Week 1 ACC Power Rankings: Clemson On Top...Barely

Week 1 has come and gone, and so has UVa's first chance at a victory. Boy, that didn't last long. Week 2 is no better for the Hoos, but outside of the Virginia Tech - Tennessee matchup, there aren't many other marquee games to enjoy this Saturday.

The ACC generally held serve this past weekend, so there isn't too much of a shakeup in this week's rankings.

1. Clemson Tigers (1-0,0-0) Last week: 1

This week: vs. Troy

Clemson's offense wasn't the juggernaut we all expected it to be, but that can largely be credited to Auburn's defense. Clemson gets back-to-back cupcakes at home against Troy this week and SC State next week before kicking off ACC play against the Fightin Paul Johnsons. The triple option always seems to give the Tigers fits.

2. Florida State Seminoles (1-0, 0-0) Last week: 2

This week: vs. Charleston Southern

This author went to bed thinking the Noles were dead in the water against Ole Miss Monday night. Waking up to see the biggest comeback in FSU history was quite a shock. If the second half got Deondre Francois and Dalvin Cook in rhythm, the rest of the ACC isn't going to stand a chance.

3. Louisville Cardinals (1-0, 0-0) Last week: 4

This week: at Syracuse

Oh boy did Lamar Jackson look good in the Cardinals' opener against Charlotte. Yes, it was against Charlotte, but Jackson ran for two TDs and threw for another 6. Louisville now gets to give Dino Babers his first taste of ACC play.

4. Miami Hurricanes (1-0, 0-0) Last week: 5

This week: vs. FAU

The Hurricanes beat the ever living snot out of Florida A&M last weekend to nobody's surprise. It is somewhat refreshing to see the Canes smoke someone though. If the ACC is going to get to the next level of CFB respect, the Canes are going to need to be near the top of the conference again.

5. Pittsburgh Panthers (1-0, 0-0) Last week: 6

This week: vs. Penn State

Pitt didn't beat Villanova nearly as bad as we thought they would. It was great to see James Conner back on the field, however. The in-state rival Nittany Lions visit Heinz Field on Saturday and the Panthers hope look to show they truly belong in the top half of the ACC.

6. North Carolina Tar Heels (0-1, 0-0) Last week: 3

This week: at Illinois

Credit the Tar Heels for taking on two Power 5 teams to start the season. They dropped their home opener last weekend to UGA because they couldn't stop Nick Chubb, which is understandable. Gene Chizik has a much easier opponent this week as he tries to right the Tar Heel defense.

7. Duke Blue Devils (1-0, 0-0) Last week: 9

This week: vs. Wake Forest

We didn't learn much about the Blue Devils after they beat NC Central 49-6, but we probably won't know much more after this weekend either. Is Cutcliffe working miracles or is NCCU just that bad? We'll know more after Duke travels to South Bend in Week 4.

8. NC State Wolfpack (1-0, 0-0) Last week: 10

This week: at ECU

The Wolfpack beat William & Mary. Wooohooo. At least this week they'll play a respectable OOC foe for once. Even if they win this week, they won't vault to the top 5, but we might know if they deserve to be in the Top 8.

9. Virginia Tech Hokies (1-0, 0-0) Last week: 7

This week: vs. Tennessee in Bristol

It took a little more effort for the Hokies to put away Liberty than many of us expected, and that is likely the reason for their drop. Fuente and Co. could make a big statement this weekend by knocking off the Volunteers. I don't expect it, but App State showed Tennessee is certainly beatable.

10(tie). Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-0, 1-0) Last week: 8

This week: Mercer

If you got up early on Saturday to watch a good football game, you were probably disappointed to realize GT and BC were playing. It wasn't a great game to watch by any means, but the Yellow Jackets stole one to earn their first ACC win of the season.

10(tie). Syracuse Orange (1-0, 0-0) Last week: 12

This week: vs. Louisville

Dino Babers got his first win for Syracuse by beating.........Colgate. Babers gets his first real test this weekend when Louisville comes to town on Friday. It doesn't get much easier next weekend when the Orange takes on South Florida.

12. Boston College Eagles (0-1, 0-1) Last week: 14

This week: vs. UMASS in Foxboro

Poor BC. The 14-17 loss to Georgia Tech gives them their 6th loss by 3 points or less since the start of the 2015 season. If the Eagles had even a decent offense they could probably in the top half of the conference. But they don't. So they aren't.

13. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1-0, 0-0) Last week: 13

This week: at Duke

Wake won three games last season, and two of them came by 3 points. They continued those close, ugly wins last weekend beating Tulane 7-3. I didn't watch a single minute of this game, and I really hope you didn't either.

14. Virginia Cavaliers (0-1, 0-0) Last week: 11

This week: at Oregon

Whatever.

Here are our individual ballots: