2018 ACC Championship Game
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA football yearly game
| game_name = ACC Championship Game
| title_sponsor = Dr Pepper
| subheader = Conference Championship
| Images =
| pixels =
| caption =
| date_game_played = December 1
| year_game_played = 2018
| football_season = 2018
| stadium = Bank of America Stadium{{cite web |title=ACC football championship back in Charlotte |website=WCNC.com |url=http://www.wcnc.com/sports/acc-championships-to-return-to-north-carolina/432463610 |date=April 19, 2017 |access-date=April 20, 2017 |publisher=WCNC-TV}}
| city = Charlotte, North Carolina
| home_school = University of Pittsburgh
| home_name_short = Pittsburgh
| home_nickname = Panthers
| home_record = 7–5
| home_coach = Pat Narduzzi
| home_1q = 3
| home_2q = 7
| home_3q = 0
| home_4q = 0
| visitor_school = Clemson University
| visitor_name_short = Clemson
| visitor_nickname = Tigers
| visitor_record = 12–0
| visitor_rank_AP = 2
| visitor_rank_coaches = 2
| visitor_rank_CFP = 2
| visitor_coach = Dabo Swinney
| visitor_1q = 14
| visitor_2q = 14
| visitor_3q = 0
| visitor_4q = 14
| MVP = Travis Etienne (RB, Clemson){{cite web|url=https://theclemsoninsider.com/2018/12/01/etienne-wins-acc-championship-game-mvp/|title=Etienne wins ACC Championship Game MVP|website=theclemsoninsider.com|first=Katie|last=Florio|date=December 1, 2018|access-date=December 2, 2018}}
| odds = Clemson by 28
| anthem =
| referee = Jeff Heaser
| halftime =
| attendance = 67,784
| us_network = ABC/ESPN Radio
| us_announcers =
ABC:
Chris Fowler (Play-By-Play)
Kirk Herbstreit (Analyst)
Maria Taylor (Sidelines){{cite web|url=https://www.tigernet.com/update/TV-announcers-for-Clemson-Pittsburgh-31668|title=TV announcers for Clemson-Pittsburgh|website=tigernet.com|first=Tony|last=Crumpton|date=November 26, 2018|access-date=November 30, 2018}}
| ratings =
| Itnl Network =
| Itnl Announcers =
}}
{{2018 ACC football standings}}
The 2018 ACC Championship Game was played on December 1, 2018. It was the 14th annual ACC Championship Game, played to determine the 2018 champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The game was held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Clemson emerged victorious and became the 2018 ACC champions, beating Pitt 42–10.
History
The 2018 Championship Game was the 14th in the Atlantic Coast Conference's 66-year history. Last season, the ACC Championship Game featured the Clemson Tigers, champions of the Atlantic Division, and the Miami Hurricanes, champions of the Coastal Division. Clemson won the game 38–3 and went on to the 2017 College Football Playoff.
Teams
=Clemson=
{{main article|2018 Clemson Tigers football team}}
The Clemson Tigers finished the season with a 12–0 undefeated record. This is the Tigers' fourth straight appearance in the championship game. They have won the previous three championship games. During the season, they defeated Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Wake Forest, NC State, Florida State, Louisville, Boston College and Duke in conference play. Their season was also highlighted by 2 wins over SEC teams (Texas A&M and South Carolina). The Tigers come into the game ranked #2 in both the AP and Coaches poll.
=Pittsburgh=
{{main article|2018 Pittsburgh Panthers football team}}
The Pittsburgh Panthers finished the season with a 7–5 overall record and a 6–2 record in ACC play. This is Pitt's first appearance in the championship game. During the regular season, they defeated Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Duke, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest in conference play. They lost to North Carolina and Miami (FL) in conference play. The Panthers come into the game unranked in both the AP and Coaches poll.
=Clemson vs. Pittsburgh series history=
This matchup was the third all-time meeting between the Tigers and Panthers. They last played on November 12, 2016, when Pitt upset No. 2 Clemson at Memorial Stadium, kicking the winning field goal with 6 seconds remaining to defeat Clemson by a final score of 43–42. The win brought Clemson its first (and ultimately, only) loss of the season, as the Tigers went on to win the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Game summary
=Scoring summary=
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=Clemson|HomeName=Pittsburgh|state=}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=1
| Time=14:47
| Team=Clemson
| DrivePlays=1
| DriveLength=75
| DriveTime=0:13
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Travis Etienne
| yards=75
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Greg Huegel
| Visitor=7
| Home=0
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=1
| Time=09:29
| Team=Clemson
| DrivePlays=1
| DriveLength=3
| DriveTime=0:05
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Travis Etienne
| yards=3
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Greg Huegel
| Visitor=14
| Home=0
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=1
| Time=01:46
| Team=Pittsburgh
| DrivePlays=9
| DriveLength=62
| DriveTime=4:22
| Type=FG
| yards=37
| Kicker=Alex Kessman
| Visitor=14
| Home=3
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2
| Time=07:56
| Team=Pittsburgh
| DrivePlays=6
| DriveLength=39
| DriveTime=3:08
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Qadree Ollison
| yards=1
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Alex Kessman
| Visitor=14
| Home=10
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2
| Time=04:57
| Team=Clemson
| DrivePlays=7
| DriveLength=75
| DriveTime=2:59
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Tee Higgins
| QB=Trevor Lawrence
| yards=5
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Greg Huegel
| Visitor=21
| Home=10
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2
| Time=00:25
| Team=Clemson
| DrivePlays=1
| DriveLength=10
| DriveTime=0:04
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Tee Higgins
| QB=Trevor Lawrence
| yards=10
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Greg Huegel
| Visitor=28
| Home=10
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=14:27
| Team=Clemson
| DrivePlays=5
| DriveLength=69
| DriveTime=1:32
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Adam Choice
| yards=1
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Greg Huegel
| Visitor=35
| Home=10
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=03:17
| Team=Clemson
| DrivePlays=5
| DriveLength=65
| DriveTime=2:45
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Lyn-J Dixon
| yards=4
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=Greg Huegel
| Visitor=42
| Home=10
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=42|Home=10}}
=Statistics=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=No. 2 Tigers
|R1=14 |R2=14 |R3=0 |R4=14
|Home=Panthers
|H1=3 |H2=7 |H3=0 |H4=0
}}
| class="wikitable"
! Statistics !! style="{{NCAA color cell|Clemson Tigers}}"|CLEM !! style="{{NCAA color cell|Pittsburgh Panthers}}"|PITT | ||
| First downs | 13 | 11 |
| Plays–yards | 59–419 | 64–200 |
| Rushes–yards | 35–301 | 48–192 |
| Passing yards | 118 | 8 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 12–24–0 | 4–16–1 |
| Time of possession | 25:16 | 34:44 |
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=3 style="{{NCAA color cell|Clemson Tigers}}; text-align:center;"|Clemson | Passing | Trevor Lawrence | 12–24, 118 yards, 2 TDs |
| Rushing | Travis Etienne | 12 carries, 156 yards, 2 TDs | |
| Receiving | Tee Higgins | 3 receptions, 36 yards, 2 TDs | |
| rowspan=3 style="{{NCAA color cell|Pittsburgh Panthers}}; text-align:center;"|Pittsburgh | Passing | Kenny Pickett | 4–16, 8 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Darrin Hall | 14 carries, 86 yards | |
| Receiving | Rafael Araujo-Lopes | 2 receptions, 10 yards |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{2018 NCAA football conference championships}}
{{ACC Championship Game navbox}}
{{Clemson Tigers football navbox}}
{{Pittsburgh Panthers football navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2018 ACC Championship Game}}
Category:ACC Championship Game
Category:Clemson Tigers football games
Category:Pittsburgh Panthers football games
Category:December 2018 sports events in the United States
Category:2010s in Charlotte, North Carolina
Category:American football competitions in Charlotte, North Carolina