The 2026 college football season has a chance to be the most chaotic in the history of the sport, but that was not the case in the ACC this week, with the favorites holding their own.
There are no more perfect teams in the conference, with the Miami Hurricanes losing to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a game that featured several impressive runs. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons and Duke Blue Devils had no such issues, picking up blowout wins to keep their impressive seasons on track.
The FSU Seminoles were finally able to end their humiliating road losing streak, picking up a crucial win over the Boston College Eagles under interim head coach Rick Stockstill. The SMU Mustangs also secured an impressive win, blowing out the Virginia Tech Hokies
on Friday night.
While there is a clear group atop the conference, the teams beneath them are set to play competitive games as we enter the final stretch of the season, with several teams still competeting for bowl eligibility. For now, here are our ACC Power Rankings after Week 10:
17 - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Week 10 Result: 44-17 loss to Louisville
Record: 2-7
Analysis: Georgia Tech's nightmare season continued on Saturday, with the Cardinals steamrolling them for their fourth straight loss. They had several great years under Brent Key, but he will have to make some serious changes this offseason.
16 - Cal Golden Bears
Week 10 Result: BYE
Record: 3-6
Analysis: Tosh Lupoi has had a brutal debut season as Cal's head coach, and they will look to end the season strong after the bye. They have a path to bowl eligibility, but will have to play better to make it happen.
15 - NC State Wolfpack
Week 10 Result: 41-3 loss to Duke
Record: 4-5
Analysis: The Wolfpack snapped their losing streak last week, but had no answers against Duke, getting embarrassed at home. This is a lost season, and all eyes are on their coaching search and whether or not they hire Phillip Rivers.
14 - Stanford Cardinal
Week 10 Result: BYE
Record: 4-5
Analysis: The Cardinal have struggled against the better teams on their schedule, but have taken care of business in their winnable games. They will have a tough test to make a bowl game, ending the season against Virginia Tech, Cal, and SMU.
13 - Virginia Cavaliers
Week 10 Result: BYE
Record: 4-5
Analysis: The Cavaliers had an excellent start to the season, but have lost four of their past five games and are limping to the finish line. They had a bye to regroup ahead of games against Cal, North Carolina, and Virginia Tech, giving them a shot to make a bowl.
12 - Boston College Eagles
Week 10 Result: 31-24 loss to FSU
Record: 4-5
Analysis: The Eagles have been extremely streaky this season, and that continued against FSU. Boston College had a 10-0 lead but allowed 21 points in the second quarter and managed just seven points in the second half as a winnable game slipped away.
11 - Syracuse Orange
Week 10 Result: 18-13 loss to Clemson
Record: 4-5
Analysis: Their winning streak ended, but the Orange stayed in it until the end against Clemson. They have come a long way after starting the year 2-4 and are on the right track under Fran Brown.
10 - FSU Seminoles
Week 10 Result: 31-24 win over Boston College
Record: 4-5
Analysis: FSU snapped its 12-game losing streak in Rick Stockstill's first game as interim head coach. The Seminoles responded after a slow start and will look to build on their first road win since 2023 as they fight to make a bowl game.
9 - North Carolina Tar Heels
Week 10 Result: 38-21 win over UConn
Record: 4-5
Analysis: The Tar Heels did not let their loss to Miami beat them twice, and they handled UConn. It was a win they had to have if they want to make a bowl game, which is doable as they end the season against Louisville, Virginia, and NC State.
8 - Pitt Panthers
Week 10 Result: BYE
Record: 6-3
Analysis: The Panthers have not been the same since Mason Heintschel went down, but will have a chance to end the season strong. They got an extra week to prepare for FSU, which does not have a head coach and will have less time to prepare for the game on Friday night.
7 - Virginia Tech Hokies
Week 10 Result: 51-28 loss to SMU
Record: 6-3
Analysis: The Hokies looked like they had figured things out, winning back-to-back games, but had no answers for SMU on the road. It was a reminder that while James Franklin has done a lot in Year One, they still have a way to go.
6 - Clemson Tigers
Week 10 Result: 18-13 win over Syracuse
Record: 6-3
Analysis: It is not pretty, but Clemson is starting to find ways to win games. The Tigers did not get an offensive touchdown, but four field goals and a defensive touchdown were enough for them to sneak past a scrappy Syracuse team. They have a long way to go before they are back to being Clemson, but they are far from an easy out.
5 - SMU Mustangs
Week 10 Result: 51-28 win over Virginia Tech
Record: 7-2
Analysis: The Mustangs easily handed the Hokies on Friday night, taking a 10-0 lead in the first quarter before pulling away in the third quarter after a surge from Virginia Tech. Kevin Jennings had one of his most efficient games of the season, completing 24 of his 32 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns, showing why he is one of the top quarterbacks in the ACC.
4 - Louisville Cardinals
Week 10 Result: 44-17 win over Georgia Tech
Record: 6-3
Analysis: The Cardinals cruised past the Yellow Jackets, taking a 27-10 lead at halftime en route to their fourth straight win. They ran the ball at will, racking up 251 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 7.0 yards per carry. They are a dangerous team and are on a collision course with Kentucky to end the season.
3 - Duke Blue Devils
Week 10 Result: 41-3 win over NC State
Record: 7-2
Analysis: The Blue Devils have completely moved on from their two-game losing streak in the middle of October, picking up their second-straight blowout win. Nate Sheppard is one of the best players in the country, and they will have a chance to make a statement next week when they play the Miami Hurricanes, a game they have to win to stay alive in the ACC race.
2 - Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Week 10 Result: 77-10 win over Merrimack
Record: 8-1
Analysis: Wake Forest and Jake Dickert just keep winning. Sure it wasn't against the toughest competetion, but scoring 77 points with a second- and third-string quarterback will always be impressive. The Demon Deacons have a path to setting up a rematch with Miami in the ACC Championship Game and making the College Football Playoff.
1 - Miami Hurricanes
Week 10 Result: 31-24 loss to Notre Dame
Record: 8-1
Analysis: Miami stays at the top spot even after suffering their first loss of the season. Miami was without Malachi Toney and looked to be in trouble early, but fought back to give Notre Dame everything they wanted. Cooper Barkate and Elija Loftin stepped up in his absence, and Darian Mensah will need to lean on them until they get Toney back in the postseason.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: ACC power rankings after Week 10: Does Miami stay No. 1?
