2016 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football | |
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Military Bowl champion | |
Military Bowl, W 34–26 vs. Temple | |
Conference | Atlantic Coast Conference |
Atlantic Division | |
Record | 7–6 (3–5 ACC) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Warren Ruggiero (3rd season) |
Offensive scheme | Slow mesh |
Defensive coordinator | Mike Elko (3rd season) |
Base defense | 4–2–5 |
Captain | Marquel Lee, Wendell Dunn, Josh Harris, Tyler Hayworth, Cam Serigne |
Home stadium | BB&T Field |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Atlantic Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 1 Clemson xy$# | 7 | – | 1 | 14 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 21 Louisville x | 7 | – | 1 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 8 Florida State | 5 | – | 3 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NC State | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wake Forest | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boston College | 2 | – | 6 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Syracuse | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coastal Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 16 Virginia Tech xy | 6 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Carolina | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 20 Miami (FL) | 5 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pittsburgh | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Georgia Tech | 4 | – | 4 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duke | 1 | – | 7 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Virginia | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Clemson 42, Virginia Tech 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2016 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Dave Clawson, who was in his third season at the school, and played its home games at BB&T Field. Wake Forest competed in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference, as they have since the league's inception in 1953. They finished the season 7–6, 3–5 in ACC play to finish in a tie for fourth place in the Atlantic Division. They were invited to the Military Bowl where they defeated Temple.
When Wake Forest lost to Louisville on November 12, Dave Clawson alleged that Louisville had received impermissible information that benefited the Cardinals on the football field. [1] On December 14, 2016, after a month long probe, former Wake Forest staff member and IMG College radio analyst Tommy Elrod was dismissed from the program for leaking confidential and proprietary game preparations on multiple occasions. [2]
US college sports recruiting information for 2016 recruits | ||||||
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Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
Carlos Basham Jr. DE | Roanoke, VA | Northside HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 4.77 | Jul 6, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Essang Bassey CB | Columbus, GA | Columbus HS | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | 174 lb (79 kg) | N/A | Jun 22, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Jeremiah Brown WR | Savannah, GA | Southwest Guilford HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 173 lb (78 kg) | 4.50 | Apr 21, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Arkeem Byrd RB | Savannah, GA | Jenkins HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | N/A | Feb 3, 2016 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Cade Carney TE | Davidson, NC | Davidson Day School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 213 lb (97 kg) | 4.53 | Jun 19, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Brandon Chapman TE | Grove City, OH | Grove City HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 251 lb (114 kg) | 5.02 | May 20, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Thomas Cole TE | Wellsburg, WV | Brooke HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | N/A | Jan 5, 2016 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
DeAndre' Delaney RB | Morristown, TN | Morristown–Hamblen West HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | N/A | Dec 7, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: N/A | ||||||
Greg Dortch WR | Highland Springs, VA | Highland Springs HS | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | 150 lb (68 kg) | 4.60 | Aug 6, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Malik Grate WR | Pendleton, SC | Pendleton HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 160 lb (73 kg) | 4.50 | Apr 29, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Sulaiman Kamara DT | Richmond, VA | Hermitage HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 287 lb (130 kg) | 5.60 | Nov 1, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
LaRonde Liverpool OLB | Virginia Beach, VA | Landstown HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 226 lb (103 kg) | 4.74 | Jun 2, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Dominic Maggio K | Baltimore, MD | Boys Latin HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 155 lb (70 kg) | N/A | Jul 15, 2014 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Luke Masterson S | Naples, FL | Marlboro County HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.50 | Jul 27, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Je'vionte Nash OG | Orange Park, FL | Oakleaf HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 291 lb (132 kg) | 5.31 | Apr 2, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Jamie Newman QB | Graham, NC | Graham HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 237 lb (108 kg) | 4.76 | Apr 20, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Traveon Redd S | Ridgeway, VA | Magna Vista HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 182 lb (83 kg) | 4.64 | Jul 31, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Taleni Suhren OT | Charlotte, NC | Ardrey Kell HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 281 lb (127 kg) | 5.52 | Apr 15, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Emmanuel Walker DE | Santee, SC | Lake Marion HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | 4.63 | Aug 28, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Tyler Watson OT | Alpharetta, GA | Milton HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 244 lb (111 kg) | N/A | Sep 9, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Jacquez Williams WR | Hinesville, GA | Liberty County HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 4.53 | Jun 24, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Zander Zimmer DE | Orlando, FL | Bishop Moore HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 4.91 | Jun 9, 2015 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 64 Rivals: 63 247Sports: 59 ESPN: 50 | ||||||
Sources:
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Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 1 | 7:00 p.m. | Tulane * | ACCN+ | W 7–3 | 24,398 | |
September 10 | 3:30 p.m. | at Duke | ESPNU | W 24–14 | 21,077 | |
September 17 | 6:30 p.m. | Delaware * |
| ACCN+ | W 38–21 | 25,972 |
September 24 | 3:30 p.m. | at Indiana * | BTN | W 33–28 | 45,519 | |
October 1 | 3:30 p.m. | at NC State | ACCRSN | L 16–33 | 58,200 | |
October 8 | 7:00 p.m. | Syracuse |
| ACCRSN | W 28–9 | 25,162 |
October 15 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 14 Florida State | ESPN | L 6–17 | 77,102 | |
October 29 | 3:30 p.m. | Army * |
| ACCRSN | L 13–21 | 27,938 |
November 5 | 3:00 p.m. | Virginia |
| ACCRSN | W 27–20 | 25,334 |
November 12 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 5 Louisville | ESPN2 | L 12–44 | 51,218 | |
November 19 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 5 Clemson |
| ESPN | L 13–35 | 31,152 |
November 26 | 3:00 p.m. | Boston College |
| ACCRSN | L 14–17 | 24,866 |
December 27 | 3:30 p.m. | vs. No. 24 Temple * | ESPN | W 34–26 | 26,656 | |
|
Position | Name | First year at WFU | |
---|---|---|---|
Head coach | Dave Clawson | 2014 | |
Defensive coordinator / Safeties | Mike Elko | 2014 | |
Asst head coach / Receivers | Kevin Higgins | 2014 | |
Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks | Warren Ruggiero | 2014 | |
Special teams coordinator / tight ends | Adam Scheier | 2014 | |
Defensive Line | Dave Cohen | 2014 | |
Running backs | John Hunter | 2014 | |
Cornerbacks | Derrick Jackson | 2012 | |
Offensive Line | Nick Tabacca | 2014 | |
Source: [4] | |||
3rd meeting. 0–2 all time. Last meeting 1995, 35–9 Green Wave in New Orleans. [5]
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green Wave | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Demon Deacons | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at BB&T Field, Winston–Salem, NC
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
97th meeting. 37–57–2 all time. Last meeting 2015, 27–21 Blue Devils in Winston–Salem. [5]
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Demon Deacons | 0 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 24 |
Blue Devils | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, NC
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
2nd meeting. 1–0 all time. Last meeting 1932, 7–0 Demon Deacons in Newark. [5]
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fightin' Blue Hens | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
Demon Deacons | 10 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 38 |
at BB&T Field, Winston-Salem, NC
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
2nd meeting. 0–1 all time. Last meeting 2015, 31–24 Hoosiers in Winston–Salem. [5]
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Demon Deacons | 7 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 33 |
Hoosiers | 7 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
110th meeting. 38–65–6 all time. Last meeting 2015, 35–17 Wolfpack in Winston–Salem. [5]
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Demon Deacons | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 16 |
Wolfpack | 17 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 33 |
at Carter–Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
6th meeting. 1–4 all time. Last meeting 2015, 30–17 Orange in Syracuse. [5]
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Orange | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Demon Deacons | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
at BB&T Field, Winston-Salem, NC
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
35th meeting. 6–27–1 all time. Last meeting 2015, 24–16 Seminoles in Winston–Salem. [5]
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Demon Deacons | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
#14 Seminoles | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, FL
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
16th meeting. 11–4 all time. Last meeting 2015, 17–14 Demon Deacons in West Point. [5]
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black Knights | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
Demon Deacons | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
at BB&T Field, Winston-Salem, NC
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
49th meeting. 14–34 all time. Last meeting 2012, 16–10 Demon Deacons in Charlottesville. [5]
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cavaliers | 6 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 20 |
Demon Deacons | 7 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
at BB&T Field, Winston-Salem, NC
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
4th meeting. 0–3 all time. Last meeting 2015, 20–19 Cardinals in Winston–Salem. [5]
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Demon Deacons | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
#5 Cardinals | 0 | 3 | 7 | 34 | 44 |
at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, KY
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
82nd meeting. 17–63–1 all time. Last meeting 2015, 33–13 Tigers in Clemson. [5]
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#5 Tigers | 21 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 35 |
Demon Deacons | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
at BB&T Field, Winston-Salem, NC
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
24th meeting. 9–12–2 all time. Last meeting 2015, 3–0 Demon Deacons in Chestnut Hill. [5]
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eagles | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
Demon Deacons | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
at BB&T Field, Winston-Salem, NC
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
2nd meeting. 0–1 all time. Last meeting 1930, 36–0 Owls in Philadelphia. [5]
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#23 Owls | 7 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 26 |
Demon Deacons | 14 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 34 |
at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Colloquially called "WakeyLeaks", some of Wake Forest's opponents appear to have had knowledge of Wake Forest's playbook, even plays they had just created and only practiced for one week. Suspicion fell on Tommy Elrod, a color commentator on the broadcast crew; Elrod was found to have made long phone calls to the coaches of rival teams in the days before Wake Forest played them, and he had access to the practice tapes compiled by Wake Forest staff. Elrod had been an assistant coach during the leadership of previous coach Jim Grobe; it is speculated that after Clawson did not hire him on as a coach, instead relegating him to color commentary, he leaked the plays as a form of revenge. Elrod was fired and banned from the campus in December 2016. [7] [2]
The 2012 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Jim Grobe, who was coaching his twelfth season at the school, and played its home games at BB&T Field. Wake Forest competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference, as they have since the league's inception in 1953, and are in the Atlantic Division.
The 2012 Army Black Knights football team represented the United States Military Academy as an independent in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Black Knights were led by fourth-year head coach Rich Ellerson and played their home games at Michie Stadium. They finished the season 2–10.
The 2013 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Jim Grobe, who coached his 13th season at the school, and played its home games at BB&T Field. Wake Forest competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference, as they have since the league's inception in 1953, and were in the Atlantic Division. They finished the season 4–8, 2–6 in ACC play to finish in sixth place in the Atlantic Division.
The 2014 Louisville Cardinals football team represented the University of Louisville in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinals were led by head coach Bobby Petrino, who began his second stint at Louisville after eight years away, seven of which were spent as a head coach at other colleges and in the National Football League (NFL). The team played its 17th season at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky. They were in their first season as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, having replaced departed member Maryland in the Atlantic Division. They finished the season 9–4, 5–3 in ACC play to finish in third place in the Atlantic Division. They were invited to the Belk Bowl, where they lost to Georgia.
The 2014 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Dave Clawson, who was coaching his first season at the school, and played its home games at BB&T Field. Wake Forest competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference as part of the Atlantic Division, as they have since the league's inception in 1953. They finished the season 3–9, 1–7 in ACC play to finish in a tie for sixth place in the Atlantic Division.
The 2014 Army Black Knights football team represented the United States Military Academy as an independent in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Black Knights were led by first-year head coach Jeff Monken and played their home games at Michie Stadium. They finished the season 4–8.
The 2015 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team is coached by Dave Clawson, who is coaching his second season at the school, and plays its home games at BB&T Field. Wake Forest competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference as part of the Atlantic Division, as they have since the league's inception in 1953. They finished the season 3–9, 1–7 in ACC play to finish in sixth place in the Atlantic Division.
The 2016 Army Black Knights football team represented the United States Military Academy as an independent in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Black Knights were led by third-year head coach Jeff Monken and played their home games at Michie Stadium. They finished the season 8–5 and defeated Navy for the first time since 2001 in the Army–Navy Game. They were invited to the Heart of Dallas Bowl where they defeated North Texas in overtime.
The 2017 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by fourth-year head coach Dave Clawson, and played their home games at BB&T Field. Wake Forest competed in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference as they have since the league's inception in 1953. They finished the season 8–5, 4–4 in ACC play to finish in a three-way tie for third place in the Atlantic Division. They were invited to the Belk Bowl, where they defeated Texas A&M.
The 2017 Presbyterian Blue Hose football team represented Presbyterian College in the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Tommy Spangler, who was in his second stint as PC head coach, as he coached the Blue Hose from 2001–06. The Blue Hose played their home games at Bailey Memorial Stadium and as a member of the Big South Conference. They finished the season 4–7, 1–4 in Big South play to finish in fifth place.
The 2018 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by fifth-year head coach Dave Clawson, and played their home games at BB&T Field. Wake Forest competed in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference as they have since the league's inception in 1953. They finished the season 7–6, 3–5 in ACC play to finish in a tie for fifth place in the Atlantic Division. They were invited to the Birmingham Bowl where they defeated Memphis.
The 2018 Towson Tigers football team represented Towson University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by tenth-year head coach Rob Ambrose and played their home games at Johnny Unitas Stadium. They are a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. They finished the season 7–5, 5–3 in CAA play to finish in a three-way tie for third place. They received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs where they lost in the first round to Duquesne.
The 2019 NC State Wolfpack football team represented North Carolina State University during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wolfpack played their home games at Carter–Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina and competed in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They were led by seventh-year head coach Dave Doeren. They finished the season 4–8, 1–7 in ACC play to finish in seventh place in the Atlantic Division.
The 2021 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led by seventh-year head coach Pat Narduzzi and played their home games at Heinz Field. They competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This was Pitt's ninth season as a member of the ACC. The Panthers won the ACC Championship with a record of 11–2 and a 45–21 victory over Wake Forest in the 2021 ACC Championship Game, becoming the first school other than Clemson or Florida State to win the conference championship since Virginia Tech in 2010.
The 2022 Army Black Knights football team represented the United States Military Academy in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Black Knights were led by ninth-year head coach Jeff Monken and played their home games at Michie Stadium in West Point, New York. They competed as an independent. The Black Knights finished the season with a record of 6–6, beating Navy but losing possession of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy after a loss to Air Force. They were not invited to a bowl as only five of their six wins counted for bowl eligibility, with the sixth coming against their second FCS opponent of the year.
The 2022 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney, in his 15th year. The Tigers competed as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina.
The 2022 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football represented Wake Forest University during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Demon Deacons played their home games at Truist Field at Wake Forest in Winston–Salem, North Carolina, and competed as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They were led by head coach Dave Clawson, in his ninth season.
The 2023 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame as an independent during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Fighting Irish were led by Marcus Freeman in his second year as Notre Dame's head coach. They played their home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. The season was highlighted by a blowout home win over the #10 USC Trojans and a win in the Sun Bowl against #19 Oregon State.
The 2023 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Commodores were led by Clark Lea in his third year as their head coach. Following their blowout loss to Ole Miss, the Commodores became ineligible for a bowl selection for the 5th consecutive season. This was the last year of the Eastern and Western divisions of the SEC, as Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC in 2024.
The 2023 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represented Wake Forest University as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Demon Deacons were led by Dave Clawson in his tenth year as head coach. They played their home games at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.