While there is still clarity at the top of the ACC pecking order, the conference’s middle and lower tiers are becoming increasingly muddled. We’ll do our best to make sense of it, though it’s fairly certain there will be more surprises ahead.
Here are our updated ACC power rankings as we prepare to bring October to a close.
1. Miami (7-0, 5-0)
Last week: 1.
This week: At North Carolina.
What to know: The Hurricanes’ offense continues to operate at a high level. The biggest concern this week is focus, as everyone must avoid peeking ahead to the following Saturday’s showdown at Notre Dame.
2. Wake Forest (6-1, 4-1)
Last week: 2.
This week: Virginia.
What to know: The off week went about as well as the Demon Deacons could have hoped with two potential challengers not on their schedule, Clemson and North Carolina, taking a second league loss. A tuneup with Merrimack follows this Halloween date with the Cavaliers, then it’s the trip to SMU that could determine a spot in the championship game.
3. SMU (6-1, 4-1)
Last week: 3.
This week: At Syracuse.
What to know: The Mustangs look to carry a nearly perfect second half against California over into a quicker start for this road contest. Important home dates with Virginia Tech and Wake Forest are on the horizon.
4. Virginia Tech (6-2, 3-2)
Last week: 7.
This week: Open date.
What to know: A gutsy fourth-down conversion in the red zone propelled the Hokies to a huge win in Death Valley. Future road dates with SMU and Miami make a title game appearance a long shot, but year one under James Franklin has brought significant progress with bowl eligibility already achieved.
5. Duke (5-2, 2-2)
Last week: 9.
This week: Boston College.
What to know: Nate Sheppard picked a good time to add a TD pass to his 13 combined scores rushing and receiving. The Blue Devils need to defend their home field here with November road dates at Miami and Wake Forest to come.
6. Louisville (4-3, 3-2)
Last week: 6.
This week: Stanford.
What to know: The Cardinals’ slate to close out conference play is quite manageable, but unfortunately they don’t get to undo their result against NC State. This should be a chance for Lincoln Kienholz and Isaac Brown to put up big numbers as long as they don’t give the ball away.
7. Clemson (4-3, 2-2)
Last week: 4.
This week: At Florida State.
What to know: This feels like a make-or-break game for these two programs with restless fan bases. At some point, the Tigers’ offensive brain trust must let Tait Reynolds take some deep shots.
8. North Carolina (4-3, 2-2)
Last week: 5.
This week: Miami.
What to know: After seeing the Tar Heels lose to the league’s last winless team, their fans might have a hard time expecting them to turn around and beat the conference’s lone undefeated squad. Still, there are yards to be had against the Hurricanes’ secondary if Billy Edwards Jr. and Jordan Shipp can get on the same page.
9. Florida State (3-4, 1-3)
Last week: 11.
This week: Clemson.
What to know: The Seminoles take the field for the first time since pushing Miami to double overtime with their fans equally torn between hope and despair. A few well-placed big plays might be enough to get by Clemson, but injured RB Ousmane Kromah will be missed.
10. Pittsburgh (5-3, 2-3)
Last week: 8.
This week: Georgia Tech.
What to know: The Panthers continue to look for answers at QB after Mason Heintschel’s season was cut short. Holden Geriner has regained the job for now, and he figures to get more ground help this week against the Yellow Jackets’ leaky run defense.
11. Boston College (4-3, 2-2)
Last week: 12.
This week: At Duke.
What to know: The good news for the Eagles is they need just two more wins to go bowling, but with Notre Dame and Miami still on their dance card they must either steal one here or next week at home against Florida State to get to six victories. Mason McKenzie is the league’s top rushing QB, though his aerial accuracy still needs work.
12. Virginia (4-4, 2-3)
Last week: 10.
This week: At Wake Forest.
What to know: The low-risk, low-reward approach with Beau Pribula at QB isn’t working. The Virginia defense has played well enough to keep them in the last couple of games, but an early deficit at Wake could make for a long afternoon.
13. Stanford (4-4, 2-3)
Last week: 15.
This week: At Louisville.
What to know: The Cardinal kept their faint bowl hopes alive by upending NC State, but finding two more victories will be difficult. Staying ahead of the chains will be the top priority for Davis Warren as he looks to keep the potent Louisville offense off the field.
14. California (3-5, 2-3)
Last week: 14.
This week: At NC State.
What to know: The Golden Bears looked very good for a half in Dallas, but they must either win this game in Raleigh or two weeks from now at UVa to have any shot at a bowl. A clean outing from Jeron-Keawe Sagapolutele would help.
15. Syracuse (3-4, 1-4)
Last week: 17.
This week: SMU.
What to know: It was quite literally as close as it could have been, but a win in Chapel Hill gets the Orange out of the cellar for now. Having Steve Angeli back at QB didn’t hurt, but he likely won’t be able to match SMU’s fire power.
16. Georgia Tech (2-5, 1-3)
Last week: 16.
This week: At Pittsburgh.
What to know: The Yellow Jackets are running out of opportunities for a second ACC victory. The beleaguered defense might get a few stops against the short-handed Panthers, so Alberto Mendoza must help them with an error-free performance.
17. NC State (3-4, 1-3)
Last week: 13.
This week: California.
What to know: Being the first program in the conference to dump its head coach lands the Wolfpack in last place. This game is winnable if the upperclassmen can rally the troops, but it’s fair to wonder about the team’s level of interest.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virginia Tech rises as ACC power rankings get major change after Week 8