Syracuse, N.Y. — The ACC is beating up on itself at an interesting time. On one hand, some of the league’s teams are playing themselves into better bowl games. On the other hand, the conference championship picture is getting increasingly cloudy.
As it stands, Miami is the ACC’s highest ranked team. However, the Hurricanes need help getting to Charlotte.
Georgia Tech emerged as the ACC’s safest bet in October, even reaching the AP Top 10 before a November collapse.
As the final week of the regular season approaches, being a two-bid conference seems outside the realm of possibility for the ACC. With all things considered, here’s how the ACC’s teams stack up against each other.
1. Southern Methodist (8-3, 6-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 1; 38-6 win vs. Louisville
This week’s schedule: Saturday at California, 8 p.m., ESPN2
Why No. 1? SMU is right back where it was last season. It’s a ranked team in the AP poll that controls its own conference championship destiny.
The Mustangs have been the most consistent ACC team since conference play started, and their only loss was by one point on the road. Whether they can win a playoff game is a different discussion, but they’ve earned their spot at No. 1 in the ACC.
2. Virginia (9-2, 6-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 2; OFF
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Virginia Tech, 7 p.m., ESPN
Why No. 2? The Cavaliers have gotten their reward from hiring Tony Elliott. Like SMU, their only hiccup is against Wake Forest — which says a lot about the Demon Deacons.
While the ACC will probably be better off with UVA and SMU losing Saturday for the sake of Miami, expect a Mustangs-Cavaliers championship game.
3. Miami (9-2, 5-2)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 5; 34-17 win at Virginia Tech
This week’s schedule: Saturday at No. 24 Pittsburgh, noon, ABC
Why No. 3? If the Associated Press and College Football Playoff Selection Committee think similarly, then Miami needs playoff help.
The Hurricanes are the best team in the ACC. The problem is they don’t have championship habits, leading to their two conference losses.
Desperation and a chance to play spoiler to Pitt should be all it takes for Miami to play inspired football to close the regular season.
4. Pittsburgh (8-3, 6-1)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 6; 42-28 win at No. 23 Georgia Tech
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. No. 13 Miami, noon, ABC
Why No. 4? Pat Narduzzi sent the message against Notre Dame that ACC play is all that matters in Pittsburgh.
The Panthers will have to play like it against a desperate team Saturday. Their last time in the noon slot on ABC was the blowout against the Irish. That can’t happen again against Miami in another home game.
5. Georgia Tech (9-2, 6-2)
Last week’s ranking: No. 3; 42-28 loss vs. No. 24 Pitt
This week’s schedule: Friday vs. No. 4 Georgia, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Why No. 5? The Yellow Jackets went from being the ACC’s Cinderella story to a team haunted by the same issues.
The scoreboard doesn’t tell the full story of their loss to Pitt. Georgia Tech’s defense started off too slow and derailed the season.
Brent Key’s main goal of the offseason should be to build an elite ACC defense.
6. Wake Forest (8-3, 4-3)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 7; 52-14 win vs. Delaware
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Duke, 3:30 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 6? Wake Forest is the most surprising ACC team of 2025. It’ll likely own a win against the eventual conference champion and is going bowling for the first time in three years.
The Deacons play gritty football that makes any team have to take them seriously. They are the best team in the Carolinas this season.
7. Louisville (7-4, 4-4)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 4; 38-6 loss at No. 25 SMU
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Kentucky, noon, ACC Network
Why No. 7? Louisville dropped the ball this season. It absolutely could’ve beaten No. 17 Virginia and did not maintain its momentum after upsetting Miami.
Quarterback Miller Moss’s injury derailed the Cardinals against SMU. They’ll be playing for momentum and to ruin Kentucky’s bowl dreams this week.
8. Duke (6-5, 5-2)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 10; 32-25 win at North Carolina
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Wake Forest, 3:30 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 8? The Blue Devils have been good in ACC play but underwhelming overall. A loss to North Carolina could’ve negated all positive vibes, though, so they deserve credit for winning the Victory Bell.
However, coach Manny Diaz will have to prove he can have consistency with his teams moving forward.
9. N.C. State (6-5, 3-4)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 12; 21-11 win vs. Florida State
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. North Carolina, 7:30 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 9? The Wolfpack can go places if Dave Doeren is given money to retain his talent.
N.C. State completely stifled Florida State on Friday and has an offense that could’ve sneakily been among the best in the nation if wide receiver Kevin Concepcion didn’t leave for Texas A&M. Watch out for the Wolfpack in the future.
10. Clemson (6-5, 4-4)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 9; 45-10 win vs. Furman
This week’s schedule: Saturday at South Carolina, noon, SEC Network
Why No. 10? Clemson’s season got off to a slow start, losing home games to Syracuse and Duke for the first time in forever.
However, the Tigers have the chance to finish this season on a four-game winning streak. They’ve gotten hot at the right time to save their bowl eligibility and be ready to win the Palmetto Trophy.
But 7-5 isn’t what Clemson plays for. The Tigers maybe have one more year to get it together before personnel changes are made.
11. Florida State (5-6, 2-6)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 11; 21-11 loss at N.C. State
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Florida, 4:30 p.m., ESPN2
Why No. 11? Florida State says coach Mike Norvell will return to Tallahassee next season.
Florida State’s 13-0 season was magical, but it has gone 7-17 since winning the 2023 ACC title game. This season was an improvement from 2024, but the Seminoles are in the same boat as Clemson.
A Florida State offense should never look the way it did against N.C. State. The Seminoles lack explosiveness and don’t have the defense to make up for that.
12. California (6-5, 3-4)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 8; 31-10 loss at Stanford
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. SMU, 8 p.m., ESPN2
Why No. 12? Cal lost its biggest game of the season in blowout fashion to a bad team. It was yet another example of how difficult it is to rank the Golden Bears in an average ACC.
They’ll go bowling again, but it won’t be a high-profile game.
13. North Carolina (4-7, 2-5)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 13; 32-25 loss vs. Duke
This week’s schedule: Saturday at N.C. State, 7:30 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 13? The Tar Heels seem to have lost their momentum. They’ve dropped back-to-back games against their Tobacco Road rivals after finally being able to win back-to-back games.
This season has been about Bill Belichick and his staff learning the college football landscape. The Tar Heels should be fine in the future if they continue to adapt.
14. Stanford (4-7, 3-5)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 15; 31-10 win vs. California
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. No. 9 Notre Dame, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Why No. 14? The Cardinal has no pattern to its season. This was a lost year from the beginning, so beating Cal goes a long way.
Unfortunately, Notre Dame is about to embarrass another bad ACC team.
15. Virginia Tech (3-8, 2-5)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 14; 34-17 loss vs. No. 13 Miami
This week’s schedule: Saturday at No. 17 Virginia, 7 p.m., ESPN
Why No. 15? The Hokies have their head coach, a head coach that has been great at recruiting the East Coast. Nothing that happens in the 2025 season matters anymore simply because of that.
16. Boston College (1-10, 0-7)
Last week’s power ranking/result: No. 17; OFF
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Syracuse, 3 p.m., The CW
Why No. 16? The only good news for the Eagles this season is that last place isn’t a guarantee. Football is in the gutter and basketball has already lost to two mid-major programs. It’s time for the folks in Chestnut Hill to invest in athletics.
17. Syracuse (3-8, 1-6)
Last week’s ranking: No. 16; 70-7 loss at No. 9 Notre Dame
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Boston College, 3 p.m., The CW
Why No. 17? That was Syracuse’s worst loss since the 1890s. After a full season, athletic director John Wildhack has proven himself correct to not rush a contract extension for coach Fran Brown.
Syracuse didn’t look like an FBS program against the Irish. It got embarrassed on national television for a game that won’t even count toward the ACC’s revenue distribution.
Now, Syracuse fans get the pleasure of watching the men’s basketball team against Houston and Kansas in Las Vegas.
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