The 2005 Dr. Pepper ACC Championship Game was the inaugural contest of the championship game for the recently expanded Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). It was a regular season-ending American college football contest held at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Florida State Seminoles. The game decided the winner of the ACC football championship. Florida State University (FSU) defeated Virginia Tech 27–22 in a game characterized by penalties, defense, and a fourth-quarter comeback attempt by Virginia Tech. The game was the final contest of the regular season for the teams, as bowl games are not considered part of the regular season.
Virginia Tech entered the 2005 season having won the 2004 ACC Championship, the last to be awarded without playing a championship game at the end of the season. Tech won their first eight games and appeared to be on course to have an untroubled run to the ACC Championship Game. But against the fifth-ranked Miami Hurricanes, Tech suffered their first defeat of the season, losing 27–7 on November 5. Because each team had one ACC loss (Miami had previously lost to Florida State) and the Hurricanes had the tie-breaking head-to-head win, Miami had the lead in the Coastal Division. But Miami later lost a second ACC game to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and the Hurricanes were knocked out of contention for the Coastal Division title in favor of the Hokies, who lost only to Miami.
Florida State earned their bid to the ACC Championship Game by fighting through an Atlantic Division schedule that included several nationally ranked teams. After defeating ninth-ranked Miami in their opening contest, the Seminoles won their next four games before losing at Virginia in a close match. Additional losses to North Carolina State and Clemson at the end of the season almost eliminated the Seminoles from contention for a spot in the championship game. But losses by Clemson and the other Atlantic Division leaders gave the Seminoles a second chance and set up an ACC Championship Game between Florida State and Virginia Tech. They had previously played in the 2000 National Championship Game, and the rematch served as a point of public interest.
The first two quarters of the game were characterized by defense and penalties that stifled both teams' offenses. In the second half, Florida State took advantage of a punt return for a touchdown to begin a third-quarter surge. Although Virginia Tech made a late-game comeback, Florida State ran out the clock and secured a 27–22 victory. Florida State's win earned it the 2005 ACC Championship and a bid to the 2006 Orange Bowl against Penn State. Virginia Tech was awarded a bid to the 2006 Gator Bowl against Louisville. Following that game, Tech quarterback Marcus Vick was released from the team due to repeated violations of team rules and several legal infractions.
Selection process
The ACC Championship Game traditionally matches the winner of the Coastal and Atlantic Divisions of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Before 2005, no championship game existed. The idea for a championship game originated with the league's 2004 expansion, which added former Big East members Miami, Virginia TechVirginia Tech sealing move to ACC Staff and Wire Reports, USA Today, June 23, 2003. Accessed December 8, 2007. and (in 2005) Boston College. A request to the National Collegiate Athletic Association by conference officials to hold a championship game following the 2004 season was rejected because the ACC lacked the requisite 12 teams.Formatting league still up for discussion Scripps Howard News Service, ESPN, September 24, 2003. Accessed December 3, 2018. The league's first championship game had to wait until after the addition of Boston College,How Football Saved The ACC David Glenn, ACC Sports Journal, November 1, 2017. Accessed December 3, 2018. which had been delayed by a year.After Ugly Breakup, BC Hopes for Fast Start in ACC Mark Schlabach, The Washington Post, August 10, 2005. Accessed December 3, 2018. Once they had been added, the ACC consisted of 12 teams, allowing it to hold a conference championship game under NCAA rules.ACC expansion doesn't concern members of SEC Tim Vacek, Gannett News Service, July 8, 2003. Accessed December 6, 2007. Before the start of the 2005 season, both Virginia Tech and Florida State were picked as pre-season favorites to play in the championship game in an annual poll conducted by members of the media who cover the ACC.Hokies Are Early Favorites In New ACC The Washington Post, Page E01, July 26, 2005. Accessed December 30, 2007.
Virginia Tech
The Hokies began the 2005 regular season ranked eighth in the country and played their first game at ACC opponent North Carolina State. It was a close-fought game, but quarterback Marcus Vick threw a game-winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter and the defense slowed a late NC State rally as Virginia Tech earned a 20–16 win.Hokies hang on to down N.C. State in season opener Jimmy Robertson, Virginia Tech Sports Information, Hokiesports.com, September 5, 2005. Accessed January 12, 2008. Following the near loss to NC State, the Hokies blew out their next several opponents. Virginia Tech defeated Duke and Ohio by scores of 45–0 each. The Virginia Tech defense held Duke's offense to just 35 total yards, an NCAA record.Tech 'D' stymies Duke as Hokies open season 2–0 Jimmy Robertson, Virginia Tech Sports Information, Hokiesports.com, September 10, 2005. Accessed January 12, 2008. Following those victories, Tech hosted 15th-ranked Georgia Tech, beating the Yellow Jackets by a score of 51–7. Tech's defensive success in those games was typical of the season as they won their first eight games.Virginia Tech Football Past Schedules Database 2005–2006 Football Schedule, Virginia Tech Sports Information, Hokiesports.com. Accessed January 12, 2008.
In their ninth game, however, the third-ranked team suffered their first loss. On a Thursday night game at home, the Hokies lost 27–7 to the fifth-ranked Miami Hurricanes. Normally, a loss to the division-rival Hurricanes would have knocked the Hokies out of contention for the ACC Championship Game, as Miami had the tie-breaking head-to-head victory and was expected to win the remainder of their games. But because Virginia Tech won the rest of their games and the Hurricanes lost two ACC contests—Virginia Tech's only ACC loss was to Miami—the Hokies won the Coastal Division championship and qualified for the championship game over Miami.Tech Downs UNC 30–3; Heading to ACC Championship Matthew Spiers, Virginia Tech Sports Information, Hokiesports.com, November 26, 2005. Accessed January 12, 2008.
Florida State
The Seminoles, like Virginia Tech, were picked as pre-season favorites to win their division. Florida State opened their 2005 season against traditional rival Miami, ranked ninth in the country. In a defensive struggle, Florida State managed to upset the favored Hurricanes, 10–7.Late Hurricanes mistake seals win for Seminoles The Associated Press, ESPN.com. September 5, 2005. Accessed April 25, 2008. Following the victory, Florida State went on a four-game winning streak, defeating Syracuse, Boston College, Wake Forest and The Citadel en route to a 5–0 record.2005 Florida State Football Cumulative Statistics Florida State Sports Information Department, seminoles.cstv.com, January 12, 2006. Accessed January 12, 2008.
In the Seminoles' sixth season game they traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia, to face the Virginia Cavaliers. In a hard-fought game, the Seminoles lost, 26–21, earning their first loss of the season. After winning their next two games, Florida State lost to NC State, Clemson and 19th-ranked Florida, the first time they had suffered three consecutive losses since 1983. The Associated Press, seminoles.cstv.com, November 26, 2005. Accessed January 12, 2008. Florida State ended the regular season with a conference record of 5–3. Because one of those losses had been against a Coastal Division opponent, however, Florida State finished with the best Atlantic Division record and was named that division's representative to the ACC Championship Game.
Pre-game buildup Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick was predicted to be the key player for the favored Virginia Tech Hokies in pregame discussion. He had led the Hokies to a fifth place national ranking and an offense that earned 610 rushing yards in the final two games of the regular season.Vick key to Hokies chances in ACC title game The Associated Press, ESPN.com. November, 2005. Accessed December 17, 2007. Off the field, the matchup between head coaches also was a point of interest. At the time, Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden had the most wins of any active head coach in college football. Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer was ranked third. Beamer had never defeated Bowden in a game.Beamer's #11 Hokies Finally Beat Bowden Hank Kurz, Jr., The Associated Press, TheLedger.com. November 11, 2007. March 13, 2008. Before the game, Beamer was named the ACC's 2005 Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year.Beamer Named ACC Coach Of the Year Mark Schlabach, The Washington Post, E05, November 30, 2005. Accessed December 23, 2007.
In addition, the game was a rematch of the 2000 BCS National Championship Game. In that game, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, Florida State defeated Virginia Tech 46–29, despite the performance of Hokie quarterback Michael Vick, who would later be selected as the first overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft.Florida State Holds Off Vick and Virginia Tech, 46–29, for National Title Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, January 5, 2000. Accessed June 4, 2018. Vick's brother, Marcus, would be the Hokies' starter at quarterback for the 2005 ACC Championship Game.For Hokies, a Florida State Map Mark Schlabach, The Washington Post, Page E01, December 2, 2005. Accessed December 25, 2007.
Offensive matchups
Virginia Tech
Coming off a season-long suspension in 2004, Marcus Vick led the Virginia Tech offence throwing for 1,855 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions in the 2005 season leading up to the ACC Championship. Vick also ran for four touchdowns during the season and earned first-team All-ACC honors.2005 ACC Championship Game Notes (PDF) Virginia Tech Sports Information, Hokiesports.com. "All Eyes on Vick", Page 13. Accessed March 5, 2008. Receiving his passes were a number of wide receivers and tight ends. Tight end Jeff King, a second-team All-ACC selection, had 20 receptions for 230 yards and five touchdowns for the season before the ACC Championship.2005 ACC Championship Game Notes (PDF) Virginia Tech Sports Information, Hokiesports.com. "Using the Tight Ends", Page 14. Accessed March 5, 2008. Wide receivers Eddie Royal and David Clowney also had statistically significant seasons heading into the conference championship. Royal had 21 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns during the regular season, while Clowney had 28 catches for 515 yards and three touchdowns.2005 ACC Championship Game Notes (PDF) Virginia Tech Sports Information, Hokiesports.com. "Royal Flush", Page 13. Accessed March 5, 2008.