2018 ACC Championship Game

Last updated

2018 Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game
Conference Championship
1234Total
Clemson141401442
Pittsburgh370010
DateDecember 1, 2018
Season 2018
Stadium Bank of America Stadium [1]
Location Charlotte, North Carolina
MVP Travis Etienne (RB, Clemson) [2]
Favorite Clemson by 28
Referee Jeff Heaser
Attendance67,784
United States TV coverage
Network ABC/ESPN Radio
Announcers ABC:
Chris Fowler (Play-By-Play)
Kirk Herbstreit (Analyst)
Maria Taylor (Sidelines) [3]
ACC Championship Game
 < 2017   2019 > 
2018 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
Atlantic Division
No. 1 Clemson x$#^  8 0   15 0  
No. 15 Syracuse  6 2   10 3  
NC State  5 3   9 4  
Boston College  4 4   7 5  
Wake Forest  3 5   7 6  
Florida State  3 5   5 7  
Louisville  0 8   2 10  
Coastal Division
Pittsburgh x  6 2   7 7  
Georgia Tech  5 3   7 6  
Miami (FL)  4 4   7 6  
Virginia  4 4   8 5  
Virginia Tech  4 4   6 7  
Duke  3 5   8 5  
North Carolina  1 7   2 9  
Championship: Clemson 42, Pittsburgh 10
  • # College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2018 ACC Championship Game was played on December 1, 2018. It was the 14th annual ACC Championship Game, played to determine the 2018 champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The game was held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Clemson emerged victorious and became the 2018 ACC champions, beating Pitt 42–10.

Contents

History

The 2018 Championship Game was the 14th in the Atlantic Coast Conference's 66-year history. Last season, the ACC Championship Game featured the Clemson Tigers, champions of the Atlantic Division, and the Miami Hurricanes, champions of the Coastal Division. Clemson won the game 38–3 and went on to the 2017 College Football Playoff.

Teams

Clemson

The Clemson Tigers finished the season with a 12–0 undefeated record. This is the Tigers' fourth straight appearance in the championship game. They have won the previous three championship games. During the season, they defeated Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Wake Forest, NC State, Florida State, Louisville, Boston College and Duke in conference play. Their season was also highlighted by 2 wins over SEC teams (Texas A&M and South Carolina). The Tigers come into the game ranked #2 in both the AP and Coaches poll.

Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Panthers finished the season with a 7–5 overall record and a 6–2 record in ACC play. This is Pitt's first appearance in the championship game. During the regular season, they defeated Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Duke, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest in conference play. They lost to North Carolina and Miami (FL) in conference play. The Panthers come into the game unranked in both the AP and Coaches poll.

Clemson vs. Pittsburgh series history

This matchup was the third all-time meeting between the Tigers and Panthers. They last played on November 12, 2016, when Pitt upset No. 2 Clemson at Memorial Stadium, kicking the winning field goal with 6 seconds remaining to defeat Clemson by a final score of 43–42. The win brought Clemson its first (and ultimately, only) loss of the season, as the Tigers went on to win the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Game summary

Scoring summary

Scoring summary
QuarterTime Drive TeamScoring informationScore
Plays Yards TOP ClemsonPittsburgh
114:471750:13Clemson Travis Etienne 75-yard touchdown run, Greg Huegel kick good70
109:29130:05ClemsonTravis Etienne 3-yard touchdown run, Greg Huegel kick good140
101:469624:22Pittsburgh37-yard field goal by Alex Kessman 143
207:566393:08Pittsburgh Qadree Ollison 1-yard touchdown run, Alex Kessman kick good1410
204:577752:59Clemson Tee Higgins 5-yard touchdown reception from Trevor Lawrence, Greg Huegel kick good2110
200:251100:04ClemsonTee Higgins 10-yard touchdown reception from Trevor Lawrence, Greg Huegel kick good2810
414:275691:32ClemsonAdam Choice 1-yard touchdown run, Greg Huegel kick good3510
403:175652:45ClemsonLyn-J Dixon 4-yard touchdown run, Greg Huegel kick good4210
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.4210

Statistics

1234Total
No. 2 Tigers141401442
Panthers370010
StatisticsCLEMPITT
First downs1311
Plays–yards59–41964–200
Rushes–yards35–30148–192
Passing yards1188
Passing: Comp–Att–Int12–24–04–16–1
Time of possession25:1634:44
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
ClemsonPassing Trevor Lawrence 12–24, 118 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing Travis Etienne 12 carries, 156 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Tee Higgins 3 receptions, 36 yards, 2 TDs
PittsburghPassing Kenny Pickett 4–16, 8 yards, 1 INT
RushingDarrin Hall14 carries, 86 yards
Receiving Rafael Araujo-Lopes 2 receptions, 10 yards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantic Coast Conference</span> American collegiate athletics conference

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is a collegiate athletic conference located in the United States. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the ACC's fifteen member universities compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s Division I. ACC football teams compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The ACC sponsors competition in twenty-seven sports with many of its member institutions held in high regard nationally. Current members of the conference are: Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ACC Championship Game</span>

The ACC Championship Game is an annual American college football game held in early December by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) each year to determine its football champion. From its inception in 2005 to 2022, the game pit the champion of the Coastal Division against the champion of the Atlantic Division in a game that follows the conclusion of the regular season. The current champions are the Florida State Seminoles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clemson Tigers football</span> College Football Bowl Subdivision team; member of Atlantic Coast Conference

The Clemson Tigers are the American football team at Clemson University. The Tigers compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In recent years, the Tigers have been ranked among the most elite college football programs in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Atlantic Coast Conference football season</span> Sports season

The 2013 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) football season was an NCAA football season that was played from August 29, 2013, to January 7, 2014. It was the first season of play for former Big East Conference members Pittsburgh and Syracuse. Syracuse played in the Atlantic Division, while Pittsburgh played in the Coastal Division. It was also the last season for Maryland in the ACC as they moved to the Big Ten Conference in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–14 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2013–14 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team represented the University of Pittsburgh during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played its home games at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This was Pittsburgh's inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, having moved from the Big East Conference. Pitt had been in the Big East since 1982. They finished the season 26–10, 11–7 in ACC play to finish in fifth place. They advanced to the semifinals of the ACC tournament where they lost to Virginia. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Colorado in the second round before losing in the third round to Florida.

The 2014 Atlantic Coast Conference football season was the 62nd season of college football play for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). It was played from August 2014 to January 2015. 2014 was first season of play in the ACC for former American Athletic Conference member Louisville, which replaced ACC charter member Maryland after their move to the Big Ten Conference. Although the Notre Dame football program is not a member of the ACC, it has an agreement to play five ACC schools per season in football starting in 2014. This is in return for access to the non-College Football Playoff ACC bowl line-up. The Irish are not eligible for the ACC Championship Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Clemson Tigers football team</span> American college football season

The 2015 Clemson Tigers football team represented Clemson University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Dabo Swinney in his seventh full year and eighth overall since taking over midway through 2008 season. They played their home games at Memorial Stadium, also known as "Death Valley." Clemson competed in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. On December 5, 2015, the Tigers won the 2015 ACC Championship Game by defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels, 45–37, capping their first undefeated regular season since winning the national title in 1981. Ranked No. 1 throughout the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings, Clemson defeated the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners, 37–17, in the 2015 Orange Bowl to advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship. Despite the success of the season, and entering the championship game with an undefeated record (14–0), they lost to the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (13–1) in the national championship, 45–40. Both Clemson and Alabama finished the season 14–1.

The 2015 Atlantic Coast Conference football season was the 63rd season of college football play for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). It was played from September 2015 to January 2016. The Atlantic Coast Conference consisted of 14 members in two divisions. The Atlantic Division consisted of Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina State, Syracuse, and Wake Forest. The Coastal Division consisted of Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Virginia, and Virginia Tech. The division champions, Clemson and North Carolina, met on December 5 in the 2015 ACC Championship Game, in Charlotte, North Carolina at Bank of America Stadium.

The 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference football season was the 65th season of College Football play for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). It was played from August 31, 2017, to January 1, 2018. The Atlantic Coast Conference consisted of 14 members in two divisions. It was part of the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The entire 2017 schedule was released on January 24, 2017. The defending ACC Champions were the Clemson Tigers. The Atlantic Division regular season champions were Clemson, and the Coastal Division regular season champions were Miami. The 2017 ACC Championship Game was played on December 2, 2017, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Clemson defeated Miami by a score of 38–3.

The 2017 ACC Championship Game was played on December 2, 2017. It was the 13th annual ACC Football Conference Championship Game to determine the 2017 champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The game was held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, and featured the Clemson Tigers and the Miami Hurricanes. Clemson won the game, 38-3.

The 2017–18 Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2017, followed by the start of the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. Conference play started in late December 2017 and concluded in March with the 2018 ACC men's basketball tournament at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Virginia Cavaliers won an outright regular season championship, their third in five years under the guidance of Tony Bennett, who also received his third ACC Coach of the Year Award. He also became the only living three-time winner of the Henry Iba Award for national coach of the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 ACC men's basketball tournament</span>

The 2018 ACC men's basketball tournament was the postseason men's basketball tournament for the Atlantic Coast Conference held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York from March 6–10, 2018. It was the 65th annual edition of the tournament, and the second year in a row being held at Barclays Center. The Virginia Cavaliers entered the tournament as the top seed, with a 17–1 conference record under the guidance of Tony Bennett. UVA also began the tournament unanimously ranked number 1 in the country in both major polls.

The 2019 Atlantic Coast Conference football season, part of the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season, is the 67th season of college football play for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). It began on August 29, 2019, and ended on January 13, 2020. The ACC consists of 14 members in two divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 ACC Championship Game</span> College football game

The 2019 ACC Championship Game was a college football game played on December 7, 2019. It was the 15th annual ACC Championship Game, played to determine the 2019 champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference football season. The game was held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Clemson Tigers defeated the Virginia Cavaliers, 62–17.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 ACC Championship Game</span> College football game

The 2021 ACC Championship Game was a college football game played on December 4, 2021, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was the 17th edition of the ACC Championship Game and determined the champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 2021 season. The game began at 8:15 p.m. EST and aired on ABC. The game featured the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, the Atlantic Division champions, and the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Coastal Division champions. Sponsored by restaurant chain Subway, the game was known as the Subway ACC Championship Game.

The 2021 ACC men's soccer tournament will be the 35th edition of the ACC Men's Soccer Tournament. The tournament will decide the Atlantic Coast Conference champion and guaranteed representative into the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament. The final will be played at Sahlen's Stadium in Cary, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Pittsburgh Panthers football team</span> American college football season

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 ACC Championship Game was a college football conference championship game that was played on December 3, 2022, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina to determine the champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for the 2022 season. The game featured the Clemson Tigers, the champion of the Atlantic Division, and the North Carolina Tar Heels, the champion of the Coastal Division. The 18th annual ACC Championship Game, the contest began at 8:00 p.m. EST and aired on ABC. Sponsored by restaurant chain Subway, the game was officially known as the Subway ACC Championship Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament</span> American collegiate event in Durham, North Carolina

The 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament was held May 23–28, 2023 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina. The annual tournament determines the official conference champion of the Division I Atlantic Coast Conference for college baseball. In the championship game, the Clemson Tigers defeated the Miami Hurricanes, 11-5, earning the league's automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Division I baseball tournament. Due to inclement weather, one game, the first semifinal, was hosted at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

References

  1. "ACC football championship back in Charlotte". WCNC.com. WCNC-TV. April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  2. Florio, Katie (December 1, 2018). "Etienne wins ACC Championship Game MVP". theclemsoninsider.com. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  3. Crumpton, Tony (November 26, 2018). "TV announcers for Clemson-Pittsburgh". tigernet.com. Retrieved November 30, 2018.