Things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference in Week 8:
Game of the week
No. 16 Duke at No. 4 Florida State. The Seminoles (6-0, 4-0 ACC) are off to their best start since 2015 and look to add another marquee win when they face the Blue Devils (5-1, 2-0), among four league teams in the AP Top 25 this week.
The Seminoles are favored by more than two touchdowns, but Duke’s prospects in a sold-out stadium could improve if QB Riley Leonard returns from a high-ankle sprain. Coach Mike Elko said Leonard remains day-to-day, but teased on his weekly call-in show that “there is a chance we’re able to get him back healthy on Saturday.”
Duke will need all it’s got — it’s 0-21 against Florida State — with the Seminoles leading the ACC in scoring and giving up the second-fewest points in the league. Veteran quarterback Jordan Travis is humming along with receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson.
Best matchup
Clemson at Miami. The Tigers (4-2, 2-2) have won their past two games after falling in OT to Florida State. Clemson has a stout defense (fifth nationally at 261.8 yards allowed per game), and sophomore quarterback Cade Klubnik appears to be growing with each sequence he plays.
The Hurricanes (4-2, 0-2) were in the rankings much of the first month of the season until their stunning loss to Georgia Tech, when kneeling after a snap late in the game might have saved things for the home team. Miami followed that with a 41-31 loss at North Carolina last week.
Neither Clemson nor Miami wants a third ACC defeat midway through the schedule.
Long shot
Virginia will be hard-pressed to get its first ACC victory this season when it heads to No. 10 North Carolina (6-0, 3-0).
The Cavaliers (1-5, 0-2) ended their five-game losing streak with a 27-13 win over FCS opponent William & Mary on Oct. 6. But the Tar Heels are off to their best start since 1997, when coach Mack Brown was in his first stint with them, and rolling behind the 2022 ACC Player of the Year, quarterback Drake Maye.
Maye leads the league in total offense and has 12 touchdown passes and four interceptions. Virginia is next-to-last in scoring defense.
Impact player
Miami receiver Xavier Restrepo has been a factor in the first half of the season. He leads the ACC with almost eight catches a game for 574 yards and four touchdowns The fourth-year junior’s 47 catches this year have surpassed his total of 46 in the previous three seasons.
Inside the numbers
This is first time since 1914 that North Carolina has scored at least 30 points in the first six games of the season. … Clemson tailback Will Shipley leads all active FBS players with 120.4 all-purpose yards per game. … The ACC has five teams among the top 26 nationally in total defense. Clemson is fifth, followed by Duke (16th), Miami (18th), Louisville (22nd) and Pittsburgh (26th). That’s tied with the Big Ten and SEC for most among Power Five leagues. … Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is a win from setting the school record. He has 165 victories since taking over midway through the 2008 season, tied with the late Frank Howard. …No. 21 Louisville, North Carolina State, Syracuse and Virginia Tech have bye weeks.
Saturday
Boston College at Georgia Tech, noon, ACCN
Pittsburgh at Wake Forest, 3:30 p.m., ACCN
Virginia at No. 10 North Carolina, 6:30 p.m., The CW, (WGNT in Hampton Roads)
No. 16 Duke at No. 4 Florida State, 7:30 p.m., ABC (WVEC in Hampton Roads)
Clemson at Miami, 8 p.m., ACCN
