Updated ACC football standings entering loaded Week 10 slate

A big upset in the ACC during Week 9 of the 2026 college football season saw a top contender for a spot in the conference championship game fall in a stunning loss. The SMU Mustangs fell in a last-second 30-27 loss to the Syracuse Orange at JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday. The Mustangs' loss was their

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What is the story about?

A big upset in the ACC during Week 9 of the 2026 college football season saw a top contender for a spot in the conference championship game fall in a stunning loss.

The SMU Mustangs fell in a last-second 30-27 loss to the Syracuse Orange at JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday. The Mustangs' loss was their second in ACC play this season and muddies SMU's path a bit to the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte on Dec. 5.

The top-ranked Miami Hurricanes, ranked No. 1 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25, avoided a similar fate on the road against Bill Belichick's North Carolina Tar Heels. UNC had to attempt three onside kicks after pushing Mario Cristobal's team to the brink before the Canes escaped Chapel Hill with a 38-35 win.

Elsewhere in the ACC,

the Wake Forest Demon Deacons kept rolling with a statement 51-7 win over Tony Elliott's Virginia Cavaliers, last year's ACC title game runner-up.

Coach Jake Dickert's Deacs ran their win streak to five games after amassing 538 yards of total offense in Saturday's rout of the Hoos in Winston-Salem behind three rushing touchdowns from Ty Clark III, and a touchdown pass from UNC transfer quarterback Gio Lopez.

After a 2-3 start, Jeff Brohm's Louisville Cardinals reeled off their third straight win and are back in the ACC picture. Lincoln Kienholz threw three touchdown passes in the Cards' 52-24 rout of Stanford in Week 9.

As teams fight for a berth in Charlotte and a chance to take down unbeaten Miami, which has only three conference games remaining after Week 10's heavyweight clash with Notre Dame in South Bend, here's a look at this week's ACC standings entering a pivotal week in college football.

Updated ACC football conference standings after Week 9: SMU's stunning loss, Miami's near-miss

Oct 31, 2026; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange tight end Noah Meyers (81) runs into the end zone for the game winning touchdown in front of Southern Methodist University Mustangs linebacker Alexander Kilgore (23) during the second half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Here are the full ACC standings for all 17 ACC teams entering Week 10.

1. Miami Hurricanes (6-0 ACC, 8-0 overall)
2. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-1 ACC, 7-1 overall)
T-3. Louisville Cardinals (4-2 ACC, 5-3 overall)
T-3. SMU Mustangs (4-2 ACC, 6-2 overall)
T-5. Virginia Tech Hokies (3-2 ACC, 6-2 overall)
T-5. Duke Blue Devils (3-2 ACC, 6-2 overall)
T-5. Clemson Tigers (3-2 ACC, 5-3 overall)
8. Pitt Panthers (3-3 ACC, 6-3 overall)
T-9. Boston College Eagles (2-3 ACC, 4-4 overall)
T-9. NC State Wolfpack (2-3 ACC, 4-4 overall)
T-9. North Carolina Tar Heels (2-3 ACC, 4-4 overall)
T-12. Virginia Cavaliers (2-4 ACC, 4-5 overall)
T-12. California Golden Bears (2-4 ACC, 3-6 overall)
T-12. Syracuse Orange (2-4 ACC, 4-4 overall)
T-12. Stanford Cardinals (2-4 ACC, 4-5 overall)
T-17. Florida State Seminoles (1-4 ACC, 3-5 overall)
T-17. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-4, 2-6 overall)

What FSU coach Mike Norvell said about Clemson football after loss

📸 Sam Navarro, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect https://t.co/qUHYHRB37h pic.twitter.com/QcNE6qstwL

— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) November 1, 2026

Clemson football schedule 2026

Clemson (5-3, 3-2) will face Syracuse (4-4, 2-4) at JMA Wireless Dome in Week 10 of the 2026 college football season. Kickoff is Noon ET. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

All times Eastern.

Sept. 5: at LSU Tigers (L, 51-10)
Sept. 12: vs. Georgia Southern Eagles (W, 22-7)
Sept. 19: vs. North Carolina Tar Heels (W, 28-20)
Sept. 25: at California Golden Bears (W, 24-10)
Oct. 3: vs. Miami Hurricanes (L, 41-13)
Oct. 17: vs. Charleston Southern Buccaneers (W, 37-0)
Oct. 24: vs. Virginia Tech Hokies (L, 20-16)
Oct. 31: at Florida State Seminoles (W, 36-24)
Nov. 7: at Syracuse Orange, noon ET, ESPN2
Nov. 14: vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, TBA
Nov. 20: at Duke Blue Devils, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Nov. 28: vs. South Carolina Gamecocks, TBA

Record: 5-3 overall, 3-2.

Why Dabo Swinney was livid after Clemson football win at Florida State

📸 Melina Myers, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect https://t.co/fr00hRqb2f pic.twitter.com/yBU2dHEzvy
— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) November 1, 2026