ACC Football Power Rankings: 2023 Week 4
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Three full weeks of college football are now in the books, and it was another largely successful one for the Atlantic Coast Conference.
In what was our last chance to see teams before conference play really ramps up, the ACC went 8-4 against non-conference opponents in week three, bumping the league's overall record to 26-10. While most of the competition this week came from vastly outgunned opponents, you can't argue with the results.
This week, the teams at the top stayed put (despite Boston College's best shot), where most of the shifting came in the bottom half of the rankings. Syracuse's impressive road win against Purdue and Pitt's ghastly loss at West Virginia had the biggest impact in the standings.
So where do things currently stand in the conference following the first three weeks of football? Check out our week three ACC power rankings below:
1. Florida State Seminoles
Record: 3-0, 1-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 1
Week 2 Result: W, 31-29 at Boston College
Mike Norvell says that Florida State wasn't looking ahead to Clemson and past Boston College, but their play in the second half of this game certainly doesn't suggest that. The Seminoles nearly squandered a 31-10 lead, and had BC not committed an insane amount of penalties, they might have blown it completely. At least quarterback Jordan Travis isn't seriously hurt.
2. North Carolina Tar Heels
Record: 3-0, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 2
Week 2 Result: W, 31-13 vs. Minnesota
Drake Maye has had a bit of a slow start by his lofty standards, but he finally looked like what we expected in the preseason, even if it wasn't perfect. Plus, with Tez Walker now ineligible for the season, the emergence of Nate McCollum is a huge plus for that Tar Heel offense. UNC's rushing game and defensive efforts just have to get more consistant if they're to make a run at the ACC Championship.
3. Duke Blue Devils
Record: 3-0, 1-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 3
Week 2 Result: W, 38-14 vs. Northwestern
Northwestern certainly is no juggernaut, but Duke continues to look efficient on both sides of the ball. QB Riley Leonard was nearly perfect, the Blue Devils had 200 yards passing and rushing, and the defense was stifling (except on third down) from start to finish. It's still hard to believe this was a three-win team just two seasons ago.
4. Clemson Tigers
Record: 2-1, 0-1 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 4
Week 2 Result: W, 48-14 vs. Florida Atlantic
Unlike the team at the top of the power rankings, Clemson didn't look past their opponent ahead of a massive showdown with ACC title race implications. While the final yardage discrepancy wouldn't suggest a blowout, the Tigers got off to a 34-0 start before halftime and scored the first 41 points. QB Cade Klubnik and that Clemson secondary were extremely productive.
5. Miami Hurricanes
Record: 3-0, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 5
Week 2 Result: W, 48-7 vs. Bethune Cookman
Miami got the memo to start fast against an inferior opponent as well, also getting off to a 34-0 start before the second half. There's not a lot to take away from an FCS foe, but QB Tyler Van Dyke continued to look like his old form, the Hurricanes' rushing game was a real threat, and the talent-laden defense looked cohesive. Maybe this a year that The U finally gets back on track.
6. Syracuse Orange
Record: 3-0, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 8
Week 2 Result: W, 35-20 at Purdue
We finally got a chance to see what Syracuse could do against a Power Five opponent, on the road no less, and the Orange certainly were impressive. QB Garrett Shrader near single-handedly took down Purdue himself with both his arm and his legs, while the 'Cuse front seven bottled up a solid Boilermaker ground attack. For now, Dino Babers' seat is no longer hot.
7. Louisville Cardinals
Record: 3-0, 1-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 6
Week 2 Result: W, 21-14 vs. Indiana
I still don't know what to make of this Louisville team with how inconsistent they have been so far this season. The go up 21-0 seemingly in the blink of an eye, only to disappear in the second half and snap out of it just in time to pull out a game-saving goal line stand. They have phenomenal offensive weapons, but QB Jack Plummer and that defense have been up and down.
8. NC State Wolfpack
Record: 2-1, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 7
Week 2 Result: W, 45-7 vs. VMI
This is what I was expecting NC State to look like when the season started. QB Brennan Armstrong was firing on nearly all cylinders, the defensive dominated (save for a few chunk plays), and the Wolfpack got just enough out of their wide receiver corps. We'll see if they're able to do this against a non-FCS foe, but it's a promising performance.
9. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Record: 3-0, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 9
Week 2 Result: W, 27-24 at Old Dominion
On one hand, Wake Forest dug themselves into a 24-7 hole against Old Dominion, a team that they were a two-touchdown favorite over. On the other hand, the Demon Deacons were able to pull themselves out of said hole thanks in part to an incredible rebound from QB Mitch Griffis. Try not to make this too hard on yourself, Deacs.
10. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Record: 1-2, 0-1 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 11
Week 2 Result: L, 48-23 at Ole Miss
While this was a blowout, the final score is a bit deceiving. Georgia Tech was in this game all the way up until the final 10 minutes when the wheels just completely fell off. QB Haynes King and that Yellow Jackets offense has looked the part of a potential ACC spoiler, that defense just has to make a lot of forward progress.
11. Boston College Eagles
Record: 1-2, 0-1 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 13
Week 2 Result: L, 31-29 vs. Florida State
After losing to Northern Illinois and barely beating Holy Cross, I certainly didn't see this one coming. Had they not committed 18 penalties, they very well could have overcome that 21-point deficit and pulled this massive upset off. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos and that defense certainly gave it their best shot.
12. Pitt Panthers
Record: 1-2, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 10
Week 2 Result: L, 17-6 at West Virginia
Yeesh. Pitt might be in for a looong season if their offense continues to look like this. QB Phil Jurkovec once again could night throw an accurate pass, which kept the offense stuck in first gear almost all night. It's a shame, because their defense still looks solid despite losing a lot of talent.
13. Virginia Tech Hokies
Record: 1-2, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 12
Week 2 Result: L, 35-16 at Rutgers
Honestly, maybe Virginia Tech should go with Kyron Drones as their QB moving forward. He did show promise. But the Hokies as a whole won't go anywhere if someone other than their QB can't run the ball, or if they continue to get gashed on the ground defensively.
14. Virginia Cavaliers
Record: 0-3, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 14
Week 2 Result: L, 42-14 at Maryland
I thought Virginia actually had a chance against their old rival when they scored touchdowns on their first two drives. But not only did the wheels fall off after that, the bus caught fire and fell off a cliff. No other way to describe giving up 42 unanswered points after going up two scores.
(Photo via Eric Canha - USA TODAY Sports)
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