STL’s Week 3 ACC Football Power Rankings

Two weeks through a somewhat normal football season and what do you know, #goacc is in full effect!

1. Clemson Tigers (1-1, 0-0)

Last week: win 49-3 vs. SC State. This week: vs. GT

The Tigers rebounded after their poor performance in week 1 with a dominant performance against their FCS opponent. They get to start their ACC slate this week against a borderline FCS opponent.

2. Virginia Tech Hokies (2-0, 1-0)

Last week: win 35-14 vs. MTSU. This week: at West Virginia

The Hokies came in at No. 15 this week in the AP Poll. That 7 point home win in week 1 is doing some HEAVY lifting. Hokies will get a true test this weekend against a rabid crowd in Morgantown.

3. North Carolina Tar Heels (1-1, 0-1)

Last week: win 59-17 vs. GA State. This week: vs. UVA

Sam Howell had a get right game leading the Heels in passing yards with 352 and rushing yards with 104. He also combined for five TDs (3 passing, 2 rushing). If the Heels are going to run through the ACC they’ll have to get help from elsewhere as well.

4. Miami-FL Hurricanes (1-1, 0-0)

Last week: win 25-23 vs. Appalachian State. This week: vs. Michigan State

“Escape” is probably the best description of the Hurricanes against App. State. They’ll have to regain focus hosting a 2-0 Big Ten opponent this week. D’Eriq King is good, but who else is there?

5. Pittsburgh Panthers (2-0, 0-0)

Last week: win 41-34 at Tennessee. This week: vs. Western Michigan

They certainly aren’t the Volunteers of the mid-90s, but Pitt certainly registered the best out of conference win of the 2021 season for the ACC thus far. They won thanks in large part to a stout 27-10 outscoring of Tennessee in the 2nd quarter.

6. Virginia Cavaliers (2-0, 0-0)

Last week: win 42-14 vs. Illinois. This week: at UNC

Is Brennan Armstrong the greatest QB to wear the orange and blue? Could be. Hoos will really turn heads if they can escape Chapel Hill with a win this weekend.

7. NC State Wolfpack (1-1, 0-0)

Last week: loss 24-10 at Mississippi State. This week: vs. Furman

After demolishing an albeit bad USF team in week one and getting hopes up, State looked pretty lifeless in Starkville. No worries this week, but Clemson is on the horizon next weekend.

8. Boston College Eagles (2-0, 0-0)

Last week: win 45-28 at UMass. This week: at Temple

What looked to be a smooth sailing, east out of conference schedule hit a rocky road on Monday after BC QB Phil Jurkovec underwent hand surgery and is likely out the rest of the season.

9. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-0, 0-0)

Last week: win 41-16 vs. Norfolk State. This week: vs. FSU

Wake has cruised the first two weeks winning by an average of 28 points. They’ll have a much biggest game this weekend against a down, but probably angry FSU team.

10. Louisville Cardinals (1-1, 0-0)

Last week: win 30-3 vs. Eastern Kentucky. This week: vs. UCF

UCF is going to present a tougher challenge than Ole Miss did in week 1 for the Cardinals. They’ll get the Knights at home, but it’s not surprising Louisville is 7 point home dogs.

11. Syracuse Orange (1-1, 0-0)

Last week: loss 17-7 vs. Rutgers. This week: vs. Albany

Our hopes were raised in Dino Babers after Week 1, but then the Orange totally go and redeem themselves against New York’s one true team, Rutgers. Next week against Liberty probably won’t go well either.

12. Florida State Seminoles (0-2, 0-0)

Last week: loss 20-17 vs. Jacksonville State. This week: at Wake

Maybe it lights a fire under them. Maybe the shut it down for another lost FSU season. But under no circumstances should an FSU team lose to an FCS team.

13. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-1, 0-0)

Last week: win 45-17 vs. Kennesaw State. This week: at Clemson

Good job getting that first W of the season, Yellow Jackets! Now you get your first of 6 ranked opponents left on your schedule!

14. Duke Blue Devils (1-1, 0-0)

Last week: win 45-17 vs. NC A&T. This week: vs. Northwestern

There’s nothing you can really glean for a win against NC A&T. They play Kansas next week and literally nobody should watch.