Streaking the Lawn’s Week 5 ACC Football Power Rankings

Most teams in the ACC have now played at least three games with a lot having played four. It’s clear, obvious, and expected that Clemson is once again in a league of their own. It’s not looking like anyone is anywhere near close to them.....yet again.

1. Clemson Tigers (4-0, 3-0)
Last game: win 42-17 vs. Miami. This week: at GT

Tigers keep rolling against teams people think might challenge them. They’re a machine that I have no idea when it will stop. Outside of a catastrophic injury to multiple players, they’ll go undefeated yet again and make the college football playoffs yet again. At least they are bringing honor to the ACC. I guess.

2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-0, 2-0)
Last game: win 42-26 vs. FSU. This week: vs. Louisville

The Irish let the Noles have a lead after the first quarter last week and then scored 21 points to FSU’s 3 in the 2nd to salt it away. This Louisville game was thought to be a challenge but it looks like they’ll coast until their early November meeting with Clemson.

3. North Carolina Tar Heels (3-0, 3-0)
Last game: win 56-45 vs. VT. This week: at FSU

Is UNC’s offense amazing or is their defense as awful the results say? They had not scored nearly that many points yet this season but have now given up 45 and 22 to the two competent teams they’ve faced. Maybe they’re not as good as that 3-0 record suggests.

4. Miami-Florida Hurricanes (3-1, 2-1)
Last game: loss 42-17 at Clemson. This week: vs. Pitt

There’s no shame in getting blown out by Clemson, but if you want to be “BACK” you can’t lose by 25 with 7 of the points coming off a gift blocked field goal and another 7 coming in garbage time. They still have VT and UNC on the schedule, so they’ll have games to show they’re a top 15 team, but dreams of being great are gone.

5. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-1, 2-1)
Last game: loss 56-45 at UNC. This week: vs. BC

Hokies still don’t have a roster close to a full team, but managed to be competitive with UNC. A feisty BC team might be able to catch VT napping and they have a history of shocking the Hokies when they shouldn’t be able to.

6. N.C. State Wolfpack (3-1, 3-1)
Last game: win 38-21 at UVA. This week: vs. Duke

After a lackluster game against VT in week 2, the Wolfpack have now put back to back games together against UVA and Pitt. Duke this week should be easy for the Hokies but UNC and Miami in back to back games immediately follows. We’ll see just how good the Pack are.

7. Boston College Eagles (3-1, 2-1)
Last game: win 31-30 vs. Pitt. This week: at VT

Having your opponent miss an extra point in OT is certainly one way to win a game. Eagles now have had 3 one possession games and are 2-1 in them.

8 (tie). Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-2, 2-1)
Last game: win 46-27 vs. Louisville. This week: vs. Clemson

They’ve beaten FSU and Louisville, but lost to......Syracuse. That’s the ACC if I have ever seen a record. They’ll lose by 40 to Clemson this weekend and have Notre Dame in two weeks. Good vibes are hard to come by.

8 (tie). Pittsburgh Panthers (3-2, 2-2)
Last game: loss 31-30 at BC. This week: at Miami

Coming off a two game losing streak, I am not sure back to back weeks of Miami and Notre Dame are what the Panthers want to see.

10. Virginia Cavaliers (1-2, 1-2)
Last game: loss 38-21 vs. NC State. This week: at Wake

Laying an egg the week after playing Clemson appears to be a thing. Losing your QB to a concussion on a targeting penalty probably isn’t normal. Hoos need to rebound in a hurry with Miami and UNC after Wake this week.

11. Louisville Cardinals (1-3, 0-3)
Last game: loss 46-27 at GT. This week: at ND

The Cardinals were supposed to be in the upper echelon of the conference but have now lost three in a row and are staring down the barrel of ND and VT with FSU sandwiched in between.

12. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1-2, 0-2)
Last game: win 66-14 vs Campbell. This week: vs. UVA

It’ll have been two weeks since the Deacs took the field this weekend when UVA comes to town. Still looking for their first ACC victory, rust could play a factor.

13. Duke Blue Devils (1-4, 1-4)
Last game: win 38-24 at Syracuse. This week: at NC State

Just when we think the Blue Devils are far and away the worst team in the conference they travel to New York and beat Syracuse. No, Cuse isn’t that good either, but a road win is a road win.

14. Florida State Seminoles (1-3, 0-3)
Last game: loss 42-26 at ND. This week: vs. UNC

Poor Noles. Blown out by Miami and Notre Dame and their reward is to play the 3rd highest ranked ACC team. Clemson is still on the schedule too. Yikes.

15. Syracuse Orange (1-3, 1-3)
Last game: loss 38-24 vs. Duke. This week: vs. Liberty

Again, no ACC team should be playing Liberty this year in any sport, but definitely not in football. Cuse is also an underdog. On their own field. Against Liberty. Real shameful.