At the midseason point of the 2026 season, it is becoming clear that there is no for-sure top team in any part of college football, nor in any conference.
Miami, the overwhelming favorite to win the ACC, went to two overtimes at home this past Saturday against rival Florida State, while Duke lost to its rival, UNC, as Bill Belichick quietly leads his team 4-2 and 2-1 in conference play.
Here is how ESPN’s Football Power Index sees the rest of the Blue Devils’ schedule playing out.
Week 8: at UVA (50.5 percent)
Friday night’s matchup in Charlottesville is a rematch of last season’s title game, but also vital for the Blue Devils to get off the mat after two straight losses.
Week 9: vs. Boston College (83.0 percent)
The Eagles upset Pitt this past Saturday, but that was with the Panthers using a backup quarterback.
Week 10: at NC State (64.5 percent)
After
an upset win against Louisville, the Wolfpack came back to earth, getting routed by Wake Forest 38-14.
Week 11: at No. 1 Miami (6.8 percent)
Now ranked No. 1 in the country, it took two overtimes (and a controversial holding penalty) to ward off rival Florida State.
Week 12: vs. Clemson (60.2 percent)
The Tigers return to ACC play after an easy win over Charleston Southern.
Week 13: at No. 17 Wake Forest (23.7 percent)
The Demon Deacons are rolling under Jake Dickert and look like the only competition to Miami for the conference title.
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This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Projecting rest of Duke football's 2026 season using ESPN FPI rankings
