When the ACC football coaches and media met in Charlotte for the media days in July, the conference put great effort into touting itself as the conference of quarterbacks. It has already been a largely upside-down six weeks of the season, but the ACC has three quarterbacks on this week’s Davey O’Brien list.
The foundation that sponsors the award given to the best quarterback in the country each year also names a Great 8 each week of the season.
The ACC Candidates
Cam Ward led Miami to a come-from-behind win at Cal Saturday night. The Canes outscored the Bears 21-3 in the fourth quarter for the 39-38 win. ACC officiating issues aside, Ward had a huge game. He went 35 of 53 for 437 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in the closing seconds of the game. He also had one rushing touchdown.
Kyle McCord has been one of the top passers in the country throughout most of the season. In the Syracuse win at #25 UNLV, the Ohio State transfer was 40 of 63 throwing for 355 yards and three touchdowns. McCord is fourth in the country in passing yards with 1,814 in five games. The 362 passing yards per game make him second in the country in that category.
The third ACC quarterback this week is Pitt’s Eli Holstein. The redshirt freshman has burst onto the scene in a big way winning the conference’s Rookie of the Week four times already this season. Last weekend he led the Panthers to a 34-24 win over North Carolina. He was 25 of 42 passing for 381 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 10 carries for 76 yards.
The Remaining Group
The Big 10 also had three quarterbacks make this week’s list. Max Brosmer of Minnesota, Will Howard of Ohio State, and Will Rogers of Washington. The other two on this week’s list are Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt and Bryson Daily of Army.
On Tuesday, the foundation committee will name a national Quarterback of the Week that will come from one of these eight.
