Andrew Carter of the (Raleigh) News & Observer noted this week on Twitter that Duke and North Carolina have started 3-0 in football in the same season only four times since the ACC came into existence in 1953.
It also happened last year, in 1971 and in 1953.
In other words, it’s not often that football hopes run so high in both Chapel Hill and Durham at this stage of a season. And yet that is where we are as the 2023 campaign unfolds. The Tar Heels hold a No. 17 national ranking in both the Associated Press and AFCA coaches polls. The Blue Devils sit just one rung below them on both ladders.
Both teams have impressive victories against foes from the Palmetto State. Both beat up on Big Ten opponents. Both have had solid quarterback play, stingy defense and a formidable rushing attack.
While it would be no surprise to see Duke and North Carolina atop a statewide basketball poll, the two rivals headline our Best In State Fabulous 14 football rankings for a second week in a row.
Unlike the national polls, we have Duke ranked ahead of UNC — by the nose of a football, giving coach Mike Elko’s squad the top spot based on their impressive triumph over then top-10 Clemson.
We’re now down to six teams in the Old North State with unbeaten records: Wake Forest from the FBS and Lenoir-Rhyne, Mars Hill and Barton from Division II. We had nine undefeated squads going into the weekend but Mars Hill downed Catawba, North Carolina Central lost at UCLA and Guilford fell at Huntingdon (Ala.).
We almost lost two more — the Demon Deacons escaped at Old Dominion and Barton scored late in the fourth quarter to erase a deficit against UVA Wise. Whew!
As we said last week, winning is hard and we’ll continue to reward those schools with unblemished records by giving them the top billing in our Fabulous 14 rankings. The teams in spots 7-14 all hold 2-1 marks – still impressive.
Remember: one of our criteria for the Fabulous 14 is that a team can’t have a losing record and make the list. That means some solid teams who have faced tough early season schedules may be on the outside looking in for a bit (we see you Elon, Gardner-Webb, Fayetteville State).
Also remember: Our Fabulous 14 isn’t a straight measure of how we think teams will fare head-to-head (although that may come into play if those meetings happen). It’s more about how special the season is unfolding and the splash teams are making along the way (i.e. Duke stunning Clemson).
Expect things to be volatile in the Fab 14 for a few more weeks, with lots of movement up and down, until the cream rises to the top for the stretch run of the season.
Until then, here is this week’s Fabulous 14:
14. Guilford Quakers (2-1)
Saturday Result: Lost at Huntingdon (Ala.) 40-12
Next Game: Sept. 30 vs. Randolph-Macon
A bye week will give the Quakers a chance to get ready for conference action, which starts with a bang when 3-0 Randolph-Macon, currently ranked 12th in the AFCA Coaches Poll, visits Sept. 30.
13. Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls (2-1)
Saturday Result: Beat Bluefield State 30-13
Next Game: Sept. 23 at Lincoln (Pa.)
Coach Maurice Flowers’ squad is fourth-best in Division II in total defense, surrendering 166.3 yards per game and only 3.3 yards per play. A win at Lincoln this weekend — against a team that pushed defending CIAA champion Fayetteville to the brink — could signify the Golden Bulls as a legit contender in the Southern Division
12. Catawba Indians (2-1)
Saturday Result: Lost to Mars Hill 35-20
Next Game: Sept. 23 at Tusculum
Quarterback Preston Brown continues to make headlines as the most prolific signal caller in the state (besting even Drake Maye’s numbers). Brown threw three touchdowns in the loss to Mars Hill, giving him 12 on the young season. Can they compete for an upper division finish in the ultra-competitive SAC Piedmont Division? Saturday’s game against a foe that just beat Wingate should provide some indication.
11. Campbell Camels (2-1)
Saturday Result: Beat Monmouth 45-31
Next Game: Sept. 23 vs. Elon
The Camels have recorded 17 touchdowns thus far (No. 1 in North Carolina across all divisions of play) and have averaged 452.7 yards per game (third best in the state and ninth best in FCS). Beat Elon this weekend and suddenly the idea of making the FCS playoffs has to enter into the discussion.
10. NC Central Eagles (2-1)
Saturday Result: Lost at UCLA 59-7
Next Game: Sept. 23 vs. Mississippi Valley State in Indianapolis
Central drops down our list as we make way for the remaining unbeatens but not to worry – the Eagles still have everything in front of them that they hope to achieve this season, starting with another cross-country trip this week for an HBCU showcase. Dating back to last season’s Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Central will have played in two NFL stadiums and the most iconic college venue of all time over a five-game span.
9. Western Carolina Catamounts (2-1)
Saturday Result: Beat Eastern Kentucky 27-24
Next Game: Sept. 23 vs. Charleston Southern
For some reason, Western Carolina can’t get traction with the voters in the AFCA coaches poll. The Catamounts remain unranked despite beating then No. 7/8 Samford and then following that up with a road win against a solid Eastern Kentucky squad. WCU is No. 23 in the Stats Perform poll but is still behind Samford there. We see you Catamounts!
8. Appalachian State Mountaineers (2-1)
Saturday Result: Beat East Carolina 43-28
Next Game: Sept. 23 at Wyoming
The Mountaineers have become must-watch again this September. They packed out Kidd Brewer Stadium to the tune of 40,000-plus fans, then put on a show in beating East Carolina 43-28 (in what should be an annual meeting between the schools, our humble opinion). Running back Nate Noel currently leads the FBS in rushing yards per game (140). The Mountaineers are 17th nationally in scoring, averaging 40.7 ppg.
7. NC State Wolfpack (2-1)
Saturday Result: Beat VMI 45-7
Next Game: Friday, Sept. 22 at Virginia
Expect a lot of chatter this week about quarterback Brennan Armstrong’s return to face his old team in Charlottesville. Armstrong has been hit or miss thus far in the red and white of NC State. He’s completing 63 percent of his throws for 679 yards and three touchdowns, but he has three interceptions. He also has three rushing scores.
“It’s just a game once that whistle blows,” NC State coach Doeren said earlier this week. “Now, when he gets in that stadium for the first time, I’m sure he’s going to have some feelings … He loved that place. He has great friends and memories there, but he’s playing for our team, and he knows that, and he’s going in there to win a football game, and to make it about us.”
6. Barton Bulldogs (3-0)
Saturday Result: Beat UVA Wise 28-24
Next Game: Sept. 23 at Mars Hill
We’ve already written a lot this week about running back Jordan Terrell, who leads all NCAA divisions with 582 rushing yards. Not to be overlooked is the Bulldogs enjoying their first 3-0 start since restarting the program four years ago (following a seven-decade absence). Hats off to coach Chip Hester for doing a solid job in Wilson. We should learn where Barton stacks up in the SAC Piedmont Division following Saturday’s road trip to face our No. 5 team.
5. Mars Hill Lions (2-0)
Saturday Result: Beat Catawba 35-20
Next Game: Sept. 23 vs. Barton
The only North Carolina team out of five in the SAC Mountain Division, the Lions are starting to carve their path back to the conference championship game (where they lost by a nose a year ago). This week’s action at the Hill will feature two of the top running backs in the state, Barton’s Terrell and the Lions’ Jon Gullette, who has 313 rushing yards in two contests.
4. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-0)
Saturday Result: Beat Old Dominion 27-24
Next Game: Sept. 23 vs. Georgia Tech
A win is a win is a win, and the Demon Deacons will take their third one of the season despite appearing on the ropes all afternoon in Norfolk. Wake Forest recorded a school-record 10 sacks en route to rallying from deficits of 17-0 (halftime) and 24-7 (midway through the third quarter). The Deacs under coach Dave Clawson have now started 3-0 for the third year in a row and the sixth time in eight seasons.
3. Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (3-0)
Saturday Result: Beat Erskine 62-0
Next Game: Sept. 23 at Carson-Newman
The Bears recorded the highest score by a North Carolina team thus far, putting up 62 in a shutout win over Erskine. It was a feast in all phases: DeAree Rogers returned TWO punts for touchdowns (giving him three on the season). Percy King carried an interception back 42 yards for a score. Backup quarterback Jalen Ferguson hit Malakei Sumner on a 68-yard touchdown pass. James Ussery blocked a punt that Sumner recovered in the end zone for yet another TD
LR’s defense, ranked second in the nation in total defensive numbers, held Erskine to 56 total yards — minus-20 in rushing.
2. North Carolina Tar Heels (3-0)
Saturday Result: Beat Minnesota 31-13
Next Game: Sept. 23 at Pittsburgh
Hello Nate McCollum, welcome to the show. The transfer from Georgia Tech nearly broke a school record with his 15-catch, 165-yard performance against Minnesota (one reception short of the UNC mark). “He became Josh Downs for us,” UNC coach Mack Brown said, referencing last year’s top receiver. Drake Maye was still Drake Maye, recording a 400-yard passing performance.
1. Duke Blue Devils (3-0)
Saturday Result: Beat Northwestern 38-14
Next Game: Sept. 23 at Connecticut
If we said before the season that quarterback Riley Leonard would only have one touchdown pass after three games, you probably wouldn’t peg the Blue Devils as a 3-0, nationally ranked team. Leonard and the Devils have been getting it done on the ground. Riley had two rushing scores against Northwestern, while teammate Jordan Waters added two more in the route. And yes, Duke is 3-0 and 18th in the national polls.
The ACC put the Sept. 30 Duke-Notre Dame showdown at Wallace Wade Stadium in the 7:30 p.m. TV window — setting the stage for what could be ESPN College Game Day’s first-ever football appearance in Durham. The Devils have to take care of one more item of business first.
Last Week’s Fabulous 14
- 1. Duke
- 2. UNC
- 3. NC Central
- 4. Wake Forest
- 5. Lenoir-Rhyne
- 6. Barton
- 7. Catawba
- 8. Guilford
- 9. Mars Hill
- 10. Western Carolina
- 11. Appalachian State
- 12. Gardner-Webb
- 13. Campbell
- 14. Elizabeth City State
