ACC Football: 3 big things we learned led by Georgia Tech upsetting Florida State in Week 0

If there is one thing we learned Saturday during Week 0, it's that college football is so back. Who saw a lot of what happened coming?

Tenth-ranked Florida State began the season against Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland looking to make a statement following a 12-0 regular season in 2023, a win over Louisville in the ACC Championship Game, only to miss the four-team College Football Playoff. Let's just say, things didn't go the way that Mike Norvell and his team had hoped. That's where we will begin a review of Week 0 in the ACC with three things we learned on the first Saturday of college football.

Georgia Tech is going to be a problem in the ACC this year

Some might say this is an overreaction to one game, but going into the season, the Yellow Jackets were considered one team that could cause chaos in the ACC in 2024. Well, that took all of four quarters with a stunning win over the Seminoles who were 10.5-point favorites.

Haynes King led Georgia Tech down the field late in the fourth quarter and drained the remaining clock after Florida State tied the game 21-21, setting up a game-winning field goal on the final play for a 24-21 win. The Yellow Jackets will be able to move the ball on offense this season and if their defense can play like they did against FSU, they're a big problem this fall, even with a tough schedule.

ACC is wide open in 2024

Florida State started as the top team in the conference this season, along with Clemson and Miami. There are some teams considered a dark horse, Virginia Tech, Louisville, North Carolina State, and Georgia Tech's win just reinforces that the conference is there for the taking by any team. If you want a season full of chaos, you just may get it every week.

SMU survives major upset

SMU's first game as a member of the ACC was almost a huge disaster. A four-touchdown favorite at Nevada against a Wolfpack team that has won four games combined the last two seasons, the Mustangs needed a 16-point fourth quarter to avoid a stunning upset.

SMU got a 98-yard drive that led to a touchdown and a two-point conversion to pull within 24-21 with 8:01 left, then a safety and touchdown with 1:18 left sealed the win, 29-24. Note to Virginia Tech and everyone else, don't underestimate your opponent even if you're a two-touchdown favorite or more. It's college football.

It's great to have college football back and if Saturday was any indication as to how 2024 will be, we're all in for an exciting season.