The ACC title race has narrowed down to a thrilling, unpredictable three-team battle! After Week 10 saw the conference’s last two undefeated teams fall—Georgia Tech to NC State and Miami to SMU—the landscape has shifted entirely. Now, Virginia stands alone as the only team without an ACC loss.
Here is your updated ACC football power rankings blog post through Week 10.
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College Football Viewing Guide, Week 11
ACC Power Rankings: Week 10 Fallout
The Week 10 Scoreboard Highlights
- NC State 48, #7 Georgia Tech 36 (Wolfpack crush the Yellow Jackets’ perfect run)
- SMU 26, #9 Miami 20 (OT) (Mustangs win an overtime thriller, handing Miami its first loss)
- #12 Virginia 31, California 21 (Cavaliers gut out a road win to stay perfect in league play)
- #19 Louisville 28, Virginia Tech 16 (Cardinals overcome a slow start for a definitive win)
- #25 Pitt 35, Stanford 20 (Panthers win fifth straight behind new QB)
- Florida State 42, Wake Forest 7 (Seminoles get their first ACC win in a blowout)
- North Carolina 27, Syracuse 10 (Tar Heels pick up a much-needed road victory)
- Duke 46, Clemson 45 (OT) (Blue Devils win a classic rivalry game)
The Rankings
Tier 1: The Championship Contenders (Control Their Destiny)
- Virginia Cavaliers (8-1, 5-0 ACC) Somehow, someway, Tony Elliott’s team remains the only program without a conference loss after a gritty road win against Cal. They close out the season with Wake Forest, Duke, and Virginia Tech, meaning they control their destiny to reach the ACC Championship Game. Next Week: vs. Wake Forest (Saturday, 7:00 PM ET)
- Louisville Cardinals (7-1, 4-1 ACC) Louisville continues its powerful march, dominating Virginia Tech 28-16. Their only loss is the fluky overtime defeat to Virginia. With an elite overall record and impressive talent, they are poised to climb quickly if Virginia slips. Next Week: vs. California (Saturday, 7:00 PM ET)
- Pittsburgh Panthers (7-2, 5-1 ACC) The Panthers are the hottest team in the league. They extended their winning streak to five by beating Stanford 35-20. Since switching to true freshman QB Mason Heintschel, the offense has exploded, giving them a strong 5-1 conference record. They face their toughest test next week. Next Week: vs. #13 Notre Dame (Saturday, 12:00 PM ET)
Tier 2: Fighting for the Second Spot
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-1, 5-1 ACC) The Yellow Jackets’ magical undefeated run ended in a 48-36 shootout loss to NC State, primarily due to defensive struggles. Despite the setback, they own an excellent overall record and a key win over Duke. They remain very much alive, but their margin for error is gone. Next Week: vs. Syracuse (Saturday, 12:00 PM ET)
- SMU Mustangs (6-3, 4-1 ACC) The Mustangs pulled off the upset of the week, beating Miami 26-20 in overtime. They are now 4-1 in the league and back in the picture for the ACC Championship. The tough win gives them confidence heading into a crucial road matchup. Next Week: at Wake Forest (Saturday, 12:00 PM ET)
- Duke Blue Devils (5-3, 4-1 ACC) Duke managed to win a heart-stopping rivalry game against Clemson 46-45 in overtime. The victory keeps them at 4-1 in the conference, tied with Louisville and SMU. Their fate rests on a big divisional game this week. Next Week: BYE
Tier 3: In the Mix for Bowl Eligibility
- Miami Hurricanes (6-2, 2-2 ACC) Miami’s season narrative has flipped after their overtime loss to SMU. The offense struggled, and the defense couldn’t make the critical stop. They are loaded with talent, but at 2-2 in league play, they need to win out and get help to reach the title game. Next Week: vs. Stanford (Saturday, 7:00 PM ET)
- California Golden Bears (5-4, 2-3 ACC) Cal fought hard but ultimately lost to Virginia 31-21, dropping their conference record to 2-3. The loss of momentum makes their path to bowl eligibility tricky. Next Week: at Louisville (Saturday, 7:00 PM ET)
- NC State Wolfpack (5-4, 2-3 ACC) The Wolfpack shocked the league by lighting up Georgia Tech’s defense for 48 points in a monumental win. This gives them a massive momentum boost and keeps their bowl hopes alive. Next Week: at Pittsburgh (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET)
- Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-3, 2-3 ACC) The Demon Deacons took a step backward with a huge loss to Florida State, 42-7. They are still bowl eligible, but need a quick rebound to stay relevant in the cluttered middle of the ACC. Next Week: vs. SMU (Saturday, 12:00 PM ET)
Tier 4: Bottom of the Standings
- Florida State Seminoles (4-4, 1-4 ACC) FSU finally got a win, routing Wake Forest 42-7. This victory, combined with their early-season win over Alabama, shows the talent is there, even if the conference losses have piled up. Next Week: vs. Clemson (Saturday, 7:00 PM ET)
- Virginia Tech Hokies (3-6, 2-4 ACC) The Hokies lost to Louisville 28-16. Despite their best efforts, their overall record is 3-6, and they are now fighting for pride in the final weeks. Next Week: vs. California (Friday, 7:30 PM ET)
- Clemson Tigers (3-5, 2-4 ACC) Clemson is in freefall, losing a heartbreaking overtime game to Duke 46-45. At 3-5 overall, they are now fighting to avoid missing a bowl game. Next Week: at Florida State (Saturday, 7:00 PM ET)
- North Carolina Tar Heels (3-5, 1-3 ACC) UNC finally secured a conference win, beating Syracuse 27-10. This victory is crucial for Bill Belichick’s squad, keeping their faint bowl hopes alive. Next Week: vs. Stanford (Saturday, 4:30 PM ET)
- Syracuse Orange (3-6, 1-5 ACC) Syracuse suffered a tough home loss to North Carolina, 27-10. The season is falling apart for the Orange, who are struggling massively on offense without their starting quarterback. Next Week: at #7 Georgia Tech (Saturday, 12:00 PM ET)
- Stanford Cardinal (3-6, 2-4 ACC) The Cardinals dropped their latest contest to Pitt, 35-20. They are showing fight but are running out of games to reach the six-win mark. Next Week: at #9 Miami (Saturday, 7:00 PM ET)
- Boston College Eagles (1-8, 0-5 ACC) The Eagles lost to Notre Dame 25-10. They remain winless in the ACC, and the season is firmly focused on the rebuild. Next Week: at #19 Louisville (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET)
