Believe it or not, it was only two years ago that Clemson was 2-2 after four weeks. One of the losses was in the season opener to a Georgia team that was on its way to the first of two straight national titles. The other was an overtime loss at North Carolina State that dropped the Tigers’ ACC mark to 1-1.

This year, both defeats in a 2-2 start were conference matchups against Duke in the opener and Florida State last week. It was 2010, Dabo Swinney’s second full year at the helm in Death Valley, when the Tigers last lost more than two conference games in a season. They finished 4-4 in conference play that year and 6-7 overall. They entered this season having since gone an incredible 86-11 (.886) in ACC regular season games.

However, Clemson is not among six ACC teams that are 4-0 heading into the final Saturday of September. Here is a look at those teams, four of which are ranked.

Following a win over LSU in Orlando to kick off this season, coach Mike Novell remarked that his team’s impressive second half was a “glimpse” of what was to come.

The fourth-year coach in Tallahassee certainly was not referring to a scare at Boston College two weeks later when a 31-10 lead late in the third quarter turned into a 31-29 nailbiter. The ‘Noles held on, though, and then knocked the behemoth off their back when they snapped a seven-game losing streak to Clemson with an overtime victory in Death Valley. Jordan Travis’ touchdown pass to Keon Coleman provided the difference. It was the sixth time in four games Travis and Coleman connected for six points.

Florida State catches its breath this week before resuming play next Saturday against Virginia Tech in the first of three straight at home as Syracuse and Duke follow the Hokies into Doak Campbell. The Seminoles are a combined 34-2 against the Orange (13-2) and Blue Devils (21-0).

Though it is a case of first things first, week at a time, or whatever cliché you prefer to utilize for Norvell and his team, it is hard not to at least glance ahead to November 11 when Miami visits the ‘Noles as well as Thanksgiving weekend when FSU travels to Gainesville. After all, the three Sunshine State teams are ranked together for the first time in six years and there is no telling what could be on the line for each team by then.

The Tar Heels got to this point thanks to getting through a strong non-conference schedule (South Carolina, Appalachian State, Minnesota) and winning at Pitt last week to open conference play. The 4-0 start is UNC’s first since 1997, which happened to be the final season of Mack Brown’s initial stint in Chapel Hill. That year the Tar Heels went 11-1 with the only blemish an early-November loss in Tallahassee. Brown’s squad embarrassed (42-6) Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl and finished No. 6.

At No. 15/15 following their win in the Steel City, North Carolina gets the week off before resuming play against visiting Syracuse next week. Miami comes to town in two weeks. The Tar Heels and Seminoles do not meet this year and ACC partner Notre Dame is also missing from the slate after the teams met each of the last three seasons.

Drake Maye is only 37^th nationally in pass efficiency, though he is tied for seventh in total offense (372 yards per game) while leading a unit that is churning out 464 yards per game to rank 23^rd.

The Blue Devils had lost 10 of their last 11 to Clemson before opening the season in Charlotte with an impressive 28-7 win. It was the program’s largest margin of victory over a ranked team since a 34-0 win over Colgate in 1942. Ascension into the polls followed as did wins over Lafayette, Northwestern NWE and UConn.

Duke, checking in at No. 17/16, scheduled its homecoming for this week against Notre Dame, which is coming off a frustrating loss to Ohio State. ESPN’s College GameDay will also be in Durham. An off week will be followed by a visit from North Carolina State and a trip to Florida State. Safe to say, Mike Elko’s team will be tested big time the next few weeks.

A defense that has created eight turnovers is allowing a paltry 8.8 points to rank fourth nationally.

Wins over Miami (Ohio), Bethune-Cookman and Temple, even by a combined 127-17, do not move the needle. Conversely, a 48-33 Week 2 win over Texas A&M moves needles. The No. 18/18 ‘Canes lost in College Station last season (17-9) and otherwise had one embarrassing defeat after another in a 5-7 campaign. It is a far different story so far in Mario Cristobal’s second season in charge in Coral Gables as the 4-0 start is the team’s first since 2017.

At 48 yards per game, Miami has the nation’s second-best run defense and is 13^th nationally in total defense allowing an average of 273 yards. The quarterback has been pretty good, too. A healthy Tyler Van Dyke has thrown 11 touchdown passes with only one pick and boasts the fourth-best pass efficiency rating in the country.

An off week will be followed by the start of ACC play with a visit from Georgia Tech next week. We should get a better read on the ‘Canes when they visit North Carolina on October 14 and host Clemson the following week.

Dino Babers’ hot seat appeared to cool when the Orange won their first six games last season to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2019 and only second time since 2013. Alas, a five-game losing streak and bowl defeat to finish 7-6 heated said seat once again.

A 4-0 start to 2023, with non-conference wins over Colgate, Western Michigan, Purdue and Army, is failing to generate much excitement as witnessed by the Orange ninth in line among teams receiving votes outside the top 25 in both polls.

The Orange are averaging 507 yards per game to rank ninth nationally in total offense and are 15^th in total defense. SU fans will find out how good their team really is the next three Saturdays as the Orange hosts Clemson this week – the Tigers have not lost two straight since 2011 — take on North Carolina in Chapel Hill next week and have a date with the Seminoles in Tallahassee in two weeks. Losing all three would not come as a surprise given how well the opposition is playing. Lose a couple of those by three scores or so and Babers will likely be fighting for his job the rest of the way.

Wins over Georgia Tech, Murray State, Indiana and Boston College have failed to impress in the polls as noted by the fact the Cardinals have only one voting point in the AP and two points in the coaches poll. Still, they are 4-0 for the first time since 2016, which was the last time they were 2-0 in ACC play.

Jeff Brohm and Jack Plummer reuniting at Louisville has paid dividends for an offense that is fifth nationally with an average of 542 yards, including 237 yards per game rushing to rank fourth. The coach, back at this alma mater, and quarterback were together at Purdue, which is where Plummer started his career before transferring to Cal. Plummer threw five of his 10 touchdown passes in last week’s 56-28 win over visiting BC.

A trip to North Carolina State is on tap Friday night followed by a visit from Notre Dame next week.