College Football ACC Power Rankings

These are the College Football ACC Power Rankings after week one!

1. Miami

I left Sunday night thinking that Miami is the team to beat in the ACC. The offensive and defensive lines won the battle against Notre Dame, Malachi Toney was a revelation at WR, and Carson Beck looked like his 2023 self. They’ll probably lose one dumb game at some point, because they always do, but they look like one of the best teams in the nation after week one.

2. Clemson

The loss to LSU does have me dropping Clemson a little bit. This team returned the most production out of any P4 team, and you would not know it from watching the game. Clemson is still one of the most talented teams in the ACC, but not truly a national championship contender. Yes, Antonio Williams got injured mid-game, but should one receiver injury affect the offense that drastically?

3. Florida State

One of the biggest risers in my ranks this week. How could they not be? I know this isn’t Nick Saban’s Alabama anymore, but anytime you can beat a top-10 opponent by 14 points as a double-digit underdog, it should turn heads nationally. This is a team to look out for in the ACC and the Tommy Castellanos redemption tour begins.

4. SMU

The Mustangs picked up in 2025 right where they left off in 2024, beating East Texas A&M 42-13. An in-state non-conference game against Baylor will be likely to provide a stiffer test, and I for one am very curious to see who ends up breaking away from the committee at the running back position for the Mustangs. Will it be Miami transfer Chris Johnson Jr?

5. Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets did as much to help the national reputation of the ACC than anyone else did in Week 1. They went on the road to Colorado and came away with a 27-20 victory behind yet another gritty performance from Haynes King. They continue to be my sleeper team to win this conference.

6. Louisville

The Cardinals romped Eastern Kentucky 51-17, which doesn’t tell us a whole lot. Isaac Brown only needed 6 carries to top 100 yards, and Miller Moss was ho-hum in his Cardinal debut. A big non-conference tilt awaits as Louisville hosts Sun Belt favorite JMU on Friday night.

7. Pittsburgh

The offense was able to put up 61 points against cross-town FCS foe Duquesne. We didn’t really learn anything from this expected result. Fun fact: Duquesne actually had a shorter drive from campus to Acrisure Stadium than Pitt did.

8. NC State

Dave Doeren’s squad was able to get their revenge against ECU after losing the Military Bowl to them last season. I was left wanting more after CJ Bailey’s electric start to the game, and special teams miscues allowed the game to end closer than it should have been.

9. Duke

The Blue Devils really let Elon hang around, as the score was 10-10 at halftime. But Darian Mensah really started cooking in the 2nd half, totalling 389 passing yards and 3 TDs. A big matchup looms against Illinois.

10. Virginia Tech

The offense was a significant letdown in the 24-11 loss to South Carolina. It does not appear as if Kyron Drones has taken the steps forward that he needed to in order for this team to improve. 6-6 is the most likely outcome for this team.