We are now three weeks/four weeks (depending on what you want to count the abbreviated Week 0 as) into the 2026 college football season. At this point, all but three ACC teams have at least one conference game in the books. That includes our own North Carolina Tar Heels, although that didn’t go great, as they blew a multi-score lead to Clemson.
With that game and the rest of Week 3 in the books, let’s take a look at how the ACC is shaping up in this week’s power rankings.
1. Miami (3-0, 2-0 ACC)
Last Week: Beat Wake Forest
33-20
You could make an argument for other teams jumping them based on big performances from said other teams, but the Hurricanes themselves still look very good.
This Week: Saturday vs. Central Michigan
2. Louisville (2-1, 1-0 ACC)
Last Week: Beat SMU 41-31
They may have a loss, but it came to what appears to be a very good Ole Miss team. Now, their win over SMU is one of the best of any ACC team so far.
This Week: Saturday vs. Wake Forest
3. SMU (2-1, 1-1 ACC)
Last Week: Lost to Louisville 41-31
There’s certainly an argument for dropping SMU below some of the undefeated teams, but I still think they’re one of the best teams in the conference.
This Week: Saturday vs. Missouri State
4. Virginia Tech (3-0)
Last Week: Beat Maryland 35-26
The James Franklin era is still going well enough so far in Blacksburg, as they downed Maryland in College Park over the weekend.
This Week: Saturday at Boston College
5. Duke (3-0, 1-0 ACC)
Last Week: Beat Stanford 35-7
Grumble, grumble, Duke is the best team in the Triangle again this season.
This Week: Saturday vs. William & Mary
6. Pitt (3-0, 1-0 ACC)
Last Week: Beat Syracuse 27-13
By the end of the season, I think the Panthers will have wished they had beaten Syracuse by more than 14.
This Week: Saturday vs. Bucknell
7. Virginia (2-1, 1-0 ACC)
Last Week: Lost to West Virginia 38-27
The loss to West Virginia could end up looking fine or very bad by the end of the season.
This Week: Saturday vs. Delaware
8. Wake Forest (2-1, 0-1 ACC)
Last Week: Lost to Miami 33-20
They have to go on the road which makes things a little less interesting, but I definitely have Wake on “Hmm…” status in their game against Louisville this weekend.
This Week: Saturday at Louisville
9. Clemson (2-1, 1-0 ACC)
Last Week: Beat North Carolina 28-20
Let’s go over to the late, great Dennis Green:
This Week: Friday vs. Cal
10. Cal (2-1, 1-0 ACC)
Last Week: Beat Wagner 49-7
Congrats on the win over the 19th century composer.
This Week: Friday vs. Clemson
11. Florida State (1-2, 0-1 ACC)
Last Week: Lost to Alabama 50-36
I’m still not sure they’ll do enough this season to change the Mike Norvell tenure back in the right direction, but FSU’s two losses have come to ranked teams by a combined 17 points, which isn’t horrible.
This Week: Saturday vs. Central Arkansas
12. North Carolina (2-1, 0-1 ACC)
Last Week: Lost to Clemson 28-20
Deep, prolonged sigh.
This Week: Bye
13. Georgia Tech (1-2)
Last Week: Beat Mercer 44-11
They’ve played one of the toughest schedules in the conference so far, so I think they’ll end the season way higher up than this, but you can only do so much with the Yellow Jackets when their only win is over Mrecer.
This Week: Saturday at Stanford
14. NC State (1-2, 0-1 ACC)
Last Week: Lost to Vanderbilt 35-31
Roll that film!
This Week: Saturday vs. Appalachian State
15. Boston College (2-1)
Last Week: Beat Maine 22-16
You know, I was willing to give BC props for the Rutgers win, but you kinda need to be Maine by more than six.
This Week: Saturday vs. Virginia Tech
16. Syracuse (1-2, 0-2 ACC)
Last Week: Lost to Pitt 27-13
Steve Angeli’s 13-25 for 161 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions is not the ideal quarterback stat line.
This Week: Bye
17. Stanford (1-2, 0-2 ACC)
Last Week: Lost to Duke 35-7
This Week: Saturday vs. Georgia Tech
