STL’s POWER RANKINGS! Louisville takes over as King of the ACC

Three weeks in and we're finally getting a better picture of who the haves and have-nots are in this conference. Virginia is clearly among the haves (so many losses) and Louisville just curb-stomped the Noles to cement themselves as a legitimate playoff contender.

Let's see how the rest of the ACC stacks up in this week's Streaking the Lawn POWER RANKINGS.

1. Louisville Cardinals (3-0, 1-0) Last week: 3
This week: @ Marshall

Poor Florida State. We are all as glad as you are that that game is over. Louisville are clearly at the top of the class in the ACC and could be challenging for a playoff spot if they keep this up. This week they'll travel to Marshall (travel to Marshall?) before going to Clemson next weekend in what could be the ACC's biggest game of the season.

2. Clemson Tigers (3-0, 0-0) Last week: 2
This week: @ Georgia Tech

The Tigers had a bye week last weekend by getting to play South Carolina State. The game got so out of hand the two teams played 12 minute 3rd and 4th quarters. This has turned into a nightmare scenario for Clemson: they'll get to play GT on a short week and take on Louisville the week after the triple option.

3. Florida State Seminoles (2-1, 0-1) Last week: 1
This week: @ Southern Florida

Ohhhh buddy, FSU Twitter could not have enjoyed that. I cannot imagine anyone thought the Noles would get their doors blown off, but here we are. The Noles will look to get on the right track against a pretty good USF team that is looking to challenge Houston for the AAC crown this season.

4. Miami Hurricanes (3-0, 0-0) Last week: 5
This week: BYE, @ GT on 10/1

So the Hurricanes are 3-0 and have won all three games by an average of 43 points. The purpose of that stat? They've played Florida A&M, FAU, and App State. We think they might be good, but it could be fool's gold. We probably won't really know about Miami till the four game stretch of FSU, UNC, at VT, and at ND in October.

5. North Carolina Tar Heels (2-1, 0-0) Last week: 6
This week: vs. Pitt

The Tar Heels have gotten back on track after their week 1 loss to Georgia. They'll open up their ACC play this weekend in one of the bigger match-ups in the Coastal division. A trip to Tallahassee the weekend afterwards could be a real statement maker for UNC.

6. Pittsburgh Panthers (2-1, 0-0) Last week: 4
This week: @ UNC

There is no shame in dropping a close game on the road to Oklahoma State. The Panthers appear to at least be in the top half of the conference and could challenge for the Coastal title. They get their chance to start proving that this weekend against UNC.

7. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-1, 1-0) Last week: 8
This week: vs. ECU

The Hokies made a bold statement blowing out BC 49-0. They get a chance to right the ship against ECU, who have beaten the Hokies the last two seasons. They will get another week to rest for their ACC Coastal showdown with UNC in two weeks.

8. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-0, 1-0) Last week: 7
This week: vs. Clemson

The Yellow Jackets are 3-0 and Paul Johnson could be working magic again. They made a strong statement this past weekend smoking Vanderbilt 38-7. If the Yellow Jackets can shock the world and give the young Clemson defense fits on Thursday night, who knows what our expectations for the Yellow Jackets will be.

9. NC State Wolfpack (2-1, 0-0) Last week: 9
This week: BYE, vs. Wake on 10/1

The Wolfpack rebounded after losing to ECU by beating Old Dominion this past weekend fairly soundly. Still, nobody should have confidence in NC State since they haven't beaten a decent team in like 6 years. Beating Wake in two weeks could be a good start, but Notre Dame in three weeks will be a statement game.

10. Wake Forest (3-0, 1-0) Last week: 10
This week: at Indiana

If you had Wake Forest being 3-0 before the season, you are a much smarter CFB fan than most. Granted, they are wins against Duke, Delaware, and a 7-3 win over Tulane, but they are halfway to a bowl game. Traveling to Indiana this week poses a challenge, but Wake might just be up to the challenge.

11. Syracuse Orange (1-2, 0-1) Last week: 12
This week: at UCONN

There was hope in upstate New York after a week 1 win against Colgate. Losses to Louisville by 34 and USF by 25 might have erased a fair amount of that hope. Dino Babers is facing a big rebuild and traveling to UCONN this week isn't easy because UCONN is one of the best teams in the country.

12. Duke Blue Devils (1-2, 0-1) Last week: 11
This week: at Notre Dame

Most expected a rough season for the Blue Devils, but a 1-2 start probably wasn't what they expected. Traveling to Notre Dame this weekend might not be the place to get the season back on track but hosting the Cavaliers in two weeks might help. The battle for the bottom of the Coastal could be an intriguing one.

13. Boston College Golden Eagles (1-2, 0-2) Last week: 13
This week: vs. Wagner

We all thought BC had another legitimate defense this season, and after holding their first two opponents to just 21 points total, it seemed like it might be true. Then the Eagles went to Blacksburg and got their doors blown off, 49-0. They'll get their 2nd win this weekend against Wagner, but a win is a win (I think, I've forgotten).

14. Virginia Cavaliers (0-3, 0-0) Last week: 14
This week: vs. Central Michigan

The Hoos are just 8 ACC wins away from an appearance in the ACC Championship Game and a possible New Years 6 bowl. Another loss this weekend will set that up perfectly.

That's how we think the ACC stacks up and below is how each STL writer voted. Let us know where we went wrong.