Syracuse, N.Y. — The ACC had arguably the most interesting weekend of any conference. A changing of the guard was signaled, a Cinderella story was halted and a head coach was fired after just three games.
The weekend had some good and some bad. One team lost a heated rivalry game while another scored nine touchdowns. One team lost to a Group of Five school after taking its quarterback in the transfer portal.
Through three weeks and a few early conference games, there is some clarity developing in ACC. With one week remaining until the full conference truly dives into league play, here’s how each team stacks up against each other.
1. Miami (3-0)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 1; 49-12 win vs. South Florida
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Florida, 7:30 p.m., ABC
Why No. 1? For two weeks, USF looked like a team that wanted to separate from FAU and FIU and enter the Florida Cup conversation. Saturday proved, however, that the Hurricanes are currently the best team in Florida.
It also proved, which does not bode well for the Bulls and the American Conference, that USF’s wins against Boise State and Florida weren’t all that impressive.
2. Florida State (2-0)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 2; OFF
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Kent State, 3:30 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 2? Miami has the current claim as the best team in Florida. That argument will be settled in 19 days when the Seminoles and Hurricanes meet in Tallahassee.
The ACC has waited for the day that Miami and Florida State compete for the conference title. Through three weeks, the folks in Charlotte are poised to get their wish.
3. Georgia Tech (3-0, 1-0)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 7; 24-21 win vs. Clemson
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Temple, 4:30 p.m., The CW
Why No. 3? The Yellow Jackets sent a message Saturday, a message saying they have arrived to spoil everyone’s plans.
Many will view Saturday’s game as an indictment against Clemson, which it was. But that game was just as much about what Brent Key has built in Atlanta.
Offense was never an issue for Georgia Tech. Now, the defense looks good enough not to lose the Yellow Jackets big games.
4. Louisville (2-0)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 4; OFF
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Bowling Green, noon, ACC Network
Why No. 4? Louisville had a bye week, as did James Madison — the Cardinals’ best opponent so far. A rough week around the margins in the ACC allows Louisville’s scary offense to stay put at No. 4.
5. SMU (2-1)
Last week’s ranking: No. 5; 28-10 win vs. Missouri St.
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Texas Christian, noon, ESPN2
Why No. 5? Losing to Baylor isn’t a bad thing this season, it just was bad for the nation’s No. 16 team as the ACC tries to get as many ranked teams as possible.
The Mustangs went to overtime with the Bears and lost a close game. They got back on track against a recent FBS call-up this weekend. While a larger blowout may have been expected, Missouri State and Delaware proved this weekend why they were promoted from FCS.
6. Clemson (1-2, 0-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 3; 24-21 loss at Georgia Tech
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Syracuse, noon, ESPN
Why No. 6? Clemson went from national title contender to unranked in the span of three weeks. The Tigers’ defense is just fine. Actually, it’s one of the best in the country.
But Dabo Swinney’s offense is tough to watch. Going down 16-0 to Troy and following that up with a loss to Georgia Tech is unacceptable for the Tigers.
It may be time to permanently close the door on the Tigers winning another national championship under Swinney.
7. Syracuse (2-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 8; 66-24 win vs. Colgate
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Clemson, noon, ESPN
Why No. 7? Steve Angeli leads the country in passing yards and the Orange got the confidence boost it needed heading into Clemson.
Syracuse’s defense is rough, but that offense will keep the Orange in games. With Clemson’s offense struggling the way it has, the Orange to cover the 16.5-point spread as underdogs is a sleeper bet.
8. N.C. State (3-0, 1-0)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 12; 34-24 win at Wake Forest
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Duke, 4 p.m., ESPN2
Why No. 8? The Wolfpack earned a tiebreaker in these power rankings. N.C. State’s advantage against California is its early conference win and another non-conference win against an ACC foe.
Thursday was scary for the Wolfpack. But a comeback in hostile territory against a Tobacco Road rival, that is better than expected, showed the toughness of Dave Doeren’s team.
If N.C. State can avoid losing C.J. Bailey and Hollywood Smothers to a higher bidder, then the future is bright in Raleigh.
9. California (3-0)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 10; 27-14 win vs. Minnesota
This week’s schedule: Saturday at San Diego State., 10:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Why No. 9? The Golden Bears needed a test after Oregon State proved to be a bad team this season. They got it in the form of Minnesota and passed with flying colors.
Cal’s defense is allowing fewer than 11 points per game and has a freshman quarterback with a 6:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Football may still be alive in the Bay Area.
10. Pittsburgh (2-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 6; 31-24 loss at West Virginia
This week’s schedule: OFF
Why No. 10? Was Ohio underrated? When that question is answered is when the college football world will learn how bad Pitt’s loss in Morgantown was.
Granted, the road team has not won the Backyard Brawl since West Virginia did it in 2010. Still, if Pitt wanted to prove that Eli Holstein made it an ACC title contender, it needed a win Saturday.
11. Virginia (2-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 13, 55-16 win vs. William & Mary
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Stanford, 7:30 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 11? Virginia has beaten the teams it’s supposed to and lost to another ACC opponent. That’s what is to be expected from the Cavaliers for the foreseeable future. A loss to Stanford won’t be friendly to Tony Elliot, though.
12. North Carolina (2-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 14, 41-6 win vs. Richmond
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Central Florida, 3:30 p.m., FOX
Why No. 12? The Tar Heels are much like their oldest football rival. They’ve beaten two teams they’re supposed to beat. Still, the TCU loss showed how much work remains to be done in Chapel Hill.
Scott Frost is in the process of rebuilding UCF again, which provides Bill Belichick an opportunity to steal a Power Four win on national television this week.
13. Duke (1-2)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 9, 34-27 loss at Tulane
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. N.C. State, 4 p.m., ESPN2
Why No. 13? Duke is right after Clemson in terms of the ACC’s most disappointing team thus far. Losing to No. 9 Illinois was acceptable. The score, however, was unexpected.
What is unacceptable, regardless of what Tulane has built, is losing to the Green Wave with its quarterback from last season.
Manny Diaz’s team has clearly regressed in his second year at the helm.
14. Wake Forest (2-1, 0-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 15, 34-24 loss vs. N.C. State
This week’s schedule: OFF
Why No. 14? The Demon Deacons had a great first half against N.C. State and appeared to be on their way to an upset.
For a team predicted to finish toward the bottom of the ACC, Thursday was a great showing. Things may not be all that bleak for Wake Forest.
15. Stanford (1-2, 1-0)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 17, 30-20 win vs. Boston College
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Virginia, 7:30 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 15? What a win for the Cardinal. After losses to Hawaii and Brigham Young, Stanford won its conference opener against a gritty Boston College team.
A win against Virginia will be the confidence boost that Andrew Luck and Frank Reich need throughout that program.
16. Boston College (1-2, 0-1)
Last week’s ranking: No. 11, 30-20 loss at Stanford
This week’s schedule: OFF
Why No. 16? The Eagles went from playing in arguably the game of the week against Michigan State to a crushing loss against Stanford. Losing to the team that was previously last in these power rankings forces Boston College to fall five spots.
Bill O’Brien needs this off week to get back to the drawing board and regroup for Cal.
17. Virginia Tech (0-3)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 16, 45-26 loss vs. Old Dominion
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Wofford, noon, ESPN+/ACC Extra
Why No. 17? And just like that, the Brent Pry era is finished. Stanford’s loss to Hawaii was the ACC’s worst loss of the season until Saturday.
Virginia Tech losing to Old Dominion is college football sacrilege, and a change needed to be made. This is a lost season for the Hokies. The focus now should be on investing serious money into a new coaching staff and NIL budget to get back to competing on the national level.