Each week is worse than the last for Clemson, which has dropped two games in September and suddenly is sent packing from the College Football Playoff race.
The Tigers' 27-21 loss in double overtime to N.C. State is the latest setback for a team that can't do anything on offense and is facing major questions for the first time in a decade.
These two losses open a window for another team to win the ACC and for a surprise team to crack into the playoff. Clemson has reached the national semifinals in six straight seasons and claimed the last six conference championships.
But it's been that kind of year: Clemson is just one of the top preseason contenders to struggle out of the gate, albeit the only one of this group — including Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and Oklahoma — to already be eliminated from contention.
Here are the rest of Saturday's winners and losers:
WINNERS
Arkansas
The Razorbacks are the mythical state champions of Texas after beating the Longhorns and now Texas A&M, the latter behind an opportunistic passing game — with one 85-yard touchdown and one from 48 yards — teamed with 197 yards on the ground. Along with the Aggies' continued issues at quarterback with starter Haynes King sidelined, this offensive balance carried Arkansas to the program's first 4-0 start since 2003 and evened coach Sam Pittman's record at 7-7 in his second season. The turnaround he's orchestrated with the Razorbacks is remarkable given the state of the program coming out of failed tenures by Bret Bielema and Chad Morris.
Notre Dame
Down 13-10 one minute into the fourth quarter against Wisconsin, Notre Dame scored 31 unanswered points on offense, on special teams and on defense to remain unbeaten heading into a key date with Cincinnati to open October. While driven by non-offensive scores, the surge in the fourth quarter included very strong play by backup quarterback Drew Pyne, who replaced an injured Jack Coan and threw for 68 yards and a touchdown. That creates some intrigue over which passer draws the starting nod from Brian Kelly when the Irish meet the Bearcats.
SMU
The Mustangs should be ranked in this week's USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll after beating rival TCU 42-34 for the program's second win in a row in the Iron Skillet series. SMU was able to overcome three interceptions by quarterback Tanner Mordecai by gaining 350 yards and two scores on 6.7 yards per carry.
Boston College
Now 4-0 after topping Missouri in overtime, the Eagles have stayed the course under second-year coach Jeff Hafley despite losing potential all-conference quarterback Phil Jurkovec to a hand injury earlier this month. That's led to a reimagining of this offense: Boston College has gone from leaning on Jurkovec to a heavy emphasis on running the ball behind a very strong offensive front. The Eagles went for 275 yards on the ground in Missouri's second loss of the season.
Texas
It's too soon to say with full confidence that Texas has found the definitive answer at quarterback in Casey Thompson, given that his torrid two-game stretch has come against Rice and Texas Tech. Still, the offense has hit a higher gear behind Thompson, who went for 303 yards through the air and six combined touchdowns in the Longhorns' 70-35 rout of the Red Raiders. His production has made things easier for star running back Bijan Robinson, who has 264 yards on just 31 carries in these last two games.
LOSERS
Minnesota
Losing 14-10 at home to Bowling Green ranks among the biggest regular-season letdowns in recent Big Ten history given the hype around Minnesota as a Big Ten West contender and coach P.J. Fleck's place among the top presumed contenders for the opening at Southern California. One of the nation's worst teams since 2016, the Falcons had dropped 12 of 13 against FBS competition with losses against such luminaries as South Alabama and Akron, the latter by 28 points to end last season. The Gophers had just 59 yards passing against a surprisingly effective Bowling Green secondary.
Vanderbilt
There's a difference between being a pushover, which is normal ground for Vanderbilt, and being in a position where the only source of drama against Georgia stems from whether the Commodores would gain more yards than the Bulldogs would score points. It was close: Vanderbilt ended with 77 yards in the 62-0 loss.
Iowa State
What had the makings of a magical season — everything from the coach through the quarterback and defense seemed lined into place for Iowa State — has gone off the rails before the end of September, after a 31-29 loss to Baylor that ends the Cyclones' chances of factoring into the playoff debate. That ISU has been eliminated from that conversation inside of one month represents the first real disappointment of Matt Campbell's six seasons as head coach.
Texas A&M
Losing to Arkansas doesn't drop the Aggies out of the mix for the national semifinals but it makes the road obscenely difficult given what's ahead, beginning with Alabama in two weeks. There are some major issues on offense: A&M has scored a combined 20 points in eight quarters against Colorado and the Razorbacks. Backup quarterback Zach Calzada has completed 51.8 percent of his attempts on just 5.8 yards per throw since replacing King early in the win against the Buffaloes.
Florida State
FSU is now 0-4 and on pace for the program's worst finish since 1974 after falling behind 31-7 to Louisville in an eventual 31-23 loss. McKenzie Milton threw for 248 yards and a touchdown but was outplayed by Louisville's Malik Cunningham, who had 264 yards through the air, another 56 on the ground and four combined touchdowns. Outside of Massachusetts on Oct. 23, there is no clear win on FSU's schedule.
The ACC
There are two unbeaten teams heading into October: Wake Forest, which beat Virginia on Friday night, and Boston College. Both teams deserve heavy Top 25 consideration. But where does the ACC stand in the playoff debate when Clemson already is removed from consideration, North Carolina has already suffered one loss and Miami (Fla.) is again a major disappointment? The only good news is that there's finally some parity in terms of determining the conference champion, if that means anything.
Follow colleges reporter Paul Myerberg on Twitter @PaulMyerberg
