No. 10 Miami visits SMU, No. 8 Georgia Tech travels to NC State to headline ACC slate

Things to watch this week in the Atlantic Coast Conference:

No. 10 Miami (6-1, 2-1 ACC) at SMU (5-3, 3-1), Saturday, noon ET (ESPN)

There are five one-loss teams behind league unbeatens Georgia Tech and Virginia, so this one could be a de facto elimination game in the chase to reach the ACC title game. The Hurricanes regrouped from a turnover-filled loss to Louisville by beating Stanford. The Mustangs are coming off a loss at Wake Forest, their first regular-season ACC loss following an 8-0 run through the league in their debut last year.

No. 8 Georgia Tech (8-0, 5-0 ACC) at N.C. State (4-4, 1-3), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

The Yellow Jackets can become only the sixth team in program history to start 9-0, something they haven't done since 1966. They rolled past Syracuse last week and their closest call came when they edged Wake Forest by stopping a 2-point overtime try for a walk-off win. N.C. State has lost four of five since a 3-0 start but is 3-1 at home.

No. 15 Virginia (7-1, 4-0) at California (5-3, 2-2), Saturday, 3:45 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

The Cavaliers keep winning with a sputtering offense. Virginia averaged just 23 points and 265.7 yards in wins against Louisville, Washington State and North Carolina, and two of those were among UVA's three OT wins this year. Before the lull, Virginia was averaging 45.6 points and 539.6 yards. The Cavs will face a Cal team with a chance to clinch bowl eligibility for a third straight year.

— Duke RB Nate Sheppard. The true freshman has taken a leading role in the backfield entering Saturday's trip to Clemson, highlighted by a 168-yard day at Syracuse.

— Pittsburgh QB Mason Heintschel. The true freshman has led Pitt to four straight wins since taking over as the starter. He enters Saturday's trip to Stanford coming off a freshman school record with 423 passing yards against the Wolfpack.

The league has four ranked teams in the AP Top 25 poll with No. 16 Louisville visiting Virginia Tech on Saturday. ... Florida State returns from a bye by hosting Wake Forest. The Seminoles have lost 11 of 12 league games since the start of last season. ... The Demon Deacons are a win from bowl eligibility under first-year coach Jake Dickert after being picked to finish 16th in the league. ... North Carolina visits Syracuse on Friday night with an 0-5 record against power-conference opponents, though the past two losses have come by a combined four points.

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Georgia Tech running back Malachi Hosley (0) runs against Syracuse defensive back Kaylib Singleton (3) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans continued their search for a coach Monday by interviewing former Atlanta coach Raheem Morris, according to a person familiar with the interview schedule.

The Titans interviewed seven candidates through Saturday before resuming the search Monday with Morris, the person confirmed to The Associated Press that Morris' interview had been completed on condition of anonymity because the Titans are not commenting on individual interviews.

Morris went 16-18 with Atlanta over the last two seasons before being fired hours after the Falcons' season finale on Jan. 4. He also went 4-7 as Atlanta's interim coach for 11 games in 2020.

Morris was 33 when he got his first head coaching job with Tampa Bay in 2009. He lasted three seasons, finishing with one winning season, no playoff appearances and a record of 17-31.

The Titans have interviewed eight candidates. They wrapped up the first week with an interview of two-time AP Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski.

The other candidates include interim coach Mike McCoy, who went 2-9 after Brian Callahan was fired on Oct. 13, former Dallas coach Jason Garrett, Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Kansas City offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.

This is the first coaching search being run by first-time general manager Mike Borgonzi, hired less than a year ago by the Titans. Tennessee is mired in a skid of four straight losing seasons.

The Titans also have requested interviews with Mike McDaniel, fired by the Miami Dolphins, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.

NFL rules limit when teams can talk to coaches whose teams are currently in the playoffs. Coaches in the wild-card round can do a virtual interview of up to three hours beginning Tuesday, except for Smith, who can’t speak to teams until Wednesday with Pittsburgh playing Monday night.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris talks to reporters after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)