ACC Football Power Rankings: 2023 Week 7
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - We're approaching the halfway mark of the 2023 college football season, and the battle for the Atlantic Coast Conference is starting to get interesting.
Following Miami's stunning loss, we're now left with three teams left in the league that are undefeated both overall and in conference play. Considering that Florida State, North Carolina and Louisville don't play each other this season, the race to get to Charlotte has the potential to get wild. Don't count out teams like Duke and Miami to make a push for a spot in the ACC Championship, either.
So where do things currently stand in the conference following the first five weeks of football? Check out our week seven ACC power rankings below:
1. Florida State Seminoles
Record: 5-0, 3-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 1
Week 6 Result: W, 39-17 vs. Virginia Tech
Over the first view weeks of the season, one of Florida State's biggest weaknesses was a somewhat stagnant ground game. 200 yards and two scores from RB Trey Benson certainly helped the Seminoles in that regard. Not to mention that he helped FSU get back on track after Virginia Tech made it a one score game right out of halftime on their kickoff return touchdown.
2. North Carolina Tar Heels
Record: 5-0, 2-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 2
Week 6 Result: W, 40-7 vs. Syracuse
Now *this* was the Drake Maye we came to expect heading into the season. The North Carolina QB was stellar all afternoon long, accounting for four touchdowns, and that UNC offense continues to look deadly with all the weapons they have - which now finally includes Tez Walker. Plus, their defense also came through, and kept a good Syracuse offense off the field.
3. Louisville Cardinals
Record: 6-0, 3-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 5
Week 6 Result: W, 33-20 vs. Notre Dame
The ACC's long losing streak to Notre Dame is finally over. It's one thing the beat the Irish, it's another thing to beat them at their own game. Louisville was flat out the more dominant, physical and aggressive team that night. They not only held ND in check on the ground, but they turned Sam Hartman into a turnover machine. Plus, RB Jawhar Jordan bounced back and ran all over them.
4. Duke Blue Devils
Record: 4-1, 1-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 4
Week 6 Result: Bye Week
Thankfully, it sounds like QB Riley Leonard might be back sooner than we expected following his ankle injury. We shall see.
5. Miami Hurricanes
Record: 4-1, 0-1 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 3
Week 6 Result: L, 23-20 vs. Georgia Tech
My goodness, Miami. It's bad enough that Mario Cristobal lacks all common sense to the point where this is now his *second* loss after refusing to take a knee. But the Canes shouldn't have even been in that position. Their defense actually had a good game, but their offense and their five lost turnovers held them back from blowing the Jackets out of the water.
6. Clemson Tigers
Record: 4-2, 2-2 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 6
Week 6 Result: W, 17-12 vs. Wake Forest
Clemson might not be in position to get back to the College Football Playoff, but their elite defense continues to make them a really good team. Whether it was through the air on on the ground, they made Wake Forest very uncomfortable. As for their offense? Well, it certainly left some to be desired. Especially QB Cade Klubnik, who seemed to be making progress.
7. NC State Wolfpack
Record: 4-2, 1-1 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 8
Week 6 Result: W, 48-41 vs. Marshall
Maybe a quarterback switch was exactly what NC State needed. New QB M.J. Morris might have thrown three picks, but that also came with four scores and a season-high in points for the Wolfpack. They also got diced through the air in the process, but did limit Marshall's star tailback in Rasheen Ali. So there's that.
8. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Record: 3-3, 2-1 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 11
Week 6 Result: W, 23-20 at Miami
Even if they didn't benefit from one of the worst coaching blunders in college football history, Georgia Tech put up an impressive performance. Their defense, while they did let Miami put up a fair amount of yardage, bent but didn't break and forced five turnovers to keep them in the game. Then their offense, which had been stifled all night, made plays when they absolutely had to make them.
9. Syracuse Orange
Record: 4-2, 0-2 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 7
Week 6 Result: L, 40-7 at North Carolina
Again, it bares repeating that maybe Syracuse's 4-0 start was more so a byproduct of an easy schedule. UNC has made opposing defenses look really foolish over the last few years, but Drake Maye had been up and down up to this point, and the Orange were his get-right game. Plus Cuse's offense and their respective weapons couldn't even stay on the field long enough to even put up points.
10. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Record: 3-2, 0-2 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 9
Week 6 Result: L, 17-12 at Clemson
Facing a defense like Clemson's is always going to be tough sledding, but Wake Forest's passing game seems to have hit a roadblock in recent weeks. Their rushing attack wasn't great either, and the collective offensive effort here honestly wasted a great performance by the Demon Deacons' own defense. Can they get back on track?
11. Virginia Tech Hokies
Record: 2-4, 1-1 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 10
Week 6 Result: L, 39-17 at Florida State
They might've lost by three scores, but Virginia Tech certainly made things interesting. They very nearly were able to pull themselves out of a 22-point first quarter hole to get within five points, but the Hokies just ran out of gas. The one-two punch of QB Kyron Drones and RB Bhayshul Tuten should win them some games in the back half of the season.
12. Boston College Eagles
Record: 3-3, 1-2 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 12
Week 6 Result: W, 27-24 at Army
On one hand, QB Thomas Castellanos had an amazing performance on the ground, carrying Boston College to victory with four touchdowns including the game winner. On the other hand, the Eagles found themselves having to mount a comeback against a service academy. I get that it was raining and it limited what they could do, but still.
13. Virginia Cavaliers
Record: 1-5, 0-2 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 14
Week 6 Result: W, 27-13 vs. William & Mary
Hallelujah, Virginia won't go winless in 2023. Granted, it came against an FCS team and they had to mount a comeback against said team, but a win is a win, and it snaps an eight-game skid for the Cavaliers. QB Tony Muskett finished string, the ground game got going, and the defense limited opportunities. It might be tough to find another win on this schedule, so UVA should cherish this one.
14. Pitt Panthers
Record: 1-4, 0-2 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 13
Week 6 Result: Bye Week
Pitt finally benched starting QB Phil Jurkovec. But their new starter in Christian Veilleux is largely unproven and their offensive line is still injured to hell and back, so we'll see if the Panthers' god awful offense can actually get going.
(Photo via Jeff Faughender - Courier Journal and USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK)
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