The ACC chaos keeps rolling. Every Saturday shifts the deck chairs, with Miami soaring, Georgia Tech surging, and Clemson tumbling. Here’s where the league stands heading into Week 4.
17. Virginia Tech It’s bleak in Blacksburg. The Hokies were embarrassed by Old Dominion, fell to 0-3, and fired Brent Pry before conference play even started. The offense is stagnant, the defense undisciplined, and now portal rumors are swirling. This once-proud program looks broken, staring down another lost season
with little reason to expect a turnaround.
16. North Carolina
Bill Belichick steadied the Tar Heels with back-to-back wins after the disastrous opener. The defense tightened, and the offense showed more rhythm, albeit against lesser competition. The trip to UCF will reveal whether this team has actually corrected early flaws or just beaten up on soft opponents. Belichick’s squad needs a convincing road performance to restore belief.
15. Stanford
Frank Reich finally tasted victory, guiding Stanford to a needed win over BC. Running back Micah Ford churned out over 150 yards, giving the offense its first spark of the season. Reich’s team is still undermanned, but the Cardinal showed they can claw out results. The bigger question is whether this momentum can last.
14. Duke
Manny Diaz’s group has fallen flat. After losing to Illinois, the Blue Devils dropped another road game at Tulane. Quarterback Darian Mensah continues to put up numbers, but the defense has looked leaky, and penalties have been costly. Their clash with NC State looms large, with a chance to reset their ACC campaign before it unravels.
13. Boston College
A trip to Stanford turned ugly for Bill O’Brien’s team. The Eagles looked listless against a Cardinal squad that had been winless and reeling. Defense was again an issue, surrendering big plays at critical moments. BC has allowed opponents an average of 42 points per game. The Eagles are idle this week before hosting Cal, whose hot start only compounds the immediate concerns.
12. Syracuse
The Orange blasted Colgate for 66 points, flashing offensive firepower that had been missing since the opener. Quarterback Steve Angeli got some much-needed support from the ground game, and the defense capitalized on weak opposition. Now comes a huge leap in competition against Clemson. To make noise in the ACC, Syracuse must replicate this sharpness against real opponents.
11. Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons battled hard against NC State but couldn’t finish. The offense stalled late, and the defense struggled to contain CJ Bailey. Still, Wake showed grit, which might pay off once the schedule softens. A bye week provides time to regroup before Georgia Tech arrives, and how they respond could define the rest of their season.
10. Pittsburgh
A brutal overtime loss in the Backyard Brawl stung badly. Pitt had West Virginia on the ropes but couldn’t finish drives or close defensively. Eli Holstein has shown flashes, but mistakes at key moments remain the story. A bye offers time to reset, but October’s schedule is unforgiving. Without consistency, Pitt risks tumbling further down the ladder.
9. SMU
The Mustangs stumbled early against Missouri State, falling behind by 10 before waking up. Kevin Jennings guided them to a safe win, but questions about their defense linger. Baylor was supposed to be the early barometer, but now the spotlight shifts to their rivalry with TCU. How they handle that pressure will reveal their ceiling.
8. Virginia
The Cavaliers feasted on William & Mary, racking up historic offensive numbers with Chandler Morris in command. The backfield tandem of Harrison Waylee and J’Mari Taylor gives them balance they lacked last season. But sterner challenges are here, starting with Stanford, then Florida State. We’ll soon learn if Virginia is a true riser or just fattening up early.
7. Clemson
The Tigers are wobbling. A narrow loss to Georgia Tech confirmed the issues: Cade Klubnik has no reliable targets, and red-zone execution continues to betray them. The defense can’t carry everything, not with depth concerns mounting. Dabo Swinney has rallied teams before, but this version feels limited. They’re still talented, but the playoff dream already looks dead.
6. Louisville
Jeff Brohm’s team had a bye week, with Bowling Green up next. The Cardinals have flashed big-play ability through two weeks but remain untested against top-tier foes. Depth questions on defense persist, and how they respond in October will decide whether they hang near the top. For now, Louisville sits steady, with a chance to rise quickly.
5. California
The Golden Bears are the ACC’s surprise story. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has looked poised beyond his years, leading Cal to a 3-0 start capped by a win over Minnesota. The defense is physical, the line steady, and confidence is growing. But this program has stumbled after hot starts before. Sustaining momentum into October is the real test.
4. NC State
Dave Doeren’s squad keeps stacking wins. Beating Wake Forest pushed them to 3-0, with CJ Bailey looking sharper each week. Still, defensive cracks have shown, especially against the run. Their schedule stiffens soon, and the margin for error shrinks. If Bailey keeps growing and turnovers are minimized, NC State could stay in the mix for Charlotte.
3. Florida State
The Seminoles were idle, but their résumé still sparkles thanks to the win over Alabama, which continues to age well. Tommy Castellanos has balanced the offense, while Duce Robinson provides explosiveness on the perimeter. A trip to Virginia is up next, with Miami looming. Florida State still feels like a true playoff contender waiting to surge.
2. Georgia Tech
Brent Key’s vision is coming alive. The Jackets snapped a long losing streak to Clemson with a clutch win and now stand 3-0. Haynes King is playing like a star, and the defense is tough enough to survive mistakes. With expectations now sky-high, the challenge shifts to managing the pressure.
1. Miami
The Hurricanes destroyed USF, flexing dominance on both sides of the line. Carson Beck is playing like a Heisman contender, and Rueben Bain’s defense is smothering. After decades of empty hype, Miami finally looks complete. Florida is next, and that rivalry will sharpen the picture, but right now, the Canes are clearly the class of the ACC.
