ACC Football Power Rankings: End of 2023 Regular Season
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - As quickly as it began, college football's 2023 regular season is now in the rear view mirror. So where do things currently stand in the Atlantic Coast Conference with the regular season now in the books?
Check out our week 14 ACC power rankings below:
1. Florida State Seminoles
Overall Record: 12-0
Conference Record: 8-0
Preseason Ranking: No. 1
The Seminoles end the regular season right where they started it: at the top. While they won't have starting quarterback Jordan Travis for the ACC Championship and beyond, head coahc Mike Norvell still has Florida State in good shape to get back to the College Football Playoff.
2. Louisville Cardinals
Overall Record: 10-2
Conference Record: 7-1
Preseason Ranking: No. 5
Year one under head coach Jeff Brohm has still been a rousing success for Louisville. This was a team picked to finish eighth in the preseason, and now they're in the ACC Championship Game, and Brohm might be taking home ACC Coach of the Year honors.
3. NC State Wolfpack
Overall Record: 9-3
Conference Record: 6-2
Preseason Ranking: No. 4
It's not how you start, but how you finish, and NC State is a perfect example. The Wolfpack began the season at 4-3 and having benched their starting quarterback, but rallied to win five-in-a-row to still be alive for a last minute Orange Bowl bid.
4. Clemson Tigers
Overall Record: 8-4
Conference Record: 4-4
Preseason Ranking: No. 2
Sure, Clemson isn't fighting for a national championship or even a conference title, but they did end the regular season with some momentum. Hopefully Tyler from Spartanburg has some optimism heading into next season.
5. North Carolina Tar Heels
Overall Record: 8-4
Conference Record: 4-4
Preseason Ranking: No. 3
The season started with so much promise for North Carolina, and one can't help but feel like the Tar Heels were a huge disappointment in the second half of year. Head coach Mack Brown needs to do something about that defense moving forward.
6. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Overall Record: 6-6
Conference Record: 5-3
Preseason Ranking: No. 11
Considering how low Georgia Tech had sunk under previous head coach Geoff Collins, simply making a bowl game is a huge step forward for Brent Key's bunch. Add in a couple ranked wins, and the Yellow Jackets certainly have the right man moving forward.
7. Miami Hurricanes
Overall Record: 7-5
Conference Record: 3-5
Preseason Ranking: No. 6
Miami looked incredibly dominant in their non-conference slate, only to look like a completely different team when ACC play kicked off. Mario Cristobal is a great recruiter, but he needs to do some soul searching in the offseason.
8. Virginia Tech Hokies
Overall Record: 6-6
Conference Record: 5-3
Preseason Ranking: No. 12
Year two under Brent Pry didn't start how you would like, but Virginia Tech certainly showed what they could be capable of as the year went on. Close the talent gap and be competitive against upper tier teams, and the Hokies could be a team to watch in the future.
9. Duke Blue Devils
Overall Record: 7-5
Conference Record: 4-4
Preseason Ranking: No. 7
Duke could have been in line for a special season had the injury bug not bitten them hard at key positions. Now that their head coach in Mike Elko has shipped off to Texas A&M, time will tell how the transfer portal impacts the Blue Devils.
10. Boston College Eagles
Overall Record: 6-6
Conference Record: 3-5
Preseason Ranking: No. 13
Boston College certainly didn't start or end the season on high notes, but it's hard to ignore the hot streak that they went on during the middle of the season. Jeff Hafley's seat, for now, has cooled off.
11. Virginia Cavaliers
Overall Record: 3-9
Conference Record: 2-6
Preseason Ranking: No. 14
Virginia's record is what it is, but the Cavaliers did show a lot of fight in almost every single game they played. Tony Elliott's bunch finished with five one-score losses on the season, and they were able to knock off UNC in Chapel Hill.
12. Syracuse Orange
Overalll Record: 6-6
Conference Record: 2-6
Preseason Ranking: No. 10
Well, the Dino Babers era at Syracuse is finally over after yet another anemic showing in ACC play. The Orange haven't been relevant since their 10-win campaign in 2018, so hopefully new head man Fran Brown can get them on track.
13. Pitt Panthers
Overall Record: 3-9
Conference Record: 2-6
Preseason Ranking: No. 8
Talk about a collapse. Pitt went from winning the ACC in 2021, to being a conference bottom dweller for most of the 2023 season. Pat Narduzzi needs to change things in a hurry if he wants to stay in charge.
14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Overall Record: 4-8
Conference Record: 1-7
Preseason Ranking: No. 9
Did losing Sam Hartman really make that much of a difference for Wake Forest? The Demon Deacons had very little going right for them this season, and Dave Clawson certainly is entering the offseason with his seat heating up.
(Photo via Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK)
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