ACC Football Power Rankings: 2023 Week 12
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The matchup for the ACC Championship Game is very nearly set in stone.
Florida State wrapped up ACC play with an undefeated mark this past weekend with a win over Miami, while Louisville inched closer to punching their ticket with a comeback win against Virginia. They haven't officially wrapped up a berth yet, but it would take a minor miracle for them not to.
Behind them, it's a battleground. Several teams are very much jockeying for position not only in the ACC standings, but to secure a better postseason draw.
So where do things currently stand in the conference with just two weeks left in the regular season? Check out our week 12 ACC power rankings below:
1. Florida State Seminoles
Record: 10-0, 8-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 1
Week 11 Result: W, 27-20 vs. Miami
Florida State might not have played their most efficient football, especially offensively, but a win is still a win. And this win not only clinched a third-straight victory their rival, but it capped off an undefeated mark in ACC play. Considering the Seminoles have left some to be desired over their last two games, a tune-up against North Alabama ahead of their matchup at Florida is much needed. It might be necessary if they are to crack the College Football Playoff.
2. Louisville Cardinals
Record: 9-1, 6-1 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 2
Week 11 Result: W, 31-24 vs. Virginia
Louisville has found themselves playing down to their opponents a few times this season, and it very nearly cost them against Virginia. After giving up 21 points in the third quarter, they were able to avoid their second bad loss of the season with a pair of long clutch touchdowns in the fourth. The Cardinals will have to play much sharper ball this weekend if they want to secure that final spot in the ACC Championship.
3. North Carolina Tar Heels
Record: 8-2, 4-2 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 3
Week 11 Result: W (2OT), 47-45 vs. Duke
Rivalry games never fail to disappoint, and this one certainly didn't, even if there was some questionable officiating towards the end. North Carolina's defense is still one giant question mark, but with an offense like this that is powered by three of the best weapons in the ACC, they can never be counted. Now if only QB Drake Maye, WR Tez Walker and RB Omarion Hampton played defense...
4. NC State Wolfpack
Record: 7-3, 8-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 4
Week 11 Result: W, 26-6 at Wake Forest
I guess some time away from the field was exactly what Brennan Armstrong needed. He looked much more confident both on the ground and with his legs back as the starting QB for NC State, add in a pummeling ground game and stifling defense, and the Wolfpack have now won three in a row since their bye week.
5. Clemson Tigers
Record: 6-4, 3-4 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 7
Week 11 Result: W, 42-21 vs. Georgia Tech
Clemson has looked like a completely different team ever since Tyler From Spartanburg. QB Cade Klubnik had arguably the best game of his career, RBs Will Shipley and Phil Mafah ran all over Georgia Tech, and that Tigers defense harassed the Yellow Jackets all day long. They might not be playing for a CFP berth or even an ACC title, but Clemson is still Clemson.
6. Duke Blue Devils
Record: 6-4, 3-3 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 5
Week 11 Result: L (2OT), 47-45 at North Carolina
One can't help but think what might have happened in this game had Duke been not down to their third string QB. Granted, Grayson Loftis had an excellent game, but he's no Riley Leonard. It would have helped tremendously considering the Blue Devils' normally stout defense was raked over the coals by UNC.
7. Miami Hurricanes
Record: 6-4, 2-4 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 6
Week 11 Result: L, 27-20 at Florida State
Miami came incredibly close to potentially derailing the College Football Playoff hopes of their most hated rival. Instead, not only is their roller coaster second season under Mario Cristobal continuing, now the Canes have to go back to Tyler Van Dyke at QB after Emory Williams is now lost for the season with an arm injury.
8. Virginia Tech Hokies
Record: 5-5, 4-2 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 9
Week 11 Result: W, 48-22 at Boston College
Now that's how you respond after getting nearly shut out the week before. After what looked like potentially a lost season, Virginia Tech has now won four of their last six, most recently routing Boston College on the road after scoring 35 unanswered. QB Kyron Drones continues to be a difference maker for the Hokies, and he has them on the verge of going bowling.
9. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Record: 5-5, 4-3 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 8
Week 11 Result: L, 42-21 at Clemson
Georgia Tech can't see to get any sort of momentum going. With the exception of last, week, they have alternated wins and losses all season long. While this was an all-systems-failure against Clemson, QB Haynes King need to cut back on his FBS-leading 14 interceptions in a hurry, or any hope of making a bowl could go out the window.
10. Boston College Eagles
Record: 6-4, 3-3 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 10
Week 11 Result: L, 48-22 vs. Virginia Tech
Boston hadn't been playing super efficient football over the last few weeks, and it finally cost them, snapping a five-game winning streak. Their front seven couldn't stop anything on the ground, and QB Thomas Castellanos came back down to Earth a bit. They're still going bowling, but they'll have to hone in their focus over the final two weeks of the regular season.
11. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Record: 4-6, 1-6 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 11
Week 11 Result: L, 26-6 vs. NC State
It's surprising this wasn't a bigger blowout considering Wake Forest couldn't do anything. They were dominated at the line of scrimmage, couldn't get anything going no matter who was at QB, had no ground game to speak of, and were gashed defensively. With just one win in their last seven games, you have to wonder if Dave Clawson's seat is starting to warm up a bit
12. Syracuse Orange
Record: 5-5, 1-5 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 13
Week 11 Result: W, 28-13 vs. Pitt
Alas, Syracuse's winless mark in ACC play is finally over. It might have come against a team arguably worse than them, and they had to overcome a halftime deficit in the process, but it's still a win. Not to mention it came in a game where the Orange had quite literally almost no production from the quarterback spot. Their rushing attack is deadly when it gets going.
13. Virginia Cavaliers
Record: 2-8, 1-5 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 14
Week 11 Result: L, 31-24 at Louisville
Virginia's record is what is it, but some credit has to go to them for fighting. They've been on the wrong end of several one-score game, including at Louisville, but the certainly gave their best effort. QB Anthony Colandrea and WR Malik Washington are bona fide stars, and they nearly were able to pull off their second massive upset of the season.
14. Pitt Panthers
Record: 2-8, 1-5 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 12
Week 11 Result: L, 28-13 at Syracuse
Well, Pitt is back to having questions about the quarterback spot after a mediocre performance from Christian Veilleux. Throw in an abhorrent showing from the front seven, which was supposed to be their strength, and the Panthers are staring at their worst season since the late 1990's right in the face. Could Pat Narduzzi's seat be warming up as well?
(Photo via Melina Myers - USA TODAY Sports)
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