The 2009 ACC football season was an NCAA football season that was played from September 3, 2009, to January 5, 2010. The Atlantic Coast Conference consists of 12 members in two divisions. The Atlantic division consists of Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Maryland, North Carolina State and Wake Forest. The Coastal division consists of Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, Virginia, and Virginia Tech. The division champions met in the 2009 ACC Championship Game, where Georgia Tech defeated Clemson by a score of 39–34. Georgia Tech represented the ACC in the BCS, being invited to the FedEx Orange Bowl where they lost to Iowa. The ACC had a total of seven teams play in a bowl game and finished the bowl season with a record of 3–4.
Previous season Boston College and Florida State tied for the Atlantic division championship. Boston College beat Florida State during the regular season so they represented the Atlantic division in the 2008 ACC Championship Game. A similar situation occurred in the Coastal division where Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech tied. Virginia Tech won the regular season meeting so they represented the Coastal division in the championship game. Virginia Tech would win the ACC championship game 30-12 over Boston College and would represent the ACC in the FedEx Orange Bowl where they would defeat Cincinnati, the champions of the Big East Conference, 20-7.
The ACC would ultimately send 10 teams to bowl games, the most of any conference in 2008. Boston College (9-5) lost to Vanderbilt 16-14 in the Music City Bowl. Florida State (9-4) beat Wisconsin 42-13 in the Champs Sports Bowl. Georgia Tech (9-4) lost to LSU 38-3 in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Maryland (8-5) beat Nevada 42-35 in the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl. North Carolina (8-5) lost to West Virginia 31-30 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Wake Forest (8-5) beat Navy 29-19 in the EagleBank Bowl. Miami (7-6) lost to California 24-17 in the Emerald Bowl. Clemson (7-6) lost to Nebraska 26-21 in the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl. North Carolina State (6-7) lost to Rutgers 29-23 in the PapaJohns.com Bowl. The only two teams not to go to a bowl game were Virginia (5-7) and Duke (4-8).
Preseason
Preseason poll The 2009 ACC preseason poll was announced at the ACC Football Kickoff meetings in Greensboro, North Carolina on July 27. Virginia Tech was voted to win Coastal division and the conference. Florida State was voted to win the Atlantic division. Jonathan Dwyer of Georgia Tech was voted the Preseason ACC Player of the Year.
Atlantic Division poll Florida State – 499 (56) Clemson – 387 (14) North Carolina State – 364 (10) Wake Forest – 295 (7) Maryland – 157 Boston College – 145
Coastal Division poll Virginia Tech – 512 (78) Georgia Tech – 415 (9) North Carolina – 350 Miami – 21 Virginia – 148 Duke – 120
Predicted ACC Championship Game Winner Virginia Tech–69 Florida State–7 Georgia Tech–7 Clemson–2 North Carolina State–2
Preseason All Conference Teams
Offense QB Russell Wilson- NC State, RB Jonathan Dwyer- Georgia Tech, RB C. J. Spiller- Clemson, WR Demaryius Thomas- Georgia Tech, WR Jacoby Ford- Clemson, TE Greg Boone- Virginia Tech, OT Jason Curtis Fox- Miami, OT Anthony Castonzo- Boston College, OG Sergio Render- Virginia Tech, OG Rodney Hudson- Florida State, C Matt Tennant- Boston College, PK Matt Bosher- Miami.
Defense
DE Jason Worilds- Virginia Tech, DE Willie Young- NC State, DT Vince Oghobaase- Duke, DT Marvin Austin- North Carolina, LB Dekoda Watson- Florida State, LB Quan Sturdivant- North Carolina, LB Alex Wujciak- Maryland, CB Ras-I Dowling- Virginia, CB Kendric Burney- North Carolina, S Morgan Burnett- Georgia Tech, S Kam Chancellor- Virginia Tech, P Travis Baltz- Maryland, Specialist: C. J. Spiller- Clemson.
Award watch lists Award School Player Bronko Nagurski Trophy Duke Vince Oghobaase Georgia Tech Morgan Burnett Maryland Alex Wujciak North Carolina Quan Sturdivant North Carolina Deunta Williams NC State Willie Young Virginia Ras-I Dowling Virginia Tech Kam Chancellor Wake Forest Boo Robinson Dave Rimington Trophy Boston College Matt Tennant Duke Bryan Morgan Florida State Ryan McMahon North Carolina Lowell Dyer NC State Ted Larsen Lombardi Award Boston College Anthony Castonzo Boston College Matt Tennant Duke Vince Oghobaase Florida State Rodney Hudson Florida State Dekoda Watson Georgia Tech Derrick Morgan Maryland Alex Wujciak Miami Jason Curtis Fox North Carolina Marvin Austin North Carolina Quan Sturdivant Virginia Tech Greg Boone Virginia Tech Sergio Render Virginia Tech Jason Worilds Wake Forest Boo Robinson Manning Award Duke Thaddeus Lewis North Carolina Landen Edwards NC State Russell Wilson Wake Forest Riley Skinner Maxwell Award Clemson C. J. Spiller Georgia Tech Jonathan Dwyer Maryland Da'Rel Scott NC State Russell Wilson Virginia Tech Darren Evans Virginia Tech Tyrod Taylor Lou Groza Award Duke Nick Maggio Miami Matt Bosher NC State Josh Czajkowski Outland Trophy Boston College Matt Tennant Duke Vince Oghobaase Virginia Tech Sergio Render Wake Forest Boo Robinson Fred Biletnikoff Award Clemson Jacoby Ford Walter Camp Award Clemson C. J. Spiller Georgia Tech Jonathan Dwyer Jim Thorpe Award Clemson Crezdon Butler Clemson Chris Chancellor Georgia Tech Morgan Burnett North Carolina Kendric Burey North Carolina Deunta Williams Virginia Ras-I Dowling] Virginia Tech Kam Chancellor Virginia Tech Stephen Virgil Bednarik Award Duke Vince Oghobaase Georgia Tech Morgan Burnett Maryland Alex Wujciak North Carolina Marvin Austin North Carolina Quan Sturdivant NC State Willie Young Virginia Tech Jason Worilds Doak Walker Award Clemson C. J. Spiller Georgia Tech Jonathan Dwyer Maryland Da'Rel Scott North Carolina Shaun Draughn NC State Jamelle Eugene Virginia Tech Darren Evans Davey O'Brien Award Georgia Tech Josh Nesbitt NC State Russell Wilson Virginia Tech Tyrod Taylor Wake Forest Riley Skinner
Regular season Index to colors and formattingACC member wonACC member lostACC member win vacatedNorth Carolina has vacated all wins from the 2008 and 2009 football seasons: ACC teams in bold All times Eastern time
Rankings reflect that of the USA Today Coaches poll until week eight when the BCS poll will be used.
Week One ESPN's College GameDay broadcast from Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against Virginia Tech and Alabama. Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance September 3 7:00 p.m. South Carolina NC State Carter–Finley Stadium • Raleigh, North Carolina ESPN L 7–3 57,583 September 5 12:00 p.m. Baylor Wake Forest BB&T Field • Winston-Salem, North Carolina ABC L 24–21 27,905 September 5 1:00 p.m. Jacksonville State #15 Georgia Tech Bobby Dodd Stadium • Atlanta W 37–17 46,131 September 5 2:00 p.m. Northeastern Huskies football Boston College Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts W 54–0 33,262 September 5 6:00 p.m. Middle Tennessee State Clemson Memorial Stadium • Clemson, South Carolina W 37–14 75,000 September 5 6:00 p.m. William & Mary Virginia Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, Virginia L 26–14 54,587 September 5 6:00 p.m. The Citadel #20 North Carolina Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, North Carolina V 40–6 (vacated) 58,500 September 5 7:00 p.m. Richmond Duke Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, North Carolina L 24–16 33,011 September 5 8:00 p.m. #5 Alabama #7 Virginia Tech Georgia Dome neutral site • Atlanta ABC L 34–24 74,954 September 5 10:00 p.m. Maryland #12 California California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, California ESPN2 L 52–13 62,367 September 7 8:00 p.m. Miami #19 Florida State Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, Florida MIA 38–34 81,077
Players of the week: Offensive back Offensive lineman Defensive lineman Defensive back Specialist Rookie Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Jacory Harris Miami Alan Pelc North Carolina Brandon Maye Clemson Brandon Harris Miami C. J. Spiller Clemson Ryan Williams Virginia Tech
Week Two Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance September 10 7:30 p.m. Clemson #14 Georgia Tech Bobby Dodd Stadium • Atlanta ESPN GT 30–27 52,029 September 12 12:00 p.m. Duke Army Michie Stadium • West Point, New York CBS College Sports W 35–19 25,698 September 12 12:00 p.m. #19 North Carolina Connecticut Rentschler Field • East Hartford, Connecticut ESPNU V 12–10 (vacated) 38,087 September 12 12:00 p.m. Stanford Wake Forest BB&T Field • Winston-Salem, North Carolina W 24–17 30,002 September 12 1:30 p.m. Marshall #15 Virginia Tech Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia W 52–10 66,233 September 12 2:00 p.m. Kent State Boston College Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts W 34–7 25,165 September 12 3:30 p.m. #16 Texas Christian Virginia Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, Virginia ESPNU L 30–14 48,336 September 12 6:00 p.m. James Madison Maryland Byrd Stadium • College Park, Maryland W 38–35 OT 46,485 September 12 6:00 p.m. NC State Carter–Finley Stadium • Raleigh, North Carolina W 65–7 55,510 September 12 6:00 p.m. Jacksonville State Florida State Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, Florida W 19–9 71,420
Players of the week: Offensive back Offensive lineman Defensive lineman Defensive back Specialist Rookie Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Riley Skinner Wake Forest Caz Piurowski Florida State Derrick Morgan Georgia Tech Leon Wright Duke Scott Blair Georgia Tech Kyle Parker Clemson
Week Three Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance September 17 7:30 p.m. #14 Georgia Tech #20 Miami Land Shark Stadium • Miami Gardens, Florida ESPN MIA 33–17 45,329 September 19 12:00 p.m. Boston College Clemson Memorial Stadium • Clemson, South Carolina CLEM 25–7 77,000 September 19 12:00 p.m. Duke #23 Kansas Memorial Stadium • Lawrence, Kansas Versus L 44–16 50,101 September 19 12:00 p.m. East Carolina #19 North Carolina Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, North Carolina ESPN2 V 31–17 (vacated) 58,000 September 19 12:00 p.m. Elon Wake Forest BB&T Field • Winston-Salem, North Carolina W 35–7 31,451 September 19 3:30 p.m. Middle Tennessee State Maryland Byrd Stadium • College Park, Maryland L 32–31 43,167 September 19 3:30 p.m. Virginia Southern Mississippi M. M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, Mississippi CBS College Sports L 38–34 31,170 September 19 3:30 p.m. Nebraska #14 Virginia Tech Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia ABC W 16–15 66,233 September 19 6:00 p.m. Gardner–Webb NC State Carter–Finley Stadium • Raleigh, North Carolina W 45–14 53,452 September 19 7:00 p.m. Florida State #7 Brigham Young LaVell Edwards Stadium • Provo, Utah Versus W 54–28 64,209
Players of the week: Offensive back Offensive lineman Defensive lineman Defensive back Specialist Rookie Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Player Team Jacory Harris Miami Rodney Hudson Florida State Ricky Sapp Clemson Greg Reid Florida State Richard Jackson Clemson Ryan Williams Virginia Tech
Week Four Date Time Visiting team Home team Site TV Result Attendance September 26 12:00 p.m. South Florida #18 Florida State Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, Florida ESPNU L 17–7 83,524 September 26 12:00 p.m. #18 North Carolina Georgia Tech Bobby Dodd Stadium • Atlanta GT 24–7 50,114 September 26 2:00 p.m. Wake Forest Boston College Alumni Stadium • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts BC 27–24 OT 40,892 September 26 3:30 p.m. #14 Texas Christian Clemson Memorial Stadium • Clemson, South Carolina L 14–10 70,000 September 26 3:30 p.m. Rutgers Maryland Byrd Stadium • College Park, Maryland L 34–13 43,848 September 26 3:30 p.m. #9 Miami #12 Virginia Tech Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, Virginia ABC VT 31–7 66,233 September 26 3:30 p.m. Pittsburgh NC State Carter–Finley Stadium • Raleigh, North Carolina ESPNU W 38–31 57,583 September 26 7:00 p.m. Duke Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, North Carolina W 49–14 26,390
Players of the week: