ACC Power Rankings: Just Watching and Waiting

#1 Clemson (2-0, 1-0) LW: #1, Next Game: 10/2 vs Virginia, 8:00 PM ACCN.

Clemson had a open date and, dear reader, this was certainly the weekend to do so. Why? Because college football got weird this weekend. This week saw multiple upsets and teams surprisingly on the ropes. Oklahoma fell to Kansas State, meaning now Arkansas State has a transitive win over the Sooners. Georgia struggled early at Arkansas before switching up quarterbacks, bringing in Stetson Bennett to save the day. Yes, Stetson Bennett is, in fact, a UGA quarterback, not a midtown Atlanta law firm like I originally thought. Texas rallied to beat Texas Tech in overtime and Mike Leach welcomed himself to the SEC by beating LSU in Baton Rouge. It was a very entertaining week, but I’ll be happy to have our Tigers on my TV again come Saturday.

#2 Notre Dame (2-0, 1-0) LW: #2 Next Game: 10/10 vs FSU, 7:30 NBC.

Notre Dame’s game against Wake Forest was postponed due to COVID. The Irish have an open date this week and are then scheduled to welcome the Noles to Notre Dame on the 10th.

#3 Miami (3-0, 2-0) LW: #4 Next Game: 10/10 @ Clemson

My goodness. Miami absolutely destroyed a bad FSU team sans Mike Norvell. Does this mean the Canes are legit? Maybe. As good as Miami looked, FSU didn’t particularly help themselves out with plays like this.

But, still, this Miami team seems pretty good. I’ve got a good feeling we could see Gameday in Death Valley when the U comes to town on 10/10.

#4 Pitt (3-0, 2-0) LW:#5 Next Game: 10/3 vs NC State 12:00 PM ACCN

Pitt squeezed out a 23-20 win over Scott Satterfield’s Louisville squad. The Panthers are really coming into their own as a decent threat in the ACC. Also, THEY’RE LITERALLY DUNKING ON THE SIDELINE!

This is one of the better turnover props in college football. Hopefully we’ll see some more of it as they host NC State this weekend.

#5 North Carolina (1-0, 1-0) LW:#3 Next Game:10/3 @ Boston College 3:30 PM.

North Carolina had the weekend off. We’ll see what they got against Boston College.

#6 Virginia Tech (1-0, 1-0) LW:#6 Next Game: 10/3 @ Duke 4:00 PM ACCN.

Alexa, play “Enter Sandman.” The Hokies finally got to play actual football, and what did they do? They pretty handily took down NC State. Next they have a trip to Duke where they’ll look to avenge last year’s humiliating loss to the Devils.

#7 Virginia (1-0, 1-0) LW:#7 Next Game: 10/3 @ Clemson 8:00 PM ACCN.

UVA also finally got to play some football, and they comfortably took down Duke, 38-20. The Wahoos players even treated everyone to a “Cupid Shuffle” rendition during the fourth quarter.

Again, I’m very much on #TeamFun, so I like this. I just don’t think we’ll see much dancing from UVA Saturday night in Death Valley.

#8 Boston College (2-0, 1-0) LW:#12 Next Game: 10/3 vs UNC 3:30 PM ABC.

Doing ACC power rankings typically gets funny around this slot on the list because of things like this. Boston College eked out a home win against Texas State. I was watching this game, preparing to roast BC, but looking at the rest of the teams in the bottom sector, I really can’t. They’re 2-0 and everyone else down here isn’t great, so I guess congrats Eagles? You’re slightly less bad than the rest of this crew.

#9 Louisville (1-2, 0-2) LW: #8 Next Game: 10/9 @ Georgia Tech 7:00 PM ESPN

Year two for Scott Satterfield is off to a rough start as the Cards were edged 23-20 by Pitt. Definitely too early to write Louisville off, but it’s looking like we may have overhyped them a bit coming into the season. The Cards have a week off to prep for a Friday Night matchup next week at Georgia Tech. Good thing, since Malik Cunningham was carted off the field near the end of the game with Pitt. The good news is that he can move and feel everything. Cunningham is expected to make a full recovery.

#10 Syracuse (1-2, 1-1) LW: #15 Next Game: 10/10 vs Duke

The ‘Cuse found some life this weekend, laying a 37-20 win on Georgia Tech. Tommy DeVito went 13 for 24 for 194 yards and two touchdowns. Sean Tucker ran for two touchdowns and 124 yards. The Orange will be off this weekend, and then have a chance to put together a winning streak as they take on Duke.

#11 Georgia Tech (1-2, 1-1) LW: #9 Next Game: 10/9 vs Louisville 7:00 PM ESPN.

I said in the last article Tech could really show us a lot if they went up to Syracuse and took care of business. They did exactly the opposite. This shows that Geoff Collins still has some work to do on the Jackets. They’ll be off this week before that Louisville showdown.

#12 NC State (1-1, 1-1) LW:#10 Next Game: 10/3 @ Pitt 12:00 PM ACCN.

NC State followed up their decent opening game with a 45-24 loss to Virginia Tech. It doesn’t get much better for the Pack as they head to #24 Pitt.

#13 Florida State (0-2, 0-2) LW:#11 Next Game: 10/3 vs Jacksonville State 4:00 PM Regional TV.

FSU suffered a brutal loss at the hands of rival Miami. Starting off by blowing a 10 point lead to Georgia Tech and following it up with a beatdown at the hands of your rival really may be the worst way the Norvell era could have began, even with Norvell not actually coaching against the Canes. FSU can try to get a win Saturday with the Jacksonville State Gamecocks coming to Tallahassee. It the Noles somehow lose this one, it’s not going to be pretty.

#14 Wake (0-2) LW: #14 Next Game: 10/2 vs Campbell 7:00 PM ACCN.

After their game against Notre Dame getting postponed, we’ll be able to catch the Deacs in action Friday night as they host in-state foe Campbell.

#15 Duke (0-3, 0-3) LW: #13 Next Game: 10/3 vs Va Tech 4:00 PM ACCN.

Duke showed a bit more offense in their 38-20 loss to UVA. Chase Brice went 16/36 with 246 yards and two TDs but also tossed four interceptions. You really want to see Brice & company right the ship here, but with Va Tech coming to town, Duke may be staring down an 0-4 start.