Week 5 ACC Power Rankings

Nearly every team has played an ACC game at this point which has lead to at least some clarity for the conference's rankings. Teams also decided that playing terrible teams had to end at some point. Thanks for joining us, NC State!

Here's how things looked last week and going into the 6th week of the season, here is how we think the ACC is stacking up.

1. Clemson Tigers (4-0, 1-0). Last week: 2
Every Tigers fan needs to praise Jesus/Yahweh/Allah for whatever that Brian Kelly 2 point playcall was. Clemson dominated Notre Dame for 2.5 quarters before taking their foot off the pedal and allowing the Irish back in the game. Is Clemson the class of the ACC? Maybe, but Clemson gets GT this week and the Tigers nearly always struggle with the Yellow Jacket triple option.

2. Florida State Seminoles (4-0, 2-0). Last week: 1
The Noles beat the arguably worst team in the ACC by 8 and might have lost their star RB, Dalvin Cook. That does not a #1 team make. It could have just been a look ahead game for FSU who will play host to in-state rival Miami this weekend.

3. Duke Blue Devils (4-1, 2-0). Last week: 4
Duke won the ugliest college football game since the Auburn-Miss St 3-2 game from 2008 by beating BC 9-7. Luckily Duke gets to move to 5-1 by continuing their strong OOC schedule with a trip to West Point this week. Jokes aside, Duke's defense looks like it could earn them another trip to Charlotte in December.

4. North Carolina Tar Heels (4-1, 1-0). Last week: 6(tie)
The Tar Heels win against Georgia Tech puts them squarely in the Coastal Championship discussion. They'll get a week off before taking on the worst of the conference (Wake and UVa).

5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-3, 0-2). Last week: 5
Woof, it's been a rough three weeks for the Yellow Jackets. After being a darkhorse playoff team coming into the season, I think it is time to take a step back and ask if they can even compete in the Coastal. Starting off the ACC with 2 losses is rough and it doesn't get much easier this week when they travel to Clemson.

6(tie). Miami Hurricanes (3-1, 0-0). Last week: 3
Al Golden's team has one loss and probably has the hottest seat in the Conference. Rough crowd in Coral Gables. It might be necessary though after a brutal performance in Cincinnati this past week, but with FSU on deck this weekend, the Canes might have just been looking ahead to the rivalry game.

6(tie). Pittsburgh Panthers (3-1, 1-0). Last week: 12
The Panthers held Virginia Tech to just 100 total yards on Saturday including only 9 rushing yards (NINE!). There were a load of questions after James Conner went down with an injury, but the defense might be able to step up and make Pitt competitive. On the other hand though, it could've been a terrible Virginia Tech team.

8. Louisville Cardinals (2-3, 1-1). Last week: 10
Louisville's long, national nightmare is over. They finally beat an FBS team in 2015! Congratulations to all the Louisville fans out there. Your reward is a week off to celebrate before traveling to Florida State to take on the other power in the Atlantic division.

9. N.C. State Wolfpack (4-1, 0-1). Last week: 6(tie)
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? The Wolfpack's tough, rough, and competitive out of conference schedule might not have prepared them for ACC play? WHAT? I thought Eastern Kentucky surely would have prepared them. Hopefully they lose again in Blacksburg this weekend so we can keep laughing.

10. Syracuse Orange (3-1, 1-0). Last week: 11
Hopefully Syracuse is physically and emotionally recovered from their run in with Fournette. The Orange get back on the road this week when they travel to South Florida to take on the 1-3 Bulls. A 4-1 Cuse team could be somewhat of a surprise, and with UVa on the horizon, they could be one win away from a bowl in mid-October.

11. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-3, 0-1). Last week: 8
The news is good for Michael Brewer and Hokies fans everywhere. If they can get their QB back this team should be much better than the 100 yard team that showed up this past weekend against Pitt. Then again, maybe (hopefully) not.

12. Boston College Eagles (3-2, 0-2). Last week: 9
The Eagles won the turnover battle and outgained the Blue Devils but ultimately came up short in Durham. Their defense could be one of the best in the conference and could still miss out on a bowl because of a dismal offense.

13. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-3, 0-2). Last week: 13
Wake was legitimately competitive with Florida State. Let that sink in. Wake was a touchdown and a two point conversion away from forcing overtime with best highest ranked ACC team. But no, they're not winning many more games and aren't going to make a bowl.

14. Virginia Cavaliers (1-3, 0-0). Last week: 14
God dammit. 

Here's how we all voted individually.