ACC Power Rankings: Week 3

#1 Clemson (3-0, 2-0) (LW:#1)

Week three brought another weekend of Clemson rolling over an outmatched opponent and flexing their depth, playing 71 of the 72 players that traveled to Syracuse. The first three weeks remind me of an episode of “Frasier” where Frasier and Niles return from dinner and Frasier says the meal was amazing, but Niles laments about the lack of cognac selection. Frasier points out that the only thing better than an exquisite meal is an exquisite meal with one tiny flaw that they can pick at all night. I feel that’s true for many Clemson fans. We’ve had three blowout wins, but they’ve all had flaws that allow fans to analyze and discuss it all week. Hopefully we can use our upcoming game against Charlotte to finally have that perfect game and keep everyone quiet for a week. Also we need more running back dance parties on the sideline.

#2 Notre Dame (2-0, 1-0 vs ACC) (LW:#2)

Notre Dame ran through New Mexico to the tune of a 66-14 win. Now they’ll head to Athens for a big date with UGA.

#3 Virginia (3-0, 2-0) (LW:#3)

UVA survived against FSU, thanks in part to some questionable playcalling at the end by the Noles. UVA fans rushed the field after beating the sadsack Florida State team which led to some twitter pearl clutching. Stop it. College football should be fun. Wahoo fans should rush the field after all of the games. Maybe make it a tradition. You can call it “Gathering at the V”. Works for us! The Cavs host Old Dominion on Saturday.

#4 Wake Forest (3-0, technically still 0-0) (LW:#7)

Wake knocked off UNC in a non-conference game. The Deacs are playing well, although they let UNC get back into the game and nearly blew it. Wake hosts Elon on Saturday.

#5 North Carolina (2-1, 1-1) (LW:#3)

UNC fought hard to come back, but the Heels got their first loss of the Mack Brown era. UNC ran out of time, which gave us a trip down memory lane.

UNC hosts App State on Saturday.

#6 Duke (2-1, 0-0) (LW: T#9)

Duke drubbed Middle Tennessee State in Murfreesboro 41-18. Duke has the week off before opening conference at Virginia Tech on Friday September 27.

#7 Louisville (2-1, 0-0) (LW:T#9)

The Cards survived Western Kentucky 38-21 in a shootout in Nashville. This week the Ville travels to Tallahassee to try to avenge last year’s stupid loss against FSU.

#8 Boston College (2-1, 1-0) (LW: #6)

It seemed shocking, but a Les Miles led Kansas team coming off an epic loss to Coastal Carolina playing on Friday the 13th was bound to win, right? The Eagles were stomped by Kansas. This was Kansas first P5 road win since ‘08 and first P5 win since they beat Texas a few years ago. Yes, Kansas beat Texas in recent memory (it was the final straw for Charlie Strong’s run there). BC now heads to Rutgers on Saturday. I’m not an academic necessarily, but if you lose back-to-back to Kansas and Rutgers I think you get stripped of your accreditation.

#9 Syracuse (1-2, 0-1) (LW:#8)

It wasn’t always the complete beatdown of Syracuse football that we all wanted, but a 41-6 win where we play most of our roster is pretty rewarding. ‘Cuse hosts Western Michigan this week, who gave a better Orangemen team trouble last year. But hey, maybe it’ll be a better week for this ‘Cuse fan.

#10 NC State (2-1, 0-0) (LW:#5)

NC State got exposed against a not great West Virginia team, 44-27. The Pack can get back on the winning track as Ball State comes to town this week.

#11 Virginia Tech (2-1, 0-1) (LW:#11)

The Hokies escaped against Furman 24-17 to make sure the ACC only had one loss against the SoCon for the day (more on that later). Good news for Hokie fans is they get a week off from watching this team before they host Duke next week.

#12 Miami (1-2, 0-1) (LW:#14)

Miami won? Miami won! The ‘Canes blewout Bethune Cookman 63-0 and a walk-on player gave us an, umm, interesting touchdown celebration.

It was over the top, but I’m happy for the kid. The U hosts Central Michigan on Saturday.

#13 Pitt (1-2, 0-1) (LW:#13)

I’ll eat crow, because last week I stated the Penn State-Pitt game would be a blowout and the Panthers tried their damndest to get an upset, if it weren’t for Pat Narduzzi’s late game coaching. The Panthers will host UCF this weekend, and I’m not even gonna try to speculate on this.

#14 Georgia Tech (1-2, 0-1) (LW:#12)

Georgia Tech, who ran the option for ten years, could not handle the Citadel’s option and lost in overtime. Ga Tech scored what would’ve been the game winning touchdown, but it was negated by Geoff Collins calling a timeout right before the play. Losing to a FCS school in year one of a new coach is one thing. Getting tripped up by a FCS option team is another. But for a team that should know the option inside and out to lose like this is bad. Adding Collins’s timeout, and this was just an ugly loss for the Jackets. GT gets the week off before heading to Philly to take on Collins’s old squad, the Temple Owls.

#15 Florida State (1-2, 0-1) (LW:#15)

The Noles came up short against UVA. An improved Louisville team is coming to town. FSU showed a lot of fight against UVA, and being able to knock off the Cards would be a huge step in the right direction.