December in the stadium.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns, and Virginia Tech held off Maryland 35-26, snapping the Terrapins’ 20-game nonconference winning streak. It was the first test against a Power Four opponent for the Hokies under new coach James Franklin, and they led from the start. Virginia Tech scored touchdowns on five of its first six possessions, taking a 35-14 advantage into the fourth quarter. Maryland’s Malik Washington threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns, but a pair of missed 2-point conversions in the fourth kept the Terrapins from pulling within one score.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Keelon Russell threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score as No. 10 Alabama overcame a 15-point deficit to beat Florida State 50-36. The Crimson Tide struggled to run the ball early and had few answers for Florida State’s explosive plays. Once Alabama settled in, the Seminoles struggled to slow it down. Russell completed 23 of 30 passes without an interception, and Alabama finished with 615 yards. Lotzeir Brooks caught eight passes for 101 yards.
