Unexpected Wake, Pitt vie in ACC

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two surprising programs with high-powered offenses will square off Saturday when No. 15 Pittsburgh meets 18th-ranked Wake Forest in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

It’s the first time since 2014 that Clemson, with its recognizable sea of orange, won’t be playing for the title after the Tigers dominated the ACC football landscape the past six years.

Pitt was selected to finish fourth in the Coastal Division in the ACC’s preseason polls. Wake Forest was picked to finish fifth in the Atlantic.

“Clemson’s been dominant, and they’re still dominant,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “They’re going to be a force to be reckoned with every year. But Pitt, we hope, is the same way. Wake Forest, the same way. Virginia, the same way. Everyone’s got a chance. That’s the beautiful thing.”

Both teams reached the title game behind strong quarterback play.

The Demon Deacons rank third in the country in scoring offense at 42.9 points per game, while the Panthers are fourth (42.8). Both teams also rank in the top 15 nationally in total offense, passing offense and touchdown passes.

Pitt is led by quarterback Kenny Pickett, a projected top 10 pick in the NFL draft who has thrown 40 TD passes. He needs two more to break the conference record set by Clemson’s Deshaun Watson in 2016.

Sam Hartman spearheads Wake Forest’s attack. The sophomore has thrown for 3,711 yards and 34 touchdowns to lead a team with plenty of experience and loaded with “super seniors.” He also has 10 TDs rushing.

“When we went into the season, I said this to the staff, ‘We’ve been really good. We’ve been consistent. We’ve been to five consecutive bowls.’ But we didn’t ever have that one breakout season,” said Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson. “I don’t want to put pressure on us. But I really believed that if we were going to have that breakout year, this year’s our best opportunity.”