From 247 sports- spot on:
Leave it to the ACC to eliminate itself from playoff contention with a non-conference game between two conference rivals. Undefeated Wake Forest fell 58-55 at North Carolina (5-4) in the most entertaining game of the day. The Demon Deacons (8-1) led by 18 points and were out-scored 24-3 in the loss. Wake Forest was the ACC’s last hope at No. 9 in the first CFP rankings but that defense, which had one strong performance against Virginia earlier this season, was never built to withstand the week to week onslaught provided by ACC offenses. Still, those Wake Forest receivers are among the best in the country and quarterback Sam Hartman scored seven touchdowns to break a school record originally set by him earlier this season (six) against Army. A shame for the Demon Deacons, but defense still matters for championship contenders and Wake, still with an unblemished conference record, might not even reach the ACC Championship Game because of that Achilles heel.