The dust has finally settled on the 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season. The ACC delivered a chaotic 2025 campaign defined by unprecedented parity and the most confusing championship race in recent memory. An incredible six teams finished with either a 7-1 or 6-2 conference record, leading to tiebreaker chaos that set the stage for the highly anticipated Championship Game, where Virginia and Duke will meet in Charlotte to determine a champion.
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The Elite Tier
1. Virginia Cavaliers (10-2, 7-1 ACC): The Cavaliers are the runaway story of the year. Picked to finish near the bottom of the league, Tony Elliott’s team engineered a historic turnaround, achieving the program’s second-ever 10-win season and finishing in sole possession of first place in the conference standings with a 7-1 ACC record. They earned their spot in the ACC Championship by dominating rival Virginia Tech in the finale.
2. Miami Hurricanes (10-2, 6-2 ACC): The Hurricanes finished with an identical 10-2 overall record as Virginia but were left out of the Championship Game due to tiebreaker scenarios. Despite that, Miami was often the most dominant team in the league, boasting an elite defense that kept opponents stifled all year. Their two conference losses proved costly, but the ‘Canes remain a strong contender for a major bowl or an at-large CFP bid.
3. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-3, 6-2 ACC): The Yellow Jackets put together an electric season, driven by one of the conference’s most prolific offenses. They were in the title race until the final weeks, but consecutive losses, including a tough rivalry defeat to SEC foe Georgia, dropped them into the crowded 6-2 second tier. They finish with a stellar 9-3 record and a major bowl opportunity.
4. Duke Blue Devils (7-5, 6-2 ACC): Duke is the team that benefited most from the ACC’s new tiebreaker system. Despite finishing with a modest 7-5 overall record that included three non-conference losses, their 6-2 league record and specific common opponent results were enough to catapult them into the Championship Game against Virginia. Manny Diaz’s squad was inconsistent but proved dangerous in conference play.
5. SMU Mustangs (8-4, 6-2 ACC): One of the newest members of the ACC wasted no time establishing themselves, finishing with a superb 6-2 conference record. However, a tough loss to Cal in the final week eliminated them from the Championship Game. The Mustangs proved they belonged in the P4 ranks and will head to a solid bowl to cap an 8-win season.
6. Pitt Panthers (8-4, 6-2 ACC): Pitt rode a strong defensive resurgence and timely wins to finish 8-4. A tough rivalry loss to Miami in Week 14 dropped them out of the title game conversation. They were a surprise contender in the new-look ACC, achieving their 6-2 conference record largely through physical, grind-it-out victories.
The Bowl-Eligible Middle (7th – 11th)
This tier is tightly packed, with all five teams finishing bowl-eligible with a 4-4 conference record.
7. Louisville Cardinals (8-4, 4-4 ACC): Louisville was inconsistent but secured a strong 8-win season by routing rival Kentucky in the final week. They showed flashes of elite play but ultimately couldn’t convert those performances into a higher finish in the conference standings.
8. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8-4, 4-4 ACC): Wake Forest had an overachieving 2025 campaign, finding ways to win non-conference games and managing a 4-4 ACC mark. They were competitive throughout the year, using a high-powered offense to win several shootouts and earn a respectable bowl trip.
9. Clemson Tigers (7-5, 4-4 ACC): A highly disappointing start saw Clemson fall well short of their preseason title expectations. However, Dabo Swinney’s team rallied late in the year, winning key games (including the Palmetto Bowl against South Carolina) to secure seven wins and avoid a lost season.
10. NC State Wolfpack (7-5, 4-4 ACC): The Wolfpack’s season was a roller coaster. They were dangerous at home, notably beating Georgia Tech, and capped the year with a dominant win over rival North Carolina. The offense was much improved, but inconsistency on defense limited their upward mobility.
11. California Golden Bears (7-5, 4-4 ACC): Cal successfully integrated into the ACC, achieving a winning record and bowl eligibility in their first year. Their final-week upset over SMU was a statement victory that vaulted them into the 7-win tier and secured a bowl appearance, but it wasn’t enough to save coach Justin Wilcox’s job.
The Bottom Tier (12th – 17th)
12. Stanford Cardinal (4-8, 3-5 ACC): Stanford showed some bright spots with three conference victories but struggled with a tough non-conference slate, missing out on bowl eligibility.
13. Florida State Seminoles (5-7, 2-6 ACC): FSU a moment of brilliance (e.g., the season opening non-conference victory over Alabama) but couldn’t string together consistency, missing out on bowl eligibility again after a disappointing final-week loss to Florida. Morale has never been lower in Tallahassee, as coach Mike Norvell is coming back but seems to have no answers about how to build a competitive team or win on the road.
14. North Carolina Tar Heels (4-8, 2-6 ACC): It was a season of struggles in Chapel Hill for coach Bill Belichick’s first year. The Tar Heels finished with a losing record, enduring difficult rivalry losses and failing to reach bowl eligibility in a deeply disappointing year.
15. Virginia Tech Hokies (3-9, 2-6 ACC): A difficult season saw the Hokies struggle on both sides of the ball, finishing with only three total wins and a handful of tough rivalry losses. The hire of James Franklin has energized the fan base, and expectations are high for 2026.
16. Syracuse Orange (3-9, 1-7 ACC): The Orange endured a long losing streak, with their only conference win coming early in the season. They finished in the bottom two of the league and will look to rebuild the program.
17. Boston College Eagles (2-10, 1-7 ACC): Despite a massive victory over Syracuse in the season finale, Boston College finished with the lowest overall win total in the conference, signaling a major rebuilding phase ahead.
