ACC Power Rankings: Week 9

#1 Clemson (8-0, 6-0) (LW:#1)

ROY Bus/Champ phase Clemson is in full effect. This was the best Clemson has looked, albeit against a bad Boston College team. Trevor looked great, Diondre Overton had a career game, and we’ve got Ben Batson playing quarterback wearing #92. Personally, I think more college quarterbacks should consider wearing non-quarterback numbers. It was a solid blowout win with a good homecoming crowd. Really the only complaint I have was that Isaiah Simmons was robbed of a touchdown when the refs, in my opinion, didn’t call forward progress evenly and blew that one dead too quick. Hopefully Isaiah gets another chance to score this season.

#2 Wake Forest (6-1, 2-1) (LW:#3)

The Deacs were off over the weekend. Wake will host NC State Saturday.

#3 Notre Dame (5-2, 2-0 vs ACC) (LW:#2)

Week in and week out people ask “wHy Is NoTrE dAmE iN tHe AcC pOwEr RaNkInGs?” and look, I get it, including quasi-ACC team Notre Dame is controversial. But this week is when Notre Dame earned their ACC status. Notre Dame went to the Big House and laid an absolute egg, falling 45-14 in Ann Arbor. If you don’t think this kind of nonsense doesn’t make Notre Dame the perfect candidate to join the ACC Coastal I don’t know what to tell you. Embrace your destiny, ND. Join the Coastal, win 9-10 games with some stupid losses, and get beat by Clemson in the ACC Championship. Charlotte is a fun city with plenty of delicious craft beer options. Notre Dame hosts Virginia Tech on Saturday.

#4 Virginia (5-3, 3-2) (LW:T#4)

UVA falls to Louisville 28-21, but I don’t feel like I can drop the Wahoos because the rest of this league is a dumpster fire. With this loss plus some other craziness, the ACC Coastal is pretty much up for grabs.

I’m no math whiz, but if any engineering students at Georgia Tech want to run the numbers, I’m pretty sure the Jackets aren’t mathematically eliminated yet. UVA heads to Chapel Hill to face North Carolina, which could prove to have big ramifications (no pun intended) in the Coastal race.

#5 (Tied) North Carolina (4-4, 3-2) (LW#6)

The Heels have only lost two ACC games, since that Wake Forest game was technically a non-conference loss. The Heels knocked off Duke, 20-17, to win the Victory Bell. North Carolina has the big matchup at home with Virginia on Saturday. With a win they could take the Coastal Division and setup a juicy rematch with Clemson.

#5 (Tied) Virginia Tech (5-2, 2-2) (LW:#8)

I really should’ve ranked Virginia Tech higher last week, but I was still judging them based on that poor performance vs Duke. I know they beat UNC, but it was six overtimes, so I’d say it’s fair to have these teams tied. Virginia Tech was off, and will go to South Bend to face Notre Dame Saturday.

#7 Louisville (5-3, 3-2) (LW:#9)

Scott Satterfield really may have the Cardinals bowling, which is amazing given last season under Petrino. Louisville shocked ACC fans by upsetting Virginia. Louisville has a bye this week, and then will head to Miami for a showdown with the Canes.

#8 Pitt (5-3, 2-2) (LW(T#4)

I...I don’t have much to say. Pitt played a horrid game against a Miami team that we just witnessed lose to Georgia Tech. This was a bad game, so just enjoy large Pitt lineman dancing.

Pitt plays Georgia Tech in Atlanta Saturday.

#9 Duke (4-4, 2-3) (LW:#7)

Duke fell to rival North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The Devils will be off this weekend.

#10 Miami (4-4, 2-3) (LW:T#13)

Miami bounced back from the loss to Georgia Tech with a 16-12 win over Pitt. The game gave us a very, very odd spot.

ACC officials are becoming that one kid on the playground that keeps making up his own rules but you have to grin and bear it or he’ll take his ball home. Miami heads to Tallahassee this week for their rivalry game with Florida State.

#11 Florida State (4-4, 3-3) (LW:#15)

Florida State comfortably defeated Syracuse 35-17. This was a good win to build some confidence as Miami comes to town. Miami-Florida State won’t be the “best” game of the weekend, but it could be sneakily entertaining and should be close.

#12 Boston College (4-5, 2-3) (LW:#10)

Boston College looked incredibly overmatched against Clemson. While that is a pretty common theme in the ACC, Boston College looked a lot worse than Clemson’s other conference opponents, and the game was a lot more dominant than even the 52-point differential showed.

I also have a couple of issues with Boston College. First of all, I like the BC. I think they’ve been a good addition to the ACC, their fans have always been pleasant, and I really want to do the trip to Boston next year. I’ve been to their campus, but not for a game. Anyway, pleasantries aside, I didn’t like how Boston College ran on the field as Clemson was doing the presentation of Levon Kirkland’s enshrinement in the ring of honor. I doubt it was intentional, and probably was a lack of communication on Clemson’s part, but I hate that the cheers for Kirkland’s moment quickly turned to boos as the Eagles ran on the field. The other thing is how do you not let Richard Yeargin be a captain? You’ve got a Clemson alumnus who is still beloved by Tiger fans. You’ve got to let him have that moment on homecoming night. Those are minor things, obviously, but I felt it was worth addressing. BC heads to Syracuse to face the Orange.

#13 NC State (4-3, 1-2) (LW:#11)

The Pack didn’t play but I have to drop them because I didn’t quite realize how bad Boston College is, and that Boston College team demolished NC State. The Pack head to Winston-Salem for a matchup with Wake Forest.

#14 Syracuse (4-4, 1-3) (LW:#12)

‘Cuse lost 35-17 to Florida State. Now the Orangemen will host Boston College.

#15 Georgia Tech (2-5, 1-3) LW:T#13)

Georgia Tech enjoyed a bye weekend to continue celebrating the win over Miami. The Jackets will now host a Pitt team fresh off that loss to Miami.