Survival. That was the word for the ACC in week 5 (the Big Ten also was about this, but UNC doesn’t play in the Big Ten, at least not as of this writing). Of the seven games featuring ACC teams (six were ACC vs ACC), six were decided by a touchdown or less, three were decided by less than a field goal, and two went into overtime. At the end of the day a win is a win no matter the score, but this weekend definitely shook some things up at the top and muddled the middle just a little bit more.
Without
further ado, here are the week 5 ACC power rankings.
The Contenders
1. Miami Hurricanes (4-0, 0-0)
Last Week: Bye
The Hurricanes survived the crazy weekend by just not playing. They are one of three undefeated ACC squads left and the only one not to play a conference game yet. The Notre Dame win just keeps getting better, but Miami will not leave the state of Florida until November when they travel to play SMU.
This Week: at Florida State
2. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-0, 2-0)
Last Week: Beat Wake Forest 30-29 in OT
Sometimes the refs are not out to get you after all. The Yellow Jackets were able to tie the game on a last second field goal, thanks to a controversial non flag on a defender who clearly jumped offside but tried to get back before the snap (the ACC said it should’ve been thrown). That pushed the game to OT where Georgia Tech broke up a two point conversion to escape Winston Salem still undefeated.
This Week: Bye
3. Virginia Cavaliers (4-1, 2-0)
Last Week: Beat Florida State 46-38 in 2OT
After a very entertaining first half, that saw the Cavaliers blow an early 14 point lead and then tie the game at half time, both teams settled down to go into OT. Virginia scored twice and FSU threw an interception on its second try in the extra period as the Cavaliers improved to 2-0 in conference play (their loss to NC State was a non conference bout). If Virginia can win next week against Louisville, their schedule sets up nicely for an undefeated conference season (three of their final five conference games are against the bottom half of these rankings).
This Week: at Louisville
4. Louisville Cardinals (4-0, 1-0)
Last Week: Beat Pittsburgh 34-27
The Cardinals remain the conference’s third undefeated team thanks to a second half that saw Louisville outscore Pittsburgh 17-0 and turn a 10 point halftime deficit into a seven point conference victory. Louisville will get a chance to double that conference win total against the upset minded Cavaliers this weekend.
This Week: vs Virginia
Why Not Us?
5. Duke Blue Devils (3-2, 2-0)
Last Week: Beat Syracuse 38-3
In the only non competitive conference game of the weekend, the Blue Devils have improved to 2-0 in the conference by beating their ACC foes by a combined score of 83-36. As Clemson proved last year, all one has to do is win the ACC to make the playoffs and with an undefeated record and both their future ranked opponents coming to Durham, Duke has a chance to make more noise than most originally thought after a couple of non season duds.
This Week: at California
6. Florida State Seminoles (3-1, 0-1)
Last Week: Lost 46-38 to Virginia 2OT
The Seminoles travelled out of the state of Florida for the first time this season and promptly loss at Virginia in double OT. Florida State scored the tying touchdown with 36 seconds remaining, but instead of going for two and the win, they kicked the extra point on the road and then never saw crossed the end zone again. If the Seminoles can regroup and beat Miami this weekend, the dream of a Georgia Tech/Virginia ACC championship might be a reality.
This Week: vs Miami
7. California Golden Bears (4-1, 1-0)
Last Week: Beat Boston College 28-24
After the season 3-0 and outscoring their opponents 96-32, the Golden Bears promptly got outscored 51-14 over the next seven quarters of game action. Luckily for them that still left a fourth quarter against a bad Boston College team which California used to eke out a win in Chestnut Hill. This week they host a red hot Duke team that is averaging more points per ACC contest than Cal has scored total the past two games.
This Week: vs Duke
So You’re Saying There’s a Chance
8. Syracuse Orange (3-2, 1-1)
Last Week: Lost 38-3 to Duke
Now that’s what they call a hangover. A week after getting a “signature” win on the road against Clemson, the Orange promptly go out and get lambasted at home by Duke. Maybe the team just needs a vacation? Luckily for them they get one this week when they travel to Dallas to play SMU.
This Week: at SMU
9. SMU Mustangs (2-2, 0-0)
Last Week: Bye
The Mustangs maintain their undefeated regular season ACC record by not playing this past weekend. They will look to make it 9-0 since joining the conference last season when they welcome in a Syracuse team that just got humbled by Duke a week after humbling Clemson.
This Week: vs Syracuse
10. Pittsburgh Panthers (2-2, 0-1)
Last Week: Lost 34-27 to Louisville
The Panthers seemed to be on pace to putting their heartbreaking OT loss to West Virginia behind them as they led Louisville by 10 going into halftime. The problem was that they did come out back out in the second half. Pittsburgh threw three interceptions and scored zero points over the last two quarters as they lost their second straight game of the season.
This Week: vs Boston College
11. North Carolina Tar Heels (2-2, 0-0)
Last Week: Bye
The Tar Heels had a bye week to prepare for a wounded Clemson squad. This is where the best coaches game plan out a masterpiece to take advantage of an opponent at home. Of course the last time this coaching staff had extra time to plan out for an opponent at home they got beat by 34 points and went 40 minutes and 26 seconds in between scoring points (a period that included four three and outs and two turnovers returned for scores by the opposing defense).
This Week: vs Clemson
Anything’s Possible
12. NC State Wolfpack (3-2, 1-2)
Last Week: Lost 23-21 to Virginia Tech
Since starting the season 3-0 (1-0 in the ACC), the Wolfpack have promptly lost their past two games. Losing at a red hot Duke team is one thing, losing to a Virginia Tech team, whose only win up till then was against a winless Wofford squad, at home is something entirely else. Luckily for NC State their next opponent is their own one win FCS remedy which should help end this current losing streak.
This Week: vs Campbell
13. Clemson Tigers (1-3, 0-2)
Last Week: Bye
The Tigers are probably tired of hearing how much they have wasted their talent this season. After a bye week to prepare for a Tar Heel team they are highly favored against, can the Tigers finally break 30 points in a game and get their first conference (and power four) win of the season? Lets just say that Dabo didn’t reportedly spend this past weekend in Nantucket.
This Week: at North Carolina
14. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-3, 1-0)
Last Week: Beat NC State 23-21
Since taking over as head coach following Brent Pry’s firing, Philip Montgomery, who went 43-53 in eight seasons as the head coach at Tulsa, is 2-0 as the Hokies head coach. They were able to get their second straight win with a fourth and 1 stop after punting the ball on fourth and a foot with less than two minutes remaining and State out of timeouts. The win also created the earliest causation of the season: Old Dominion beat Virginia Tech, who beat NC State, who beat Virginia, who beat Florida State, who beat Alabama, who beat Georgia, therefore Old Dominion is better than Georgia.
This Week: vs Wake Forest
15. Stanford Cardinal (2-3, 1-1)
Last Week: Beat San Jose State 30-29
The Cardinal were just over a minute away from a very humbling defeat to San Jose State, when Stanford quarterback Ben Gulbranson hit Caden High for a 34 yard reception on fourth and 10. Four plays later Stanford pushed it in for the go ahead score to stave off the upset minded one win Spartan squad and maintain their spot at 15th in these rankings.
This Week: Bye
16. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Last Week: Lost 30-29 to Georgia Tech in OT
If only they didn’t play the second half, the Demon Deacons would be 4-0 and 2-0 in the ACC. In the first half of ACC play, Wake Forest has outscored their opponents by a combined score of 44-20. However, in the second half and overtime of those games they have been outscored 44-12. They can say their should’ve been a flag on third and five with 1:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, but if they hadn’t blown a 17 point halftime lead, it wouldn’t have mattered.
This Week: at Virginia Tech
17. Boston College Eagles (1-3, 0-2)
Last Week: Lost 28-24 to California
The Eagles have the same exact record as Clemson. Both schools are 0-2 in conference play with a loss on the road and home. However, Boston College’s one win came against a one win FCS team while the Tigers beat a middle of the pack Sun Belt squad. Also, Clemson didn’t lose to Stanford. Sorry Boston College, just cant let that go (well until the Cardinal beat another ACC squad, they do play the Tar Heels in November).
This Week: at Pittsburgh
