Clemson, S.C. — The ACC is officially in a new era. Miami and Florida State have returned to the mountaintop, for now, and Clemson is no longer the big bad wolf.
In fact, the Tigers are no longer one of the best teams in the ACC. Meanwhile, Syracuse and Georgia Tech’s resurgences are continuing in positive directions.
Still, the conference needs more consistency from its teams. SMU looks nothing like the team that went to Charlotte last December and California’s undefeated streak was halted by San Diego State on Saturday.
While Duke was able to get back on track, it was against a conference opponent, which signals the time of year. ACC teams can do nothing but beat up on each other from here on out — except those that play Notre Dame and non-conference rivals in November.
As the race to Charlotte gets underway, here’s how each ACC team stacks up against each other.
1. Miami (4-0)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 1; 26-7 win vs. Florida
This week’s schedule: OFF
Why No. 1? Miami can claim responsibility for Notre Dame and South Florida being unranked and began Florida Cup play with a dominant win against the Gators.
Mario Cristobal’s defense is smothering opponents and the change of scenery from Athens to Coral Gables has meant the world for Carson Beck’s performance. Through four games, it appears that only Florida State, Georgia Tech and Syracuse can compete with the Hurricanes.
Miami is off next week before traveling to Tallahassee and hosts Syracuse in early November. Until then, the Hurricanes run the ACC.
2. Florida State (3-0)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 2; 66-10 win vs. Kent State
This week’s schedule: Friday at Virginia, 7 p.m., ESPN
Why No. 2? Florida State has had it easy since its season-opening win against Alabama. Still, it was an impressive win against one of the better teams in the nation’s best conference.
The last two games have been about taking care of business for the Seminoles. They’ll finally have somewhat of a test on Friday, though.
As much as Florida State may want to get its hands on Miami, Friday’s game in Virginia can be trouble if the Seminoles overlook the Cavaliers.
3. Georgia Tech (4-0, 1-0)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 3; 45-24 win vs. Temple
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Wake Forest, noon, ESPN
Why No. 3? Georgia Tech took Geoff Collins from Temple after the 2018 season. Almost seven years later, the Yellow Jackets made sure Temple finished its nonconference slate 0-2 against Power 4 opponents.
There is no slowing down Brent Key’s offense right now and the Yellow Jackets avoided the Florida teams in their conference schedule.
If Georgia Tech can get its revenge against Syracuse on Oct. 25, it can make its first ACC title game since 2014.
4. Syracuse (3-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 7; 34-21 win at Clemson
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Duke, noon, ACC Network
Why No. 4? The last three weeks have revealed two things: Jeff Nixon will be a head coach and Tennessee is just that good.
Syracuse’s offense is dangerous. Will that continue with Rickie Collins under center? That question will begin to be answered against Duke.
Still, Saturday’s win in Death Valley proved that not many teams in the ACC are better than the Orange. Fran Brown is continuing to turn the program around, and Syracuse is the most likely team to join Miami, Florida State and Georgia Tech in the AP poll this season.
5. Louisville (3-0)
Last week’s ranking: No. 4; 40-17 win vs. Bowling Green
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Pittsburgh, noon, ESPN2
Why No. 5? Louisville’s power ranking, because of its weak schedule, has everything to do with last season’s success and the Cardinals’ ability to replicate it so far on offense.
If conference play will reveal the truth about any ACC team, it’s Miller Moss and Louisville.
6. SMU (2-2)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 5; 35-24 loss at Texas Christian
This week’s schedule: OFF
Why No. 6? Simple and plain, the Mustangs missed a golden opportunity this season. They blew a lead against a good Baylor team and let Saturday’s game get away from them.
SMU had the chance to enter conference play undefeated with two very strong Big 12 wins. Instead, the Mustangs enter with a loss to their former coach in the final Iron Skillet game of the foreseeable future.
7. Virginia (3-1, 1-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 11; 48-20 win vs. Stanford
This week’s schedule: Friday vs. Florida State, 7 p.m., ESPN
Why No. 7? How about Chandler Morris?! The senior quarterback is up to 1,050 passing yards with an 8:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio this season.
The Cavs’ only loss this season was by four points in Raleigh. This is a team that can alter some plans in the ACC.
8. Duke (2-2, 1-0)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 13; 45-33 win vs. N.C. State
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Syracuse, noon, ACC Network
Why No. 8? Duke desperately needed a win Saturday after last week’s loss to Tulane. Last week, the Blue Devils played their quarterback’s former team. This year, Manny Diaz will coach against one of his former assistants in Brown — even if it was for two weeks.
For morale’s sake, Duke needs to beat Syracuse and its backup quarterback. However, Duke’s defense has yet to live up to the reputation of its head coach this season, which doesn’t bode well against the Orange.
9. Pittsburgh (2-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 10; OFF
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Louisville, noon, ESPN2
Why No. 9? Pitt began the season looking like last year’s ACC darkhorse before Eli Holstein’s injury. But the Panthers’ last loss to West Virginia is officially bad.
The Mountaineers entered that game with a loss to Ohio and followed the Backyard Brawl with a 31-point loss at Kansas.
Pat Narduzzi’s team is in must-win territory this week.
10. N.C. State (3-1, 2-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 8; 45-33 loss at Duke
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Virginia Tech, 7 p.m., The CW
Why No. 10? The Wolfpack ran up against a team that’s further along in its development than they are. N.C. State scored 33 points in a loss, which showed its offense is perfectly fine.
However, allowing 45 points to Duke is unacceptable. Once Dave Doeren addresses that defense, N.C. State will cause problems in the ACC.
11. Clemson (1-3, 0-2)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 6, 34-21 loss vs. Syracuse
This week’s schedule: OFF
Why No. 11? Clemson’s reign is finished. Losing to Georgia Tech and Syracuse used to be unfathomable in Death Valley. Losing to them in the same season would be thought of as lunacy.
But losing to those schools in consecutive weeks can only be described with words that haven’t made it into the dictionary yet.
Dabo Swinney has to return to the drawing board because Clemson is no longer the program that he led to two national championships.
12. California (3-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 9, 34-0 loss at San Diego State
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Boston College, 3:30 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 12? Were the Golden Bears fool’s gold? A Power 4 school losing at San Diego State is nothing to write home about during basketball season, but that’s more than a month away.
Not only did Cal lose, but it was shut out. Just like that, college football appears gloomy in the Bay Area once again.
13. Wake Forest (2-1, 0-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 14, OFF
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Georgia Tech, noon, ESPN
Why No. 13? Wake Forest may be the least talented team in the ACC, but the Demon Deacons don’t have the same problems as the teams below them in these rankings.
Check in next week after their loss to Georgia Tech.
14. UNC (2-2)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 12, 34-9 loss at Central Florida
This week’s schedule: OFF
Why No. 14? The Tar Heels did not look this bad under Mack Brown. In two games against Big 12 competition, UNC has been outscored 82-23.
Instead of turning the Tar Heels into the 33rd team, Bill Belichick needs to focus on making UNC respectable. Baby steps, Bill. Baby steps.
15. Stanford (1-3, 1-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 15, 48-20 loss at Virginia
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. San Jose State, 7:30 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 15? Stanford’s win against Boston College was encouraging, but then all of that went away Saturday.
Virginia is better than expected, but it isn’t 28 points better than a conference opponent. This projects to be a long season in Stanford, and the Cardinal is going to have to spend a lot of money to upgrade its roster.
16. Boston College (1-2, 0-1)
Last week’s ranking: No. 16, OFF
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. California, 3:30 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 16? The Eagles will kick themselves about that Stanford loss all season. They went to overtime against a very good Michigan State team and followed it up with an egg against one of the worst teams in the FBS.
Boston College will get back on track, but it has to reflect on just how bad that loss was for a little bit.
17. Virginia Tech (1-3)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 17, 38-6 win vs. Wofford
This week’s schedule: Saturday at N.C. State, 7 p.m., The CW
Why No. 17? As the only team without an FBS win this season, the Hokies have to be last in the power rankings.
This is a lost season, which is why Brent Pry was fired and why the Hokies plan to invest another $50 million into athletics, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on College Gameday.