The 2006 Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game featured the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in a regular-season American football game to determine the champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Wake Forest defeated Georgia Tech by a 9–6 score to win its first ACC football championship since 1970 and its second in school history. The game was held at Alltel Stadium (now known as EverBank Stadium) in Jacksonville, Florida and was the concluding game of the regular season for each team.
Neither team was highly regarded at the beginning of the 2006 season, but each team outperformed expectations to earn the right to play in the conference championship game, which was the second in the conference's history. Wake Forest, the Atlantic Division representative, earned a 10–2 record behind redshirt freshman quarterback Riley Skinner, who won the ACC's rookie of the year award. Wake defeated tough ACC opponents Florida State and 16th-ranked Boston College to win the Atlantic Division. Georgia Tech, led by junior All-America wide receiver Calvin Johnson, defeated 11th-ranked Virginia Tech and North Carolina en route to winning the Coastal Division and a spot in the championship game.
Low attendance and poor weather marred the contest, which kicked off amid rain and fog. Defense dominated from the beginning, as Georgia Tech took a 3–0 lead in the first quarter. Wake Forest evened the score before halftime, however, and the two teams headed into the second half tied at 3–3. After a scoreless third quarter, Georgia Tech took a 6–3 lead early in the fourth quarter. After Tech quarterback Reggie Ball threw a critical interception, Wake Forest was able to tie the game, then take a 9–6 lead. With time running out, Wake's defense denied Georgia Tech a game-winning score, and Wake Forest clinched the win.
All the scoring in the game came via five field goals, and Wake Forest's kicker, Sam Swank, was named the game's most valuable player. By virtue of its victory, Wake Forest earned its first ACC football championship since 1970 and was awarded a bid to the 2007 Orange Bowl. Georgia Tech's loss and second-place ACC finish earned it a position in the 2007 Gator Bowl. Following the conclusion of each team's bowl game, numerous players from both teams were selected in the 2007 NFL draft.
Selection process
The ACC Championship Game matches the winner of the Coastal and Atlantic Divisions of the Atlantic Coast Conference. A conference championship game was added in 2005, as a result of the league's expansion the previous year, adding former Big East members Miami, Tim Candon, The Daily Tar Heel, June 26, 2003. Accessed December 6, 2007. Virginia Tech,Virginia Tech sealing move to ACC Staff and Wire Reports, USA Today, June 23, 2003. Accessed December 8, 2007. and Boston College. Brendan Hall, The Massachusetts Daily Collegian, October 24, 2003. Accessed December 6, 2007. With the addition of Boston College, 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.
Florida State defeated Virginia Tech, 27–22 in the first ACC Championship game.Inaugural Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game The Atlantic Coast Conference. Accessed December 6, 2007. Following the 2005 game, the ACC requested that ABC schedule the 2006 contest for the afternoon in order to maximize television ratings.ACC title game remains a work in progress Ned Barnett, Charlotte News-Observer, December 13, 2006. Accessed March 29, 2008. Heading into the 2006 college football season, Florida State and Miami were picked in the annual ACC pre-season media poll as favorites to appear in the 2006 ACC Championship Game. Georgia Tech received the third-most votes on the Coastal Division side of the poll, while Wake Forest was picked to finish last in the Atlantic Division.Florida State and Miami favored in 2006 ACC Football Preseason Poll The Atlantic Coast Conference, theACC.com. July 24, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2008.
Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech's 2006 season began with a tough game against No. 2 Notre Dame. Though the Yellow Jackets lost 14–10, they took an early 10–0 lead over heavily favored Notre Dame until the Fighting Irish scored 14 unanswered points to win the game. The Associated Press, ESPN.com. September 2, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2008. Tech bounced back from the narrow loss by winning five straight games, including a 38–27 victory in Blacksburg, Virginia against the No. 11 Virginia Tech Hokies, who would later go on to finish second in the division. The Associated Press, ESPN.com. September 30, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2008.
Heading into the seventh game of the season, Georgia Tech was 5-1 and had an undefeated 3–0 record in conference play. At No. 12 Clemson, however, Tech suffered its first conference loss and largest loss of the season, losing 31–7. Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson failed to record a reception for the first time in his career during the loss.Clemson clocks Georgia Tech behind career day from Davis The Associated Press, ESPN.com. October 21, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2008. Tech followed the loss by winning its next four games. Following the third win, a 7-0 shutout of North Carolina, Tech clinched the Coastal Division championship and a bid to the ACC Championship Game. The Associated Press, ESPN.com. November 11, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2008.
After clinching a spot in the championship game, Tech defeated ACC opponent Duke, then prepared for a game against traditional rival Georgia before heading to Jacksonville for the ACC championship. In the game against Georgia, the No. 16 Yellow Jackets were upset by the unranked Bulldogs, who intercepted Tech quarterback Reggie Ball twice and held him to just 42 passing yards in the game. Georgia's victory marked the sixth consecutive victory in the rivalry and sent Tech into the ACC Championship Game on a down note.Freshman Stafford solid for Georgia in win over rival Tech The Associated Press, ESPN.com. November 25, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2008.
Wake Forest
Wake Forest began the 2006 season on September 2 with a home game against Big East conference opponent Syracuse. Wake defeated Syracuse 20–10,Costly win: Wake doubles up 'Cuse, but loses QB Mauk The Associated Press, ESPN.com. September 2, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2008. but starting quarterback Benjamin Mauk suffered a season-ending injury when he fractured his arm, dislocated his shoulder, and suffered a torn labrum. Backup quarterback Riley Skinner replaced Mauk in the game, and would serve as Wake's starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.
The Deacons struggled in their second game, beating ACC rival Duke 14–13 by blocking a Duke field goal on the final play of the game. Associated Press, ESPN.com. September 9, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2008. Following the close call against Duke, however, Wake Forest went on to win its next three games. A 34–14 win over Football Championship Subdivision Liberty University gave Wake its first 5–0 start since 1987. The Associated Press, ESPN.com. September 30, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2008.
In its sixth game of the season, Wake Forest suffered its first loss. Against the No. 15 Clemson Tigers, Wake gave up 24 points in the fourth quarter to give Clemson a 27–17 victory.Down 14 in the fourth, Clemson rallies past Wake The Associated Press, ESPN.com. October 7, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2008. The Demon Deacons recovered quickly from the loss and proceeded to begin another winning streak, this time against ACC opponents. Over the next four weeks, Wake defeated North Carolina State, North Carolina, No. 16 Boston College, and Florida State. The 30–0 win over Florida State marked several milestones for the Deacons. The win marked the first time in school history that the Deacons had earned nine wins in a single season. In addition, Wake Forest recorded its first win against Florida State in Tallahassee since 1959 and became the first team to shut out a Bobby Bowden-coached Florida State team in Doak Campbell Stadium.Wake gets historic 9th win, shuts out Noles in Tallahassee The Associated Press, ESPN.com. November 11, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2008. The game continues to be celebrated in Tallahassee, as it marked the end of the Jeff Bowden era.
In its next game, however, the Demon Deacons fell at home to the No. 19 Virginia Tech Hokies, 27–6. The Associated Press, ESPN.com. November 18, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2008. The Hokies would later go on to finish second in the Coastal Division and earn a bid to the 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl. Wake Forest recovered from its second loss of the season to earn a 38–24 victory against Maryland—its first since 1998—clinching the Atlantic Division championship and earning a bid to the ACC Championship Game. Wake became the first team in ACC history to go 6–0 in ACC road games, and extended the school record for wins in a season to 10.Deacons tops Terps to cap best regular season in Wake history The Associated Press, ESPN.com. November 25, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2008.
Pre-game buildup
In the weeks leading up to the game, the point most emphasized in media coverage of the game was that Wake Forest had not won an ACC championship in football since 1970. The point spread for the game was relatively constant, with spread bettors favoring Georgia Tech by a single point.Demon Deacons and Yellow Jackets Battle for The ACC Title Today Anthony White, thespread.com. December 2, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2008.
Offensive matchups
Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who was voted the preseason ACC Player of the Year, was expected to do well in the ACC Championship Game. Johnson recorded 59 receptions for 889 yards and 13 touchdowns heading into the championship game. On November 29, Johnson was named the ACC Player of the Year (POY), fulfilling the expectations set when he earned preseason player of the year honors.Johnson Named ACC Player of the Year Georgia Tech Athletics Department, ramblinwreck.cstv.com, November 29, 2006. Accessed April 1, 2008. On the day after Johnson earned ACC POY honors, he was named to the Rivals.com All-America team, an annual selection of the best players at each position in the United States. Johnson was the first Tech player in over a decade to be selected as an All-American in two consecutive seasons.Johnson, Wheeler Earn All-America Honors Georgia Tech Athletics Department, ramblinwreck.cstv.com, November 30, 2006. Accessed April 1, 2008.
Tech quarterback Reggie Ball was not nearly as acclaimed. Despite leading the ACC with 20 touchdown passes and being named an All-ACC honorable mention,Ten Yellow Jackets Earn All-ACC Honors Georgia Tech Athletics Department, ramblinwreck.cstv.com, November 27, 2006. Accessed April 1, 2008. there were doubts about Ball's effectiveness.Georgia Tech QB has a lot to prove in ACC title game The Associated Press, ESPN.com. Accessed April 1, 2008. Since starting at quarterback in his freshman year, Ball went 0–4 against Tech rival Georgia,Georgia Tech Falls 15–12 to Georgia Georgia Tech Athletics Department, ramblinwreck.cstv.com, November 25, 2006. Accessed April 1, 2008. and was excoriated for his inconsistency.15-56, 0 TD's, 4 INT's, 1 Fumble Returned for a TD Nathan Fowler, AOL Fanhouse, sports.aol.com/fanhouse/. December 2, 2006. Accessed April 1, 2008.Georgia Tech's Ball, Scott ruled out of Gator Bowl The Associated Press, ESPN.com. December 20, 2006. Accessed April 1, 2008.The Trials and Tribulations of Reggie Ball Brett Jensen, CUTigers.com, Scout.com. October 19, 2006. Accessed April 1, 2008. After suffering a game-losing fumble against the Bulldogs, commentators questioned how well Ball would recover from the setback before the ACC Championship Game.