ACC Football Power Rankings: 2023 Week 13
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Where do things currently stand in the Atlantic Coast Conference with just one week left in the regular season? Check out our week 13 ACC power rankings below:
1. Florida State Seminoles
Record: 11-0, 8-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 1
Week 12 Result: W, 58-13 vs. North Alabama
The result of Florida State's matchup with North Alabama doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, but what happened during it could have massive ramifications. The Seminoles will have to try and win an ACC title and potentially compete for a national title without QB Jordan Travis after he suffered a gruesome leg injury. The Noles still have plenty of talent, but how far can backup Tate Rodemaker take them?
2. Louisville Cardinals
Record: 10-1, 7-1 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 2
Week 12 Result: W, 38-31 at Miami
This Louisville team has made a habit out of playing their best football when it matters most. This time, with a berth to the ACC Championship on the line, they came through in the clutch once again. QB Jack Plummer delivered after looking pedestrian through three quarters, and their defense came through after looking suspect. Plus, they're not completely dead as it pertains to the College Football Playoff hunt.
3. NC State Wolfpack
Record: 8-3, 5-2 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 4
Week 12 Result: W, 35-28 at Virginia Tech
NC State has been on an incredible late season run, now having won four in a row. For a guy who was benched at one point in the season due to his play and thrust back into the starting role, quarterback Brennan Armstrong has been a key piece to the Wolfpack's second half surge. of course, LB Payton Wilson and that defense continue to be a menace.
4. Clemson Tigers
Record: 7-4, 4-4 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 5
Week 12 Result: W, 31-20 vs. North Carolina
Sure, Clemson isn't a player in the national title hunt, and aren't even going to be competing for a conference title, but they've looked like the Clemson of old lately. QB Cade Klubnik is getting more comfortable, and their RB duo of Will Shipley and Phil Mafah continues to be a problem. Even with the defense getting gashed on the ground against UNC, they still were able to limit that potent offense.
5. North Carolina Tar Heels
Record: 8-3, 4-3 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 3
Week 12 Result: L, 31-20 at Clemson
North Carolina has all the offensive talent in the world. QB Drake Maye is likely going to be a first round pick in the NFL Draft, RB Omarion Hampton might win ACC Offensive Player of the Year, and WR Tez Walker has been a monster since being ruled eligible. Yet they're going to likely miss out on a New Year's Six bowl because their defense continues to be porous. Sure, Clemson has talent, but the Tigers had been woefully inconsistent on that side of the ball.
6. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Record: 6-5, 5-3 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 9
Week 12 Result: W, 31-22 vs. Syracuse
Georgia Tech's roller coaster season has been wild to watch. Some games, QB Haynes King can't stop throwing to the other team and the defense gets torn through like Charmin. Other times, King lets it rip for huge numbers and the defense looks like they could stop anyone. I'll let you figure out which version the Yellow Jackets proved to be the final straw in Dino Babers' coffin.
7. Miami Hurricanes
Record: 6-5, 2-5 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 7
Week 12 Result: L, 38-31 vs. Louisville
On one hand, Tyler Van Dyke looked much better than he had in recent weeks. He was confident, made good decisions, and kept Miami in the game. RB Mark Fletcher also continues to surge. On the other hand, when The U had Louisville on the ropes, their defense was torn up. Talent only gets you so far, and Mario Cristobal is learning that the hard way.
8. Duke Blue Devils
Record: 6-5, 3-4 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 6
Week 12 Result: L, 30-27 at Virginia
What a disappointing turn of events for Duke. A season that started with so much promise has completely sputtered out, as the Blue Devils have now lost four of their last five games after winning five of their first six and being in the Top-20. Riley Leonard's injury limited the offense's ceiling, and their stout defense has let up in recent weeks. Now you have to wonder if Duke can hold onto head coach Mike Elko.
9. Virginia Tech Hokies
Record: 5-6, 4-3 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 8
Week 12 Result: L, 35-28 vs. NC State
At this point in the season, it's clear why Virginia Tech has had the season they have had. They've beat up on the worse teams on their schedule, while getting absolutely hammered by the high end teams. To their credit, they did nearly pull off a fourth quarter comeback, and Kyron Drones delivered another good performance, but they were outclassed by NC State. In theory, they should beat Virginia in their regular season finale to reach a bowl. In theory.
10. Boston College Eagles
Record: 6-5, 3-4 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 10
Week 12 Result: L, 24-16 at Pitt
Talk about a swing in momentum for Boston College. They went from firing off a five-game win streak to save their season and go bowling, to now having suffered back-to-back brutal losses. This time, it came against a Pitt team who was down to third third string quarterback and had given up gobs of yards to damn near every team they have faced. I'm really not entirely sure what to think of the Eagles.
11. Virginia Cavaliers
Record: 3-8, 2-5 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 13
Week 12 Result: W, 30-27 vs. Duke
This will go in the books as a losing season, but it's hard to deny Virginia's fight that they have shown as of late. Sure, the amount of losses is staggering, but five of them came by one score. Freshman QB Anthony Colandrea is a star in the making, and WR Malik Washington is likely going to be an All-American when this season is done. There is some semblance of hope for the program under Tony Elliott.
12. Pitt Panthers
Record: 3-8, 2-5 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 14
Week 12 Result: W, 24-16 vs. Boston College
With the season clearly lost, now it's time to start focusing on ways Pitt can give fans hope for the future. Third string quarterback Nate Yarnall might be just that. Granted, BC's defense has been extremely inconsistent, but he looked surgical. Now if the Panthers can hold onto guys like RB Rodney Hammond and DB Donovan McMillon, load up int he portal, and Pat Narduzzi could have Pitt back to where he wants them
13. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Record: 4-7, 1-6 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 11
Week 12 Result: L, 45-7 at Notre Dame
Man, the way this game played out, you thought Sam Hartman had a bone to pick with his former team. Wake Forest could only cower in fear as the Irish and their former star tore them apart defensively. It's no shocker, but their offense couldn't do much of anything either. Could Dave Clawson's seat be starting to warm up?
14. Syracuse Orange
Record: 5-6, 1-6 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 12
Week 12 Result: L, 31-22 at Georgia Tech
When you're the first program in the conference to see their head coach get fired, it only makes sense for you to be at the very bottom. Two years in a row, Syracuse had extremely strong starts to give fans hope of having another 10-win season. Two years in a row, the Orange have completely flamed out in the back half of the season, and this time it was Dino Babers' undoing.
(Photo via Sam Navarro - USA TODAY Sports)
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