PAT NARDUZZI

Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson says the NCAA needs to review its rules on whether quarterbacks should be allowed to “fake slide” after escaping the pocket.

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett and Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman entered the season with modest expectations.

For the first time since it began in 2014, the College Football Playoff won't include a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

It seems parity has arrived in the Atlantic Coast Conference, just look no further than the results on scoreboards.

In addition, Wake Forest was picked as the most surprising team so far, with Pittsburgh as runner-up. They returned all but a handful of starters, creating an experienced and deeper roster that generally avoids self-inflicted damage. Maybe so, but Clawson has made the right moves with a team picked to finish fifth in the seven-team Atlantic Division. MOST SURPRISING PLAYERThe surprise with Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong has been just how much he has elevated his game. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25___Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardapCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson and Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett headline The Associated Press' list of midseason football honorees for the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Atlantic Coast Conference coaches are counting on high program COVID-19 vaccination rates to minimize risks of illnesses or lineup-depleting contact tracing for the upcoming college football season.

He also knows it’s not that easy when working out against Heisman Trophy candidate Sam Howell, and he makes sure to pull aside frustrated defensive teammates to tell them so. Maybe not, but the challenges likely won’t get much easier on game days either considering the wealth of starting experience returning at quarterback throughout the Atlantic Coast Conference. Besides Howell, Miami star D’Eriq King is back for a sixth college season after suffering a serious knee injury in last year’s bowl game. Coach Mack Brown has already indicated this will likely be the quarterback’s final season before pursuing an NFL career. “I’d like to say I don’t think about it, but I see it, I hear about it all the time," Howell said of Heisman Trophy talk.

North Carolina's Sam Howell is a Heisman Trophy candidate and the headliner of the Atlantic Coast Conference's class of experienced returning quarterbacks.

Players who don’t get vaccinated likely face multiple COVID-19 tests weekly, just like last season. “But, you know, the reality of the matter is we’re football coaches and we’re football players,” Riley said. “What it’s really about is being able to save our season, being able to keep our players safe,” he said. He said the Hurricanes, who open Sept. 4 against Alabama, will be above 85% vaccinated once some players get their second shot. “Whatever opinions we have are fine and dandy, but if you want to have a football team with as least disruption as possible, here’s a way to do it," Diaz said.

College football coaches around the country are spending much of the offseason urging their players to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The Ivy League became the first Division I conference this year to cancel all winter sports, including mens and womens basketball. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)The Ivy League became the first Division I conference this year to cancel all winter sports, including men’s and women’s basketball. That's still well below the peak of about 2,200 deaths per day in late April,The Ivy League has tried to be in front of the virus. The Ivy League announcement affects not just basketball, but wrestling, indoor track and field, swimming, fencing and other sports. Also, Conference USA announced Rice at Louisiana Tech scheduled for Saturday had been postponed because of COVID-19 issues with La Tech.

But he also had a recovery plan and intended to be back in time to face Florida State. Nick Patti had two touchdown runs, Pickett added a 10-yard TD run and the Panthers capitalized on short fields to defeat Florida State 41-17 on Saturday night, snapping a four-game losing streak. Pitt’s defensive pressure coupled with the turnovers forced Florida State coach Mike Norvell to go for it on fourth down, with the Seminoles converting just 1 of 3 chances. Florida State had been averaging 197 yards rushing per game but couldn’t get a ground game going against one of the nation’s top-5 rush defenses. Florida State will play at NC State on Saturday.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Miami avoided the post-Clemson letdown and now can set its sight on remaining in the conference championship picture. “We were disappointed and a little bit angry coming off last week,” Miami coach Manny Diaz said. But Miami regained its double-digit advantage on King’s 45-yard touchdown pass to Mallory. “They make you earn every single thing.”The Hurricanes struck first on King’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Cam’Ron Harris midway through the first quarter. King connected with Mallory on a 6-yard score with 6:44 left in the second quarter for a 14-0 lead.