Will Graves
FILE - Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. For the first time since the College Football Playoff was introduced in 2014, the ACC will not be part of the four-team elimination format. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
For the ACC, parity comes at a price: no CFP appearance

By Will Graves Nov. 24, 2021 10:38 AM EST

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) prepares to throw a pass that went for a touchdown, as North Carolina defensive lineman Raymond Vohasek (51) rushes during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pickett, No. 25 Pitt escape Howell, UNC 30-23 in OT

By Will Graves Nov. 11, 2021 11:31 PM EST

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) evades Duke defensive tackle DeWayne Carter (90) as he runs upfield during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Pickett, Howell square off as No. 25 Pitt hosts UNC

By Will Graves Nov. 10, 2021 01:04 PM EST

Pittsburgh linebacker John Petrishen (0) celebrates with defensive back A.J. Woods (25) after making an interception against Miami during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Pittsburgh. Miami won 38-34. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
No dominant ACC team equals nailbiters all around

By John Kekis Nov. 03, 2021 01:06 PM EDT

FILE - Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson answers a question during an NCAA college football news conference at the Atlantic Coast Conference media days in Charlotte, N.C., in this Thursday, July 22, 2021, file photo. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond, File)
Wake's Clawson, Pitt's Pickett top AP's midyear ACC honors

By Aaron Beard Oct. 20, 2021 12:35 PM EDT

Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman looks to pass against Louisville during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Pitt's Pickett emerging in ACC's next wave of NFL-ready QBs

By Charles Odum Oct. 06, 2021 01:38 PM EDT

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) is sacked by New Hampshire linebacker Justin Jameson (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Ga Tech faces Pitt looking to build on biggest win in years

By Paul Newberry Sep. 30, 2021 12:17 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 22, 2021, file photo, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney answers a question during an NCAA college football news conference at the Atlantic Coast Conference media days in Charlotte, N.C. Atlantic Coast Conference coaches are counting on high program vaccination rates to minimize risks of illnesses or lineup-depleting contact tracing for the upcoming season. That's meant teams working through the offseason's final weeks toward an 85% threshold of vaccinated players, coaches and staffers. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond, File)
ACC teams hope vaccinations reduce COVID-19 setbacks in '21

By Aaron Beard Sep. 01, 2021 01:52 PM EDT

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book looks for a receiver during the first quarter against Clemson in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in South Bend, Ind. (Matt Cashore/Pool Photo via AP)
Jury still out on Notre Dame's 1-and-done ACC member status

By Hank Kurz Jr. Nov. 11, 2020 12:09 PM EST

FILE - In this Dec. 26, 2019, file photo, Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi runs out with the team before the first half of the Quick Lane Bowl NCAA college football game against Eastern Michigan, in Detroit. Schools across the Atlantic Coast Conference are making a concerted effort to provide more mental health care services to student-athletes. Several schools such as the University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse have mental health professionals embedded in the athletic department that are available to players nearly around the clock. “I hope they come in my office to talk about certain situations and they do and we try to get them as much support as we can on the outside that’s a professional because I’m no pro,” Narduzzi said. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio. File)
Mind Games; ACC schools ramping up mental health services

By Will Graves Nov. 04, 2020 12:10 PM EST

FILE - North Carolina State head coach Dave Doeren watches his team warm up prior to the start of an NCAA college football game against Ball State in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. Doeren said the team had three positive coronavirus tests over 2½ months before students returned. Clusters followed and the school soon paused all athletics activities, including football practices for about a week before postponing this weekend's game at Virginia Tech to Sept. 26. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker, File)
For ACC campuses, replicating pro-sports bubbles a challenge

By Aaron Beard Sep. 09, 2020 05:04 PM EDT

North Carolina defensive lineman Jason Strowbridge (55) tackles Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) during the first half of an NCAA football game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pickett accounts for 3 TDs, Pitt edges UNC 34-27 in OT

By Will Graves Nov. 15, 2019 12:14 AM EST

North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) congratulates teammates after the Tar Heels scored against Virginia in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
Pitt searches for first ACC win over resurgent UNC

By Will Graves Nov. 13, 2019 01:19 PM EST

Fans line up at a concession stand that sells beer during an NCAA college football game between North Carolina State and East Carolina at Carter Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Aug 31, 2019. There's a growing trend at Atlantic Coast Conference football games: alcohol sales to the general public. Now everyone can enjoy their beverage of choice at most ACC stadiums, not just boosters and donors. (Bryan Cereijo/The News & Observer via AP)
Beer, wine, spiked cider becoming popular at ACC stadiums

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 25, 2019 03:03 PM EDT

In this photo taken Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, Jones Angell, right, play by play announcer for the North Carolina Tar Heels, prepares for a session in the production studio at the University of North Carolina's ACC Network broadcast facility in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Atlantic Coast Conference finally has its TV channel airing hundreds of league sporting events each year thanks in no small measure to its schools. Administrations around the ACC played a critical role in getting the channel up and running, spending millions to ensure campus broadcast and production facilities were capable of handling telecasts. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
New ACC Network leaning on campus-built broadcast facilities

By Aaron Beard Aug. 28, 2019 11:46 AM EDT

Pittsburgh running back Qadree Ollison (30) breaks fee from Georgia Tech defensive back Tariq Carpenter on his way to a touchdown run in the first quarter of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Pitt defense shuts down Georgia Tech in 24-19 win

By Will Graves Sep. 15, 2018 10:57 AM EDT