College Football: The ACC's 10 Best Non-Conference Victories Since 2000

The ACC usually takes a beating from the media as a weak football conference, and there been some ugly losses. That doesn't mean there haven't been some great moments the last few years where an ACC team beat and in some case routed a really good non-conference opponent.

Actually, there have been quite a few nice wins. You can't list them all here, but I've tried to pair it down the 10 best non-conference ACC wins since 2000.

Here goes enjoy...

1) Florida State Seminoles 30 Florida Gators 7 (Nov. 18, 2000)

The ACC's best team so far in the decade, also produced it's best non-conference victory this decade. The No. 4 ranked Florida Gators would win the SEC the following week but they were no match for Bobby Bowden's Florida State Seminoles. Steve Spurrier would never beat the Noles at Doak Campbell, going 0-5-1 in his career.

Noles cornerback Tay Cody intercepted two passes. Florida State receiver Marvin Minnis caught 2 touchdowns, from quarterback Chris Weinke, and the Seminoles went to on to play for the 2000 national championship, which they lost to the Oklahoma Sooners.

2) Clemson Tigers 27 Tennessee Volunteers 14 (Jan. 2, 2004)

By the end of the 2003 season, the Clemson were playing some of the best football in the country. The Tigers had already beat No. 3 ranked Florida State in November, and proceeded to destroy in-state rival South Carolina 63-17.

A No. 7 ranked Tennessee squad was their next victim in this 2004 Chick Fila Bowl game. In what would become Tommy Bowden's biggest bowl victory, the Tigers dominated.

Clemson running back Chad Jasmin had a career high 130 yards rushing on just 15 carries. Vol quarterback Casey Clausen threw for over 350 yards, but the Vols only had 38 yards on the ground.

3) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 45 Georgia Bulldogs 42 (Nov. 29, 2008)

This was the ACC's signature non conference win of the 2008 season. The Yellow Jackets were on the losing end of seven in a row to the Bulldogs. The losing streak played a large role in the departure of former Jacket coach Chan Gailey.

In walks first year man Paul Johnson and his triple option offense. Over 400 yds rushing later, with Roddy Jones having 214 rushing yards and Jonathan Dwyer having 144 rushing yards, and the Jackets had defeated the No. 13 Bulldogs for the first time since the 2000 season.

Yellow Jacket fans everywhere rejoiced!

4) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 23 Auburn Tigers 14 (Sept. 3, 2005)

I never thought this game received the notoriety it deserved. While Auburn did lose backfield stars Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown, and Carnell Williams, from the 2004 squad that finished 13-0 and ranked No. 2, the Tigers were still a very good team.

They came into the game ranked No. 16 in the country, with a lot to prove, and seeking revenge for a 2003 loss to the Yellow Jackets.

They were also playing at home and on a 15 game winning streak to boot. PJ Daniels had 111 yards rushing, and Jon Tenuta's blitzing defense, forced Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox into four interceptions, and limited Auburn to 50 yards rushing.

5) Florida State Seminoles 31 Florida Gators 14 (Nov. 30, 2002)

It was losses like this that made Ron Zook's tenure in Gainesville relatively short. Florida came into the game ranked No. 11 in the nation, but had no answer for Leon Washington who rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown. Chris Rix, the Florida State quarterback, also had a solid game throwing for 194 yards, and running for 83 more.

Future NFLer Anquan Boldin had 101 yards receiving. At the time, had Gators had not won at Florida State since 1986.

6) NC State Wolfpack 28 vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish 6 (Jan. 1, 2003)

Before Notre Dame began their total freefall into mediocrity, it used to be a significant victory anytime you beat the Irish. In the 2003 Gator Bowl, Notre Dame was ranked No. 12 and was coming into the game 10-2.

NC State behind quarterback Phillip Rivers, and receiver Jerricho Crotchery dominated this game on both sides of the ball. Rivers completed 13 of his first 15 passes and NC State rolled to a 21-3 halftime lead. Coach Chuck Amato and the Wolfpack finished the season 11-3, in one of Wolfpack's best seasons in school history.

7) Maryland Terrapins 30 Tennessee Volunteers 3 (Dec. 31, 2002)

In the early part of this decade, unless you were Florida State, ACC Teams just didn't beat SEC teams like the Tennessee Vols by nearly four touchdowns. For Maryland, it was their first bowl victory since 1985.

The game also finished off, an 11 win season for the Terps that was their first since 1976. This win marked the beginning of the gradual downward slide of Tennessee football. It was Coach Phillip Fulmer's, first five-loss season at Tennessee, but it wouldn't be his last.

8) Virignia Tech Hokies 20 Cincinnati Bearcats 7 (Jan. 1, 2009)

At first glance this may not seem like a huge win for the ACC, but in fact it was. When the Virignia Tech Hokies beat 12th ranked Cincinnati in the Orange Bowl, it was the ACC's first BCS bowl victory since 1999. The Bearcat's were the Big East Champs for 2008, and won six games in row coming into this game.

The Hokies used their top 10, defense to hold the Bearcats to seven points, and force Bearcat quarterback Tony Pike into four interceptions. Hokie running back Darren Evans had 153 yds rushing.

9) Maryland Terrapins 34 Rutgers Scarlet Knights 24 (Sept. 29, 2007)

The Maryland Terrapins were not one the ACC's best teams in 2007. They finished the year 6-7, and 3-5 in the ACC. This game though, raised eyebrows all across the country. Rutgers came into the game 3-0 and ranked No. 10 in the nation.

The Terps outscored the Scarlet Knights 20-7 in the second half, and beat them 34-24 on Rutgers home field. Maryland rolled up 458 yards and forced 3 turnovers. Keon Lattimore of Maryland had 124 yards rushing. Chris Turner who played in relief of quarterback Jordan Steffy who suffered a concussion, completed 14 of 20 passes for 149 yds.

10) Wake Forest Demon Deacons 30 Ole Miss Rebels 28 (Sept. 6, 2008)

This was a game that was quietly one of the ACC's best non-conference wins of 2008. Wake Forest kicker Sam Swank made a 41 yard FG with three seconds to secure the victory for the Deacs.

Efficient Deac quarterback Riley Skinner was 32 of 42 passes for 267 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ole Miss went on to win their final 6 games and finish ranked in top 15 with a 9-4 record.