The top four teams are separating themselves from the rest of the pack.
The ACC had a nice Week 9. The Miami Hurricanes eliminated the Florida State Seminoles from bowl eligibility. The Pittsburgh Panthers remained undefeated with a win over the Syracuse Orange. The Louisville Cardinals pulled off a big comeback against the Boston College Eagles. To end the weekend, the SMU Mustangs held on in overtime in Durham against the Duke Blue Devils.
Without further ado, let’s get to the rankings.
1. Miami – 8-0 overall, 4-0 conference
Phew. I am glad the FSU game is over and done with. I was more nervous than I should’ve been. I was fine with the performance. I’m even happier the team stayed healthy for such a physical matchup. The Canes haven’t shown anything to not be ranked first in the conference. They will be favored in their last four games, starting with a visit from former coach Manny Diaz and Duke this Saturday at noon on ABC.
2. Clemson – 6-1, 5-0
The Tigers are coming off a bye and are still in great position. Their schedule saved their three toughest ACC games for last though. Clemson hosts Louisville this weekend, then travels to Virginia Tech and Pitt to close out conference play. If Dabo Swinney’s squad can run the table and make it to Charlotte for the ACC Championship Game, they will have earned it.
3. SMU – 7-1, 4-0
Miami of Texas won a crazy game at Duke last Saturday night. I give Blue Devils coach Manny Diaz props for going for the win and not playing for a second round of overtime. Even worse, it seemed like Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy could’ve made it to the corner of the end zone if he kept running. SMU coach Rhett Lashlee has to be breathing a huge sigh of relief. His offense committed six turnovers, but the defense bailed them out over and over again. Saturday night against Pitt is basically an eliminator game. Can’t wait to watch.
4. Pittsburgh – 7-0, 3-0
The Panthers demolished Syracuse at home last Thursday night. Pitt had three pick-sixes in the first half. Watching it live was pretty crazy. On offense, QB Eli Holstein is doing a great job leading and creating explosive plays. I can understand why no one saw this season coming after their awful 3-9 record in 2023. Who would’ve thought an early November game against SMU would be this important?
5. Virginia Tech – 5-3, 3-1
The Hokies have dominated their last three games against ACC teams: 31-7 at Stanford, 42-21 vs BC, and 21-6 vs GT. Those are definitely not powerhouse teams, but the wins are convincing. I think Va Tech will give Clemson all they can handle on November 9th in Blacksburg. I hope it’s a night game.
6. Duke – 6-2, 2-2
I’m not dropping the Blue Devils that far after their loss to SMU. Duke probably should’ve won the game, but had some kicking-game issues and couldn’t convert their forced turnovers into points. Still, coach Manny Diaz has a really good defense that creates havoc and forces turnovers. I’m not sure how they’ll look against an offense as good as Miami, but it should be fun to watch.
7. Louisville – 5-3, 3-2
The Cardinals looked like they were going to drop a winnable road game after their tough home-loss to Miami the week prior. Louisville was down 27-10 with eight minutes left in the third quarter. Three touchdowns later, the Cardinals go home winners and have to feel a lot better going into their road matchup at Clemson this Saturday night. I want to see how Tyler Shough and his weapons fair against a stingy Tigers defense.
8. Syracuse – 5-2, 2-2
The game against Pitt on Thursday night was over before it started. I was looking forward to watching a close game, but ‘Cuse QB Kyle McCord had other ideas and started throwing it to the other team early and often. McCord and his squad have a chance to get back on track with a win against Va Tech this weekend, but the Hokies have a ton of momentum right now.
9. Georgia Tech – 5-4, 3-3
The Yellow Jackets are a different team with QB Haynes King, that’s obvious. I saw someone on Twitter saying he sat partly because of them having a bye this Saturday, so he can get as much rest as possible for the game against Miami. That’s possible I guess. I am sure they would love to play spoiler for the second season in a row.
10. Virginia – 4-4, 2-3
The Cavaliers have lost three in a row after their 4-1 start. Unlike the Louisville matchup and first half of the Clemson game, the loss against UNC wasn’t close. It’s extra tough for Tony Elliott’s squad based on how poor of a season the Tar Heels were having. Virginia couldn’t have asked for a better week for their bye. They better regroup quick, because they face Pitt, Notre Dame, SMU, and Virginia Tech to end the season. That’s a murderers’ row.
11. Wake Forest – 4-4, 2-2
Here come the Demon Deacons! Not really, but kind of, in a small way. They’ve won two in a row after getting whooped by Clemson. After their bye this weekend, Wake plays Cal and UNC before Miami. The Demon Deacons have a real chance to be 6-4 and 4-2 in conference before traveling to Hard Rock Stadium. That would be pretty cool.
12. Boston College – 4-4, 1-3
BC really could’ve used that win against Louisville last Saturday. 5-3, 2-2 looks a lot better than 4-4, 1-3. Bill O’Brien’s squad has dropped three games in a row and have a tough schedule to end the season. We’ll see if the Eagles can play spoiler against SMU or Pitt in November. I wouldn’t bet on it.
13. NC State – 4-4, 1-3
The Wolfpack had a bye week after their comeback victory at Cal the Saturday prior. NC State has a manageable schedule in November: vs Stanford, vs Duke, at Georgia Tech, at UNC. It gives them a chance to build some momentum going into 2025.
14. UNC – 4-4, 1-3
The Tar Heels won their first ACC game of the season emphatically at Virginia last Saturday. UNC hadn’t scored that many points this season since the 70-50 shootout loss to James Madison back in September. Is Mack Brown staying at UNC? I honestly have no idea. I do wish Miami played them this season.
15. Cal – 4-4, 0-4
The Golden Bears got their first conference win last weekend. Oh wait, neither them nor Oregon State are in the Pac-12 anymore. At least Cal got a win. They are the last team to not have a conference win, but I can’t rank them behind two teams who combined have less total wins. The Golden Bears have a bye week, then travel to Wake Forest with a good chance to return to the West Coast with an ACC win.
16. Stanford – 2-6, 1-4
The Cardinal have lost four conference games in a row and five overall. They have to travel east yet again this weekend for their game at NC State. After that, they have a bye, then don’t have to leave the state of California for their final three contests. Stanford will probably have one of the bottom three spots on here by the end of November.
17. FSU – 1-7, 1-6
I had to wait until after the Miami game to put the Seminoles in last place. FSU did beat Cal and have some talent on their roster. But at 1-7 and already eliminated from bowl eligibility, there’s no other spot for them. I wonder how crowded their home games will be the rest of this season. It’s probably a cheap ticket for any die-hard college football fan!
See you next week!