ACC Rooting Guide: Week 4 — who to cheer for around the conference
A week after Miami lost two starters for the season, this guide lays out the ACC games that matter for Hurricanes fans and which outcomes help Miami’s short- and medium-term goals.
Useful takeaways from this story.
Miami’s immediate priority: avoid more injuries and give backups meaningful reps in the upcoming game.
Root for conference opponents that preserve desirable matchups for Miami later in the season — notably Clemson, Louisville, Virginia Tech, and SMU.
# Week 4 recap and what Miami fans should care about
Miami enters Week 4 dealing with two season-ending injuries to Marty Brown and Josh Moore. The team's primary objective for the next game is clear: limit additional injuries while getting backup players and underclassmen meaningful playing time.
Beyond the Canes' own game, this guide walks through ten ACC-related matchups to help Miami fans prioritize who to root for and why each result matters for Miami's schedule and standing.
Matchup of the week: Clemson at Cal (Sept. 25)
Louisville vs Wake Forest (Sept. 26)
Wake Forest has shown it can compete this season. Louisville's high-powered offense is rolling, and Louisville winning helps Miami's path: Miami would prefer Louisville to maintain form and keep contention tight at the top of the ACC.
Virginia Tech at Boston College (Sept. 26)
Virginia Tech traveling to BC is a chance for the Hokies to build an undefeated conference start. Miami benefits if both ACC title contenders remain intact and undefeated heading into marquee matchups later in the season.
Bucknell at Pitt (Sept. 26)
This is a low-risk rooting choice: Pittsburgh should handle Bucknell comfortably. A Pitt win contributes to setting up stronger intra-conference showdowns the following week.
Central Arkansas at Florida State (Sept. 26)
FSU's schedule through October is jagged, with big games and easier ones mixed in. A Central Arkansas win would be an upset and help Miami's positioning, but the guide's pick is to root for the lower-tier opponent in that matchup.
William & Mary at Duke (Sept. 26)
Duke is 3-0 and could use a win before a bye week and a trip to face Georgia Tech. The recommendation here is to root for Duke to keep momentum before their break.
Delaware at Virginia (Sept. 26)
Virginia must avoid an upset at home against Delaware after a disappointing loss to West Virginia. A Virginia win helps the Cavaliers recover and keeps them in play for their next higher-profile matchup in Tallahassee.
Appalachian State at NC State (Sept. 26)
NC State has been inconsistent early in the season. The Wolfpack needs a win to regain confidence after rough losses. Root for NC State to stabilize before tougher conference games.
Missouri State at SMU (Sept. 26)
Other context for Miami fans
- Miami's Week 4 plan centers on player health and development. Expect rotation of backups and underclassmen.
By choosing the winners in these specific matchups—especially Clemson, Louisville, Virginia Tech, and SMU—Miami fans can influence the slate of opponents and create more favorable circumstances for the Hurricanes later in the season.
More context around this story.
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