The 2008 Atlantic Coast Conference football season was the 56th season that the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) participated in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college football. As a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) conference, the ACC's constituent members competed within the framework of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
The media widely recognized the 2008 season as one of the most chaotic in the conference's history.Strelow, Paul. "ACC is a BCS mess" , The State. November 21, 2008. Accessed November 28, 2008.Latter, Sam. "ACC faces confusing playoff fight", The (Hanover) Evening Sun. November 21, 2008. Accessed November 28, 2008. Archived 2009-05-21. At season's end, the ACC fielded an NCAA-record of ten bowl eligible teams from its twelve conference members.NCAA-Record 10 ACC Teams Head to Bowls, Atlantic Coast Conference, December 7, 2008, retrieved January 21, 2009. Archived 2009-05-21.
Virginia Tech secured its second consecutive conference championship when it won the 2008 ACC Championship Game against Boston College. Likewise, it was the second consecutive season that Boston College finished as the conference runner-up. Virginia Tech went on to represent the conference in its BCS game, the 2008 Orange Bowl, and, with a victory over Cincinnati, ended the ACC's eight-year BCS game slump.Virginia Tech earns ACC's first BCS victory since' 99, ESPN, January 1, 2009.
Statistical leaders PassingPlayerSchoolCompAttYdsTDsIntRatRussell WilsonN.C. State1502751,955171133.9Cullen HarperClemson2213602,6011714126.2Riley SkinnerWake Forest2323632,347137126.2Thaddeus LewisDuke2243612,171156123.0Chris TurnerMaryland2143742,5161311119.3 RushingPlayerSchoolAttYdsAvgTDsJonathan DwyerGeorgia Tech2001,3957.012Da'Rel ScottMaryland2091,1335.48Darren EvansVirginia Tech2871,2654.411Cedric PeermanVirginia1537745.17Montel HarrisBoston College1799005.05 ReceivingPlayerSchoolRecYDsAvgTDsHakeem NicksNorth Carolina681,22218.012DJ BoldinWake Forest8184810.53Kevin OgletreeVirginia5872312.55Aaron KellyClemson6772210.84Jacoby FordClemson5571012.94 TacklesPlayerSchoolSoloAsstTotalMichael TauiliiliDuke6377140Alex WujciakMaryland5677133Quan SturdivantNorth Carolina8735122Mark HerzlichBoston College8129110Vincent ReyDuke6148109 SacksPlayerSchoolSoloAsstYdsEverette BrownFlorida State13197Clint SintimVirginia9486Michael JohnsonGeorgia Tech8285Jason WorildsVirginia Tech8285B. J. RajiBoston College7148 InterceptionsPlayerSchoolIntYdsTDsTrimane GoddardNorth Carolina71561Paul AndersonBoston College61491Macho HarrisVirginia Tech61422Mark HerzlichBoston College61212Michael HamlinClemson61110
Noteworthy games East Carolina 27, Virginia Tech 22: Virginia Tech is defeated in its season-opener against Conference USA's ECU, which defeats a ranked opponent for a second consecutive game. East Carolina clinched the game after returning a blocked punt for a touchdown, and beat Virginia Tech at its own game of special teams-oriented "Beamer Ball."East Carolina turns back Virginia Tech with punt block for a TD, ESPN, August 30, 2008. Wake Forest 30, Mississippi 28: With three seconds remaining, Wake Forest placekicker Sam Swank makes a field goal to clinch the victory. The win was Wake Forest's 400th in school history.Wake Forest edges Ole Miss with field goal in final seconds, ESPN, September 6, 2008. Middle Tennessee 24, Maryland 14: The Sun Belt Conference's Middle Tennessee records it first-ever victory over an ACC team. It was just their fourth win against a BCS conference opponent, with the previous three all being against Vanderbilt.Craddock, Middle Tennessee surprise Maryland, ESPN, September 6, 2008. Boston College 34, Central Florida 7: In the first quarter, Boston College quarterback Chris Crane was booed off the field by the home crowd and replaced by back-up Dominique Davis. Crane, however, returns on the next series and leads Boston College to a rout over UCF., ESPN, September 20, 2008. Duke 31, Virginia 3: With its first conference win since 2004, Duke ended a 25-game losing streak in ACC play. After a stalemate, 3–3, at halftime, Virginia quarterback Marc Verica threw four interceptions in the second half.Duke capitalizes on five second-half turnovers in rout, ESPN, September 27, 2008. Boston College 38, N.C. State 31: With 23 seconds remaining, Boston College quarterback Chris Crane scored on a 13-yard quarterback keeper for the go-ahead., ESPN, October 4, 2008. Florida State 39, Colorado 21: Bobby Bowden coached Florida State to defeat Colorado in his 500th game as a head coach.Bowden gets Florida State past Colorado in 500th game, ESPN, September 27, 2008. Boston College 38, N.C. State 31: With 22.8 seconds remaining, Boston College quarterback Chris Crane scores the go-ahead on a quarterback keeper.Crane scores touchdown in final minutes as BC edges NC State, ESPN, October 4, 2008. Florida State 41, Miami 39: A total 80 combined points were the most points ever scored in the state rivalry., ESPN, October 4, 2008. Boston College 28, Virginia Tech 23: Boston College, the only ACC team to have beaten Virginia Tech on the road since the Hokies joined the conference, did it a second time.QB Crane struggles, but Boston College beats Va. Tech behind stingy defense, October 11, 2008. Maryland 27, N.C. State 24: With six seconds remaining, Maryland placekicker Obi Egekeze makes a field goal to clinch the victory., ESPN, October 28, 2008. Clemson 27, Boston College 21: Clemson's C. J. Spiller caught six receptions, a school record for a running back. Dabo Swinney recorded his first win as Clemson head coach.RB Spillers sets receiving record as Clemson interim coach Swinney gets first win, ESPN, November 1, 2008. Virginia 24, Georgia Tech 17: After an abysmal 1–3 start to the season, Virginia beat Georgia Tech to temporarily assume first-place in the Coastal Division.Peerman carries load as Virginia continues hot streak, ESPN, October 25, 2008. Georgia Tech 31, Florida State 28: With 45 seconds remaining, Georgia Tech safety Cooper Taylor forced a Florida State fumble in the endzone to prevent an almost certain winning touchdown.Georgia Tech snaps 0-12 skid against Florida State, ESPN, November 1, 2008. Wake Forest 33, Duke 30: Wake Forest's back-up placekicker, Shane Popham, filled in for Sam Swank and kicked a field goal in overtime for the win.Popham hits 28-yard field goal in OT to propel Wake Forest past Duke, ESPN, November 1, 2008. Florida State 41, Clemson 27: Florida State attained bowl eligibility for the 27th consecutive season on Bobby Bowden's 79th birthday.FSU bowl eligible for 27th straight season on Bowden's birthday, ESPN, November 8, 2008. Boston College 17, Notre Dame 0: Boston College recorded the first shut-out on either side of the 18-game series against Notre Dame.Anderson helps Boston College extend streak to six over Irish, ESPN, November 8, 2008. Clemson 31, Duke 7: Clemson receiver Aaron Kelly caught ten passes and surpassed the all-time ACC record for career receptions with 217.Clemson lights up Duke as Kelly sets ACC mark for receptions, ESPN, November 15, 2008. Maryland 17, North Carolina 15: With 1:42 remaining, a Maryland field goal edged 16th-ranked North Carolina for the Terrapins' fourth win over a ranked opponent in 2008. Only Oklahoma and Florida, the two teams in the BCS Championship Game, exceeded the feat. N.C. State 41, North Carolina 10: By routing 21st-ranked North Carolina, N.C. State completes its run of the table on the Tobacco Road with wins over all four other FBS teams in the state., ESPN, November 22, 2008. Boston College 24, Wake Forest 21: Boston College back-up quarterback Dominique Davis replaced an injured Chris Crane in the second quarter. With 1:12 remaining in the game, Davis scored a touchdown and kept Boston College in contention for a spot in the conference title game.BC sneaks past Wake Forest in final minutes to keep ACC title hopes alive, ESPN, November 22, 2008. Virginia Tech 17, Virginia 14: A fourth quarter field goal allowed Virginia Tech to edge Virginia in the Commonwealth Cup. The win ensured the Hokies a berth in the ACC Championship Game.Virginia Tech edges Virginia for spot in ACC championship game, ESPN, November 29, 2008. Clemson 31, South Carolina 14: Clemson secured its tenth win in the last twelve games of the intrastate rivalry., ESPN, November 29, 2008. Georgia Tech 45, Georgia 42: Having trailed by 16 points at halftime, Georgia Tech outrushed Georgia 201 yards to one in the second half. It was Georgia Tech's first win in the Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate rivalry since 1999.Ga. Tech overcomes 16-point halftime deficit, snaps 7-game skid to Georgia, ESPN, November 29, 2008. Boston College 28, Maryland 21: Holder Billy Flutie, nephew of Doug Flutie, executed a pass during a fake field-goal attempt which proved to be the margin of victory in the game that clinched Boston College's trip to the ACC Championship Game.Another Flutie makes key play to carry BC into ACC championship, ESPN, November 29, 2008. N.C. State 38, Miami 28: Quarterback Russell Wilson led N.C State from a 2–6 season start to bowl eligibility with its win over Miami.Wilson key as NC State rebounds from 2-6 start to earn bowl eligibility, ESPN, November 29, 2008. Florida 45, Florida State 15: Florida of the Southeastern Conference extends its winning streak to five in the rivalry., ESPN, November 29, 2008.
Awards
National awards Dick Butkus Award (linebacker): Aaron Curry, Wake Forest Lou Groza Award (placekicker): Graham Gano, Florida State
Conference awards Awards selected by ACSMA (Atlantic Coast sports media association) Coach of the Year: Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech Player of the Year: Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech Offensive Player of the Year: Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech Defensive Player of the Year: Mark Herzlich, Boston College Rookie of the Year: Russell Wilson, N.C. State Jim Tatum Award (outstanding senior): Darryl Richard, Georgia Tech Brian Piccolo Award (overcoming adversity): Robert Quinn, North Carolina Jacobs Blocking Award (outstanding blocker): Eugene Monroe, Virginia
Honors
All-conference teams Postseason awards are selected by the Atlantic Coast sports media association by votes
Offense First teamSecond teamPos.SelectionSchoolVotesPos.SelectionSchoolVotes QB Russell Wilson NC State 106 QB Thaddeus Lewis Duke 28 RB Jonathan Dwyer Georgia Tech 134 RB Darren Evans Virginia Tech 58 RB Da'Rel Scott Maryland 76 RB C. J. Spiller Clemson 50 WR Hakeem Nicks North Carolina 130 WR Eron Riley Duke 57 WR DJ Boldin Wake Forest 76 WR Aaron Kelly Clemson 56 TE John Phillips Virginia 88 TE Ryan Purvis Boston College 45 OT Eugene Monroe Virginia 117 OT Garrett Reynolds North Carolina 42 OT Andrew Gardner Georgia Tech 107 OT Anthony Castonzo Boston College 41 OG Rodney Hudson Florida State 99 OG Sergio Render Virginia Tech 48 OG Cliff Ramsey Boston College 78 OG Cordaro Howard Georgia Tech 45 C Edwin Williams Maryland 62 C Thomas Austin Clemson 48
Defense First teamSecond teamPos.SelectionSchoolVotesPos.SelectionSchoolVotes DEEverette Brown Florida State 131 DE Orion Martin Virginia Tech 61DE Michael Johnson Georgia Tech 99 DE Jason Worilds Virginia Tech 39DT B. J. Raji Boston College 103 DT Ron Brace Boston College 52DT Vance Walker Georgia Tech 62 DT Darryl Richard Georgia Tech 50LB Mark Herzlich Boston College 118 LB Clint Sintim Virginia 79LB Michael Tauiliili Duke 110 LB Alex Wujciak Maryland 43LB Aaron Curry Wake Forest 106 LB Mark Paschal North Carolina 40CB Alphonso Smith Wake Forest 134 CB Ras-I Dowling Virginia 49CB Victor Harris Virginia Tech 125 CB Kendric Burney North Carolina 34S Trimane Goddard North Carolina 105 S Morgan Burnett Georgia Tech 85S Michael Hamlin Clemson 89 S Myron Rolle Florida State 55
Special teams