For the second time in the 2025 season, the Atlantic Coast Conference has started a college football weekend slate with an early contender for the biggest upset of the week.

Carson Beck and the Hurricanes sustained their first loss of the season on Friday, Oct. 17 with a 24-21 defeat by unranked Louisville at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The Hurricanes had their backs against the wall for the entire night, as the Cardinals cashed in both of their first two drives of the night for touchdowns to get out to an early 14-0 lead. Miami would then put together a quick drive of its own to answer back and cut the deficit to 14-7 after Mark Fletcher Jr. punched one in from the 2-yard line.

That’d be about as much success as the Hurricanes’ offense would have on the night, as Miami would not find the back of the end zone again until the fourth quarter off a turnover. Beck threw four interceptions on the night, a career-high for the Georgia transfer, including one at the end of the game that sealed the Cardinals’ win despite Miami being on the edge of field goal range and only trailing by three, 24-21.

So, where will the Hurricanes fall in the latest top 25 rankings following the defeat? Here’s where they may land:

Miami football rankings: Where will Hurricanes drop after Louisville loss?

While the loss is certainly not a ‘season-ending’ one for Miami by any means, especially since it is their first loss of the season, the Hurricanes will still experience a fall in the top-25 rankings come Sunday afternoon.

As for how drastic of fall the Hurricanes will experience in the rankings, that will be answered by Saturday’s slate of games, as there are five top-25 matchups taking place throughout the country, including a top-15 matchup between No. 6 Alabama and No. 11 Tennessee.

This season, losses to unranked teams have been rather sizable and drastic. An example of this is Penn State dropping from No. 6 to No. 22 in the US LBM Coaches Poll following an unranked loss to UCLA, but that did come after a loss to No. 5 Oregon the week prior. A better example for Miami’s circumstances might be Florida State dropping 11 spots after a double-overtime loss to Virginia a few weeks back. But given that it is the first loss of the season, voters may be more lenient towards Miami in their ballots.

With that all said, the odds Miami finds itself still in the top-10 or just on the outside of the top-10 in a No. 11 or No. 12 spot are pretty favorable for the Hurricanes.

Final projection: No. 10

George Springer, one of the Toronto Blue Jays’ most potent offensive weapons, left Game 5 of the American League Championship Series after he was struck on the right knee by a Bryan Woo pitch.

He was diagnosed with a right knee contusion and manager John Schneider said X-rays were negative, and he expects Springer in the Game 6 lineup Oct. 19.  

But Schneider expressed disgust at the T-Mobile Park crowd that booed Springer when he attempted to rise to his feet, and when he walked toward first base in his attempt to stay in the game.

‘It’s really cool to play here. (But) I think the fans that were booing him should take a look in the mirror and understand what kind of player he is and … I’ll stop there,’ Schneider said in an emotional, profanity-laden press conference after the Blue Jays blew a one-run, eighth-inning lead and lost Game 5 6-2 on Eugenio Suárez’s grand slam.

‘Because when a guy gets hit in the knee and is in obvious pain and you have 40,000 people cheering – not the right thing to do.’

Springer, who drove in the Blue Jays’ first run with an RBI double in the fifth inning, doubled over in pain immediately after Woo’s 95.6 mph sinker struck him in the knee. 

He tried walking to first but could not do so without a severe limp; Joey Loperfido replaced Springer as a pinch runner and assumed his leadoff spot in the lineup at designated hitter. 

Springer has 10 hits, three homers and a .917 OPS in Toronto’s postseason run, and led them in WAR (4.8) and OPS (.959) during the regular season. 

Springer missed 16 games in August when he was struck in the helmet by a pitch at Baltimore and was placed on the concussion list.

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Trinity Rodman, a forward for the United States Women’s National Team and Washington Spirit, has suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain, according to Spirit coach Adrián González. Her timeline to return is uncertain.

“Right now, we need to focus on day by day, try to help her to recover, to heal as best as possible, and let’s see how she’s progressing every day,” Spirit coach Adrián González said, according to the Associated Press.

Rodman appeared to be in visible pain after attempting a tackle and was unable to put pressure on her right leg during the Spirit’s 4-0 victory over Monterrey in the Concacaf W Champions Cup. She needed assistance leaving the field during the first half of the match. After the game, Rodman was observed on the field wearing a full-length knee brace and using crutches.

Rodman was named to the U.S. Women’s National Team for upcoming matches against Portugal and New Zealand. However, following her diagnosis, U.S. Soccer has not confirmed whether Rodman will have to withdraw from training camp.

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Major League Soccer’s Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player Award are up for grabs on Decision Day — the final day of the 2025 regular season on Saturday, Oct. 18.

Lionel Messi is expected to play with Inter Miami in the MLS regular-season finale on the road against Nashville SC at 6 p.m. ET inside Geodis Park in Nashville. Messi posted on his Instagram story early Saturday, confirming he will play in the match.

Messi leads MLS with 26 goals, followed by LAFC’s Denis Bouanga with 24 and Nashville’s Sam Surridge with 23. Messi also has 18 assists, tied with San Diego’s Andres Dreyer for the league high. Messi’s 44 total goal contributions lead MLS, and are five shy of Carlos Vela’s single-season record of 49 with LAFC in 2019.

Messi is joined by Dreyer, Bouanga, Cincinnati’s Evander and Surridge in the 2025 MVP race.

“I think there’s no doubt about it,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said about Messi’s MVP case this season. “I think that measuring Leo solely by the statistics – which we could do, and he is the best – I think he goes beyond the statistics. It’s what he shows on the court, the importance he has within the team and what he does to entertain everyone who has the chance to see him.”

Stay tuned here as USA TODAY Sports provides live updates of the Nashville vs. Inter Miami match. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff:

Is Messi playing today in Nashville?

Messi’s status as a starter will be confirmed when Inter Miami announces its starting lineup about an hour before kickoff.

When is the Nashville vs. Inter Miami match?

The match begins at 6 p.m. ET (7 p.m. in Argentina) at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee.

How to watch Nashville vs. Inter Miami match on TV, live stream?

The match will be available via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Watch Decision Day on MLS Season Pass

Nashville vs. Inter Miami betting odds, according to BETMGM

Nashville: +135
Draw: +275
Inter Miami: +160
Over/under: 3.5 goals

Nashville vs. Inter Miami prediction

–Nashville 3, Inter Miami 3: This isn’t an attractive result, but it certainly will hit the over. I see Lionel Messi and Sam Surridge teeing off as much as possible in this matchup, to chase down the Golden Boot. This will be a match where penalty shots will certainly be given to both players in the race. – Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter

MLS playoff picture will be settled on Decision Day

Inter Miami could improve to second place in the MLS Eastern Conference with a victory, but would need Cincinnati to falter at home against Montreal to move up in the standings. Cincinnati and Inter Miami are tied with 62 points in the East, but Cincinnati has the tiebreaking edge in the win column (19 vs. 18).

The Philadelphia Union (66 points) have already won the MLS Supporters’ Shield, the regular-season title that Inter Miami won last season.

Inter Miami already has secured home-field advantage for at least the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.

Nashville, which won the U.S. Open Cup on Oct. 1, enters the match in sixth place with 54 points.

MLS Cup playoffs calendar

Messi and Inter Miami already clinched a berth in the MLS Cup playoffs. Here are key playoff dates to know:

Oct. 22: Wild-card matches (single-elimination matches)
Oct. 24-Nov. 9: Round 1 (best-of-three series)
Nov. 22-23: Conference semifinals (single-elimination matches)
Nov. 29-30: Conference finals (single-elimination matches)
Dec. 6: MLS Cup (single winner-take-all match)

The debate over who is the greatest baseball player of all time ended Friday, Oct. 17.

Sorry for those of you still arguing in favor of Babe Ruth, but it’s Shohei Ohtani. Hands down. However, after Ohtani hit three home runs and pitched six scoreless innings in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the NLCS, there is a new debate: Did Ohtani deliver the greatest single-game performance in sports history?

Keep in mind, he homered in three times, belted one out of Dodger Stadium and had 10 strikeouts while giving up only two hits to propel the Dodgers into the World Series. About the only thing Ohtani failed to do was go Roy Hobbs and smash a home run into the stadium lights.

But in ranking the greatest-single game performances, Ohtani does not top the list.

Overcoming adversity

With the Dodgers up 3-0 going into Game 4 of the NLCS, the Brewers presented Ohtani a test of skill. But the situation did not test his ability to come through in the clutch.

There are two other athletes who did that on the biggest of stages.

“The Flu Game’ defined the greatness of Michael Jordan. He arrived for Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals with flu-like symptoms and with the series between Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz tied 2-2. Jordan had 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block.

The Bulls clinched the NBA Finals in Game 6.

At the 2008 U.S. Open, Tiger Woods was suffering from a fractured tibia and torn ACL. A day after forcing a playoff with Rocco Mediate, Woods limped his way to victory in dramatic fashion. With the match tied after the extra 18 holes, Woods won on the first hole of sudden death.

Delivering under pressure

Wayne Gretzky, arguably the greatest player in NHL history, has said his best performance was a five-goal game in a victory over the Soviet Union in the 1987 Canada Cup. We beg to differ.

Our vote for his greatest performance came when he played for the Los Angeles Kings and scored a hat trick in Game 7 of the conference finals in 1993. That lifted the Kings to a 5-4 victory and their first berth to the Stanley Cup Final.

Reggie Jackson didn’t pitch like Ohtani, but few delivered like Mr. October during the playoffs – especially in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series. With the New York Yankees leading the Dodgers three games to two, Jackson hit three home runs on three pitches and led the Yankees to a championship-clinching 8-4 victory over the Dodgers.

The 2008 Wimbledon final, pitting Roger Federer against Rafael Nadal, was the greatest tennis match ever – and produced the greatest performance ever. With Nadal up two seats, Federer stormed back by evening the match at two sets apiece. But Nadal rebounded and won the tiebreak 9-7 to end the epic contest after four hours and 48 minutes.

Honorable mention

At the 2017 Super Bowl, Tom Brady played a vital role in leading the New England Patriots back from a 28-3 deficit against the Atlanta Falcons to a 34-28 victory in overtime. But it was running back James White scored the Patriots final two touchdowns

At age 17, soccer legend Pele scored two goals for Brazil in the 1958 World Cup but his hat-trick in a 5-2 victory against France in the semifinals of the same World Cup might have been even greater.

The greatest performance ever

The athlete who turned in the greatest performance ever was unable to explain the feat. That’s because it was a horse.

At the 1973 Belmont States, Secretariat won by an astounding 31 lengths and became a Triple Crown winner in front of a crowd of 69,138.

The 31-length victory remains the largest in Triple Crown history.

Last Sunday, one day after a 53-33 loss to Florida Atlantic dropped it to 2-4 on the season, UAB football fired head coach Trent Dilfer.

It brought Dilfer’s ill-conceived stint leading the Blazers to an unceremonious end with a 9-21 record at a program that had been a consistent bowl participant before he was hired after the 2022 season.

Dilfer’s arrival in Birmingham had brought significant attention to the UAB program, with a former Super Bowl champion quarterback making the jump directly from the Tennessee high school ranks to the FBS.

Even with Dilfer gone, there will still be a notable name leading the Blazers.

Shortly after Dilfer’s firing, UAB named offensive coordinator Alex Mortensen its interim head coach. If Mortensen’s name looks familiar, it’s because it is. Mortensen is the son of the late Chris Mortensen, the longtime ESPN NFL reporter.

Heading into the Blazers’ game against No. 20 Memphis on Saturday, Oct. 18, here’s a closer look at Mortensen:

Alex Mortensen UAB

Mortensen grew up in a football family, with his father, Chris, being a staple of ESPN’s NFL coverage for more than 30 years before his death in March 2024, more than eight years after he was initially diagnosed with stage IV throat cancer.

Eventually, the younger Mortensen found his way into coaching.

Mortensen was hired by Dilfer as UAB’s offensive coordinator in December 2022. Though Mortensen had little experience as a play-caller before the move — he had mostly recently been an offensive analyst at Alabama — he proved to be quite good at the job. 

In his first season in the position, UAB averaged a program-record 450 yards of total offense per game. Quarterback Jacob Zeno set program single-season records for completions (279) and completion percentage (73.6) while throwing for 3,126 yards, the second-most in a season in Blazers history. Running back Jermaine Brown Jr. also averaged 129.1 total yards per game, the most among American Conference players.

Given that output from his players and his offense, Mortensen was a nominee that year for the Broyles Award, which is handed out annually to the top assistant in college football.

While UAB struggled to a 3-9 mark last season, its offense was still fairly productive, averaging 26.2 points per game, tied for the 79th-most in the 134-team FBS. It was also 58th in total offense, with 392.5 yards per game.

This year, the Blazers are tied for 60th in scoring offense, averaging 29.5 points per game, and are 58th in total offense, at 406.5 yards per game. In four of their six games this season, they’ve scored at least 33 points. The only two times they didn’t clear that mark were against service academy teams. Under Mortensen’s watch, quarterback Jalen Kitna is throwing for 296 yards per game, the ninth-most among FBS players.

Alex Mortensen coaching career

Before arriving at UAB, Mortensen had spent much of his coaching career at Alabama, where he was a graduate assistant from 2014-16 and an offensive analyst from 2017-22. 

During his time in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide won three national championships. He primarily worked with quarterbacks, a group that included future NFL starters Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones and Bryce Young.

Here’s a stop-by-stop look at Mortensen’s coaching career:

2025: UAB interim head coach
2023-25: UAB offensive coordinator
2017-22: Alabama offensive analyst
2014-16: Alabama graduate assistant
2013: St. Louis Rams coaching assistant
2012: New Mexico Highlands quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator

Alex Mortensen playing career

Like many coaches, Mortensen played the sport, as well. He was a quarterback at Arkansas in two different stints, from 2004-05 and 2008, with a two-year stay at FCS Samford wedged in between.

He was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2009. In his lone preseason appearance with the team, he threw an interception against the Buffalo Bills in the annual Hall of Fame Game. Less than two days later, he was waived.

Fans tuning in for Texas A&M vs. Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 18, will have to wait a bit longer for the game.

Kickoff for Aggies-Razorbacks in Fayetteville, Arkansas, was delayed to 5:30 p.m. ET due to inclement weather, both schools announced. The original kickoff time was set for 3:30 p.m. ET.

The prediction of thunderstorms and heavy rain is setting back the game by two hours, which could impact both teams’ itinerary for the day. The weather could also affect how the game is played, of course.

Arkansas interim coach Bobby Petrino was the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M in 2023, the final year of former head coach Jimbo Fisher’s tenure. Arkansas (2-4) is looking for its first win since Sept. 6, whereas No. 4 Texas A&M is looking to improve to 7-0 on the year.

Here’s everything to know of the weather for Texas A&M vs. Arkansas on Oct. 18.

Texas A&M vs Arkansas weather update

Texas A&M-Arkansas was delayed by two hours on Oct. 18 due to predicted inclement weather in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The National Weather Service projects some of the storms could be severe, with showers and thunderstorms coming between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m..

‘Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 4 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4 p.m.,’ the National Weather Service writes. ‘Some of the storms could be severe. Temperature falling to around 65 (degrees) by 5 p.m.. South wind around 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.:

The National Weather Service also says there’s a chance of another thunderstorm after 8 p.m. ET, which could possibly impact the game. Showers are also likely.

‘I thought we were going to win a national championship there, we were close,’ Franklin said. ‘That goal hasn’t changed. We’re just going to win a national championship somewhere else now.’

Franklin and Penn State entered the season ranked No. 3 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, but the wheels fell off fast after the Nittany Lions’ nonconference slate. Penn State fell to Oregon in double-overtime at home, before dropping back-to-back games to then-winless UCLA and unranked Northwestern, which led to the school’s decision.

Franklin also notably struggled in big games, with a 4-21 record against top-10 ranked teams.

Franklin made it seem like he’s ready to take on another coaching challenge at a different school, however, he needs to figure a few things out before then.

“To be honest with you, the first thing, is like I need to take a deep breath,’ Franklin said. ‘I need to make sure the people that are around me are in a good place. But after that, I don’t know anything else. I’ve been doing this for 30 years. I don’t have hobbies. I don’t golf. I don’t fish. This has been such a big part of my identity, such a big part of my family. We love it.

‘So I think it was ‘Take a deep breath’ kind of shock, surreal for a moment, and then it’s, ‘Hey, we gotta get back to doing what we do,’ which is help young people achieve their dreams, get a great education, still balance what college football has become, the student athlete experience and big-time business, but there’s a way to do that, and I can’t wait for that next challenge, and we’re going to go win a national championship at the highest level.”

There are already a handful of coaching openings at Power Four schools, like Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, UCLA and Arkansas, with more likely to come as the season progresses.

Franklin’s next step is unclear, but one thing seems quite clear: He’s focused on getting over the hump at a different program when the opportunities arises.

Former Penn State football coach James Franklin joined ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ set Saturday morning to speak publicly for the first time since being fired Oct. 12.

ESPN’s Rece Davis opened the segment highlighting Franklin’s 104-45 record at Penn State and mentioning the Nittany Lions were in the College Football Playoff just last season.

Then Kirk Herbstreit asked Franklin if he thought Penn State’s decision to fire him after a third straight loss was fair.

“Well, fair is not for me to decide, right?’ Franklin answered. ‘That’s for other people to decide. The decision that was made, that was hard for me to comprehend at the time…’

Later in the interview, former Alabama coach Nick Saban took up for Franklin, taking issue with the school’s decision to fire Franklin.

‘You know, you made the statement it’s not like up to you to decide what’s fair or unfair… I’m going to answer it,’ Saban said. ‘It’s unfair as hell for you to go to the Rose Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl, get in the final four, come out being ranked No. 1 this year, an expectation you created but what you accomplished at Penn State, and for those people not to show enough appreciation for that, and gratitude for that and all the hard work you did, I’m saying it’s unfair.’

An all-day SEC tripleheader on ABC includes No. 5 Mississippi at No. 7 Georgia.
Other key games include traditional rivalries like No. 22 Utah at No. 14 BYU and No. 21 USC at No. 15 Notre Dame.
The ACC also has high-stakes contests, with Louisville visiting No. 2 Miami and No. 12 Georgia Tech playing at Duke.

Week 8 is upon us in college football. Well, technically it has been underway for a few days already thanks to midweek made-for-TV contests starting up. But most of the games featuring teams in the Top 25 is still reserved for Saturday, and the upcoming lineup is promising indeed.

In all, there are five pairings of ranked opponents on tap, with an all-day triple header in the SEC responsible for most of it. The day also features a couple of other traditional rivalries, one a battle for state-wide bragging rights and the other an annual intersectional showdown that will hopefully continue beyond next year. There’s even a high-profile Friday night tilt in the ACC to start things off early.

Here’s this week’s viewers’ guide.

No. 5 Mississippi at No. 7 Georgia

Time/TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: The middle game of the SEC trio is the headliner as the week’s lone top-10 matchup. Ole Miss embarks on a two-week road trip that could make or break its league championship hopes. Up first is this date with the Bulldogs, who were perhaps fortunate to escape Auburn’s upset bid last week and must now regroup quickly for this key showdown. Rebels QB Trinidad Chambliss will need to get the offense moving sooner this week, as LB C.J. Allen and the Georgia defense have been quite solid in the second half. Bulldogs QB Gunner Stockton doesn’t have many big-play weapons, but he keeps the chains moving with a 45.6% third-down conversion rate. The swarming Ole Miss defense led by LBs TJ Dottery and Jaden Yates must win its share of possession downs.

Why it could disappoint: Neither team has managed to build comfortable leads, so this isn’t likely to get away from anybody. We can’t promise last-minute suspense, but things should still be tight in the fourth quarter.

No. 11 Tennessee at No. 6 Alabama

Time/TV: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: The third Saturday in October means the Volunteers and Crimson Tide, who have already played in their share of nail-biters, square off in yet another clash of ranked SEC contenders. Tennessee remains something of a mystery, having nearly toppled Georgia but also allowing Mississippi State and Arkansas to stay close. QB Joey Aguilar has been efficient for the most part, but he’ll need to be even more accurate to keep Tide LB Justin Jefferson out of the running lanes. LB Arion Carter and the Tennessee defense can struggle to get off the field at times, which might not bode well against Alabama QB Ty Simpson, who has been stellar since the opening-week setback at Florida State.

Why it could disappoint: Getting the lead hasn’t been a problem for these squads. The issue has been holding on to it, which again indicates nobody is going to pull away. Get ready for another wild ride.

No. 10 LSU at No. 18 Vanderbilt

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ABC.

Why watch: By the end of the day, we’ll know a lot more about where the SEC race stands. The first significant matchup of the ABC three is in Nashville, Tennessee, where the host Commodores and the Bayou Bengals look to avoid a second league setback. Vandy and QB Diego Pavia take the field for the first time since being humbled by Alabama two weeks ago. He could have his hands full again as he challenges LSU’s dynamic LB trio of Harold Perkins and brothers West and Whit Weeks. The Tigers’ offense remains largely punchless, though QB Garrett Nussmeier got help from RB Caden Durham last week against South Carolina. The effort to keep LSU stuck in neutral will be led by Commodores LB Bryan Longwell and DB CJ Heard.

Why it could disappoint: LSU games have been tough watches all season if we’re being honest. The intensity level will certainly be there as well as late-game tension, but don’t expect a ton of offensive fireworks.

No. 22 Utah at No. 14 Brigham Young

Time/TV: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: The ‘Holy War’ is the Big 12’s headline attraction this week, with both teams in the thick of the wide-open conference hunt. Last time out, the Cougars needed a late rally but kept their record unblemished against Arizona, while the Utes took advantage of a short-handed Arizona State squad to regain a foothold in the Top 25. This contest features the Big 12’s two top rushing attacks. BYU QB Bear Bachmeier will take off himself but relies on RB LJ Martin to stay ahead of the sticks. Utes QB Devon Dampier is also a running threat who gets plenty of support from RBs Wayshawn Parker and NaQuari Rogers. Names you’ll likely hear often on the defensive side include Utah LB Johnathan Hall and Cougars DB Faletau Satuala.

Why it could disappoint: We’d be surprised if it does, although both offenses can bog down periodically. Utah was on the short end of a blowout before, but this shouldn’t be a similar mismatch.

No. 21 Southern California at No. 15 Notre Dame

Time/TV: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC.

Why watch: The Fighting Irish have rattled off four wins in a row since their 0-2 start. But this is their first opportunity since those narrow defeats to pick up a true resume helper. That the Trojans come into South Bend, Indiana, following a signature win which could prove to be a mixed blessing, as USC now hopes to add another quality result. USC’s success keeping Michigan’s ground game in check last week could be encouraging for Trojans’ faithful. LB Eric Gentry and Co. now turn their attention to slowing the Fighting Irish tandem of RBs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, though Notre Dame QB C.J. Carr will likely provide better air cover. Trojans QB Jayden Maiava and RB Waymond Jordan will keep Notre Dame LB Drayk Bowen and DB Adon Shuler busy.

Why it could disappoint: A couple of scenarios come to mind. Notre Dame’s superiority in the ground game could make it hard for the Trojans to possess the ball enough to keep pace, or USC will manage some early stops and build a solid cushion. But given the stakes, not to mention the lengthy history between these programs, we expect a competitive contest.

Louisville at No. 2 Miami (Fla.)

Time/TV: Friday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN.

Why watch: The Hurricanes have just one ACC contest under their collective belt but nonetheless have a clear path to the league title game. This date with the Cardinals looms as one of the largest potential obstacles. Louisville’s own championship hopes took a hit with a home loss to Virginia, so the Cards are in must-win mode going forward. Miami has played just once in the last three weeks, so QB Carson Beck and all his top playmakers will be well rested. Louisville DB D’Angelo Hutchinson and LB T.J. Quinn will do their best to minimize long gainers. Cardinals QB Miller Moss hasn’t had quite as many deep completions, but WR Chris Bell is a constant breakaway threat. The protection group must account for Miami DE Rueben Bain at all times.

Why it could disappoint: Miami fans would very much like to see their team break the habit of taking its foot off the gas when protecting a second-half lead. Should the Hurricanes figure that out, there might not be any late drama, but history suggests we’ll have to stick around until the final whistle.

No. 12 Georgia Tech at Duke

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ESPN.

Why watch: Though only the Yellow Jackets have a number before their name, this is a key matchup in the ACC of teams off to 3-0 league starts. Neither is slated to play Miami in the regular season, so the winner here could be on course to meet the Hurricanes in the title game. Things have gone markedly better for the Blue Devils once they stopped putting the ball on the turf. Duke QB Darian Mensah will likely surpass the 2,000-yard mark during the game, but Georgia Tech DB Clayton Powell-Lee will try to make sure those passes don’t wind up in the end zone. Yellow Jackets QB Haynes King has also improved his ball security this season, but he’s sure to get added attention from Duke DB DaShawn Stone.

Why it could disappoint: If the turnover bug bites, things could go off the rails quickly for either team. Again, both have improved in that area, but the possibility exists.