After this past weekend’s action, every team in the ACC is now 75% of the way through their regular season. No one in the conference is unbeaten anymore, and the race for the two spots in the ACC Championship Game is starting to get interesting. UNC aren’t in that race, but they’re continuing to have a solid season. With another week in the books, let’s see how the conference is shaking out in our power rankings.
1. Miami (8-1, 6-0 ACC)
Last Week: Lost to Notre Dame 31-24
While the Hurricanes took their first loss of the season
over the weekend, it was a road game against another national title contender, so you really can’t ding them too much. However, they probably shouldn’t go down 24-3 again against one of the other title contenders.
This Week: Saturday vs. Duke
2. Wake Forest (8-1, 5-1 ACC)
Last Week: Beat Merrimack 77-0
I’ve mentioned this stat before but to update it after a blowout win over the weekend: since their lone loss to Miami, the Demon Deacons have won their next six games by a combined 294-58.
This Week: Saturday at SMU
3. Louisville (6-3, 5-2 ACC)
Last Week: Beat Georgia Tech 44-17
They’re probably making their charge a little too late as far as the College Football Playoff and ACC Championship are concerned, but the Cardinals have now won four straight games, all by 18 or more points.
This Week: Saturday at North Carolina
4. SMU (7-2, 5-2 ACC)
Last Week: Beat Virginia Tech 51-28
Their game this weekend against Wake could be a de facto ACC Championship Game play-in, but the Mustangs needlessly complicated that with a loss to Syracuse a couple weeks ago. That’s still the game of the week in the conference, though.
This Week: Saturday vs. Wake Forest
5. Duke (7-2, 4-2 ACC)
Last Week: Beat NC State 41-3
That two-game losing streak they had to Georgia Tech and UNC continues to look weirder and weirder, even if the Tar Heels are perfectly decent.
This Week: Saturday at Miami
6. Pitt (6-3, 3-3 ACC)
Last Week: Bye
They don’t have to eke out a sixth win for a bowl or worry about that, but Pitt’s range the rest of the way is highly variable.
This Week: Friday vs. Florida State
7. Virginia Tech (6-3, 3-3 ACC)
Last Week: Lost to SMU 51-28
That loss to SMU is the first one the Hokies have all season that I’m not somewhat confused by.
This Week: Saturday vs. Stanford
8. Clemson (6-3, 4-2 ACC)
Last Week: Beat Syracuse 18-13
This season might end up a frustrating one for Clemson in that they’re not going to be bad enough to strong arm Dabo Swinney into making big changes. However, they’re also not going to be good enough to contend for anything major.
This Week: Saturday vs. Georgia Tech
9. North Carolina (5-4, 2-3 ACC)
Last Week: Beat UConn 38-21
I still can’t confess to being overly impressed by this UNC team, but they’re now a win away from bowl eligibility with one difficult and two very winnable games left.
This Week: Saturday vs. Louisville
10. Syracuse (4-5, 2-5 ACC)
Last Week: Lost to Clemson 18-13
The Orange fell back to earth after their upset wins over UNC and SMU.
This Week: Saturday at NC State
11. Florida State (4-5, 2-4 ACC)
Last Week: Beat Boston College 31-24
Hey, there’s one win for FSU in the post-Mike Norvell era.
This Week: Friday at Pitt
12. Stanford (4-5, 2-4 ACC)
Last Week: Bye
If the Cardinal can somehow knock off Virginia Tech, they could end up sneaking into a bowl.
This Week: Saturday at Virginia Tech
13. Virginia (4-5, 2-4 ACC)
Last Week: Bye
I would not be shocked if Virginia won out or lost out in their last three games.
This Week: Saturday vs. Cal
14. Boston College (4-5, 2-4 ACC)
Last Week: Lost to Florida State 31-24
Scoring 24 points is an improvement on the two they scored on Duke. They, uh, might be headed back in the other direction this weekend, though.
This Week: Saturday at Notre Dame
15. NC State (4-5, 2-4 ACC)
Last Week: Lost to Duke 41-3
After winning the first game, State looked more like the “1-2-3, Cancun” team that you might expect after the Dave Doeren firing. They do have their new coach, though, and that will be fascinating.
This Week: Saturday at Syracuse
16. Cal (3-6, 2-4 ACC)
Last Week: Bye
Congrats to Cal fans on getting the weekend off from whatever they hell they are this season.
This Week: Saturday at Virginia
17. Georgia Tech (2-7, 1-5 ACC)
Last Game: Lost to Louisville 44-17
I’ll keep you in my thoughts over the last three games of the season, Yellow Jackets.
This Week: Saturday at Clemson
