ACC Football Power Rankings: 2023 Week 2
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Football is finally back! Week one of the 2023 college football season certainly delivered, and for the most part, the ACC had a successful start to the new season.
Teams from the league were a combined 8-2 against non-conference opponents in week one, and the two conference games on top right out of the gates both lived up to their billings.
It's only one week into the new season, and there's already a significant shakeup in the top half of the rankings following Duke's stunning upset over ninth-ranked Clemson. The middle of the pack and the bottom and the rankings also saw some slight shuffling as well.
So where do things currently stand in the conference following the first week of football? Check out our week two ACC power rankings below:
1. Florida State Seminoles
Record: 1-0, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 1
Week 1 Result: W, 45-24 vs. LSU (Neutral)
It's hard to have a better season-opener than Florida State did. Not only did the No. 8 Seminoles take down the No. 5 team in the country, they did so in dominating fashion after scoring 31 unanswered points in the second half. Jordan Travis, who accounted for five touchdowns, very much has Heisman Trophy potential, and that 'Nole defense, who held LSU to 3-of-13 on third and fourth down, looks nasty.
2. North Carolina Tar Heels
Record: 1-0, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 3
Week 1 Result: W, 31-17 vs. South Carolina (Neutral)
Few season-opening victories are sweeter than when you take down a rival. Surprisingly, North Carolina's win over South Carolina wasn't one where they simply leaned on Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Drake Maye and that offense. Sure, the No. 21 Tar Heels got a pair of touchdowns out of Maye and ran for 269 yards, but their defense - which was horrendous at times last season - got nine sacks and held the Gamecocks to -2 rushing yards.
3. Clemson Tigers
Record: 0-1, 0-1 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 2
Week 1 Result: L, 28-7 at Duke
So, uh... what happened to this revitalized Clemson offense we've heard about? Sure, the No. 9 Tigers did put up 422 yards under new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, but they had just one scoring drive, committed three turnovers and were denied inside the ten-yard line *three* times. Quarterback Cade Klubnik didn't look super sharp at times with some of his decision making, either. At least the defense looked solid - at times.
4. Duke Blue Devils
Record: 1-0, 1-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 7
Week 1 Result: W, 28-7 vs. Clemson
It's insane to see how far this Duke team has come in so little time under Mike Elko. From 3-9 in 2021 to their first win against a top-10 opponent since 1989. Riley Leonard continues to show that he is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the conference, and is a deadly weapon both through the air and on the ground. Plus, the Blue Devils rushing for 199 yards against that Clemson defensive front is no easy task.
5. NC State Wolfpack
Record: 1-0, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 4
Week 1 Result: W, 24-14 at UConn
Sure, NC State did come out with a victory, but they didn't win this game as convincingly as many would have expected. Reunited with his old offensive coordinator, quarterback Brennan Armstrong only threw for 155 and no touchdowns. But did make up for it with a pair of rushing touchdowns, the Wolfpack ran for 209 yards, and that vaunted defense held the Huskies to only 273 yards of offense. Could be better, could be worse.
6. Louisville Cardinals
Record: 1-0, 1-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 5
Week 1 Result: W, 39-34 vs. Georgia Tech (Neutral)
Louisville certainly did not make this easy on themselves. The Cardinals, who have been a trendy pick to be the league's dark horse, went down 15 at halftime and had one of the worst second quarters imaginable (28 points and 282 yards allowed). But, thanks to a more poised effort from quarterback Jack Plummer and a near-shutout by the defense in the second half, the Cardinals were able to score 27 unanswered in Jeff Brohm's UofL debut.
7. Miami Hurricanes
Record: 1-0, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 6
Week 1 Result: W, 38-3 vs. Miami (Ohio)
Will the real Miami please stand up? The Hurricanes took a good first step in bouncing back under second-year head coach Mario Cristobal. Former ACC Rookie of the Year quarterback Tyler Van Dyke looked accurate after going 17-of-22 for 201 and a score, the 'Canes ran for 250 and their talent-laden defense allowed the Redhawks to collect only 215 yards and a field goal. Time will tell how they fare once the competition gets harder.
8. Pitt Panthers
Record: 1-0, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 8
Week 1 Result: W, 45-7 vs. Wofford
Pitt might have lost of ton of playmakers from last year's team, especially from the defensive side of the ball, but you wouldn't have been able to tell from this game. The offense - led by an efficient showing from transfer quarterback Phil Jurkovec (17-of-23 from 214 yards and one TD) and a steady ground game - scored the first 45 points of the game, and the defense - despite losing multiple players to the NFL - allowed only 126 total yards.
9. Syracuse Orange
Record: 1-0, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 10
Week 1 Result: W, 65-0 vs. Colgate
There might not be a mercy rule in college football, but Syracuse certainly instituted one themselves, as they put up 65 points without scoring in the fourth quarter. Their quarterbacks (Garrett Shrader and Carlos Del Rio-Wilson) threw for a combined 409 yards and seven touchdowns, the Orange rushed for 271 yards led by a 107-yard effort from LeQuint Allen, and the defense only allowed 106 total yards. Nothing personal Colgate, it's just business.
10. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Record: 1-0, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 9
Week 1 Result: W, 37-17 vs. Elon
The post-Sam Hartman era is officially underway at Wake Forest, and early returns for his successor seem to be positive. Mitch Griffis threw for 329 yards and three touchdowns, but that did come with a pick six, and the Deacons' rushing attack was surprisingly stymied after failing to crack 100 yards rushing. Wake will have to work out some of those kinks before ACC play starts.
11. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Record: 0-1, 0-1 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 11
Week 1 Result: L, 39-34 vs. Louisville (Neutral)
The chance to earn a statement win for Brent Key in his first season as the permanent head coach was right there for Georgia Tech's taking. Instead, the Yellow Jackets squandered a two-score lead, and looks absolutely lifeless on both sides of the ball in the second half. Granted, Key seems to be the right guy for the job, but GT still has a long ways to go.
12. Virginia Tech Hokies
Record: 1-0, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 12
Week 1 Result: W, 36-17 vs. Old Dominion
It was a little closer than maybe Virginia Tech might have liked, but year two of the Brent Pry era in Blacksburg is off on the right foot. Grant Wells looked much better than at any point last season, accounting for 278 yards and four touchdowns, though their rushing game still needs some work. Not to mention it was a one-score game until late in the third quarter and Old Dominion was able to rush for over 200 yards.
13. Virginia Cavaliers
Record: 0-1, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 14
Week 1 Result: L, 49-14 vs. Tennessee (Neutral)
I'll give Virginia a little bit of slack considering Tennessee is a very good team, but it was still not a good showing overall. Five of their first six drives were three-and-outs, and they barely cracked 200 yards of offense for the day. Plus they allowed just one yard shy of 500 yards on defense, but Tennessee has a tendency to do that to teams. Tony Elliott and the Cavaliers have a long way to go before they start to resemble a winning football team.
14. Boston College Eagles
Record: 0-1, 0-0 ACC
Last Week's Ranking: No. 13
Week 1 Result: L (OT), 27-24 vs. Northern Illinois
Jeff Hafley was already entering this season on a bit of a hot seat, but after dropping their first game of the year to Northern Illinois - at home - that seat is only getting warmer. Starting quarterback Emmett Morehead was benched after just two series for Thomas Castellanos (who did help BC rally), and their defense - which is the strength of the team - allowed NIU to put up more yardage than them (338 to 314). The Eagles might be in for a long, long season.
(Photo of Jaquez Moore: Ken Ruinard - USA TODAY Sports)
You can follow Louisville Report for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram:
Facebook - @LouisvilleReport
Twitter - @UofLReport
Instagram - @louisville_report
You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @Matt_McGavic on Twitter
