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ACC Power Rankings: Week Three

We’ll be providing our readers with game recaps and predictions of what lies ahead for each member of the conference. We’ll also be listing any pertinent information for each team including injury news, roster updates, and the like.

Hurricanes fans cheer during a game against the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
Hurricanes fans cheer during a game against the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
Mike Ehrmann

Consistency will never be a trait of the Atlantic Coast Conference. How can a team knockoff a top-10 Power Five opponent one week, only to fall to an unranked member of the Sun-Belt the next? How is a Boston College win over #17 USC possible, when the Eagles suffered a loss to Pittsburgh the game before? As much as inconsistency has plagued our own squad, the Miami Hurricanes, it continues to run rampant within the conference. Consequently, measuring success for members of the ACC becomes a difficult task with varied results. From a power rankings' perspective, you begin to reward the few teams that haven't yet stumbled. That's all well and good, but Ohio State is no Kansas and the Trojans are not in any way comparable to East Carolina.

I am losing hair, sleep, and the ability to interact normally with the rest of society. Perhaps that is #goacc? As opposed to basing our selections for the rankings off fan input, I am now dredging up each choice from my own delirious thoughts and outlooks. Do I care what Virginia is capable of? No. I can't feel my legs. Enjoy.

Atlantic Division

1st - Florida State Seminoles 2-0 ACC: 0-0

AP/Coaches ranking: 1st/1st

Previous week: BYE; Result: N/A

Next opponent: 9/20 8:00PM vs. #22 Clemson (1-1)

Find all your FSU-Clemson pregame chatter below:


2nd - Clemson Tigers 1-1 ACC: 0-0

AP/Coaches ranking: 22nd/24th

Previous week: BYE; Result: N/A

Next opponent: 9/20 8:00PM @ #1 Florida State (2-0)

3rd - Boston College Eagles 2-1 ACC: 0-1

AP/Coaches ranking: NR/NR

Previous week: vs. #17 USC Trojans (2-1); Result: WIN 37-31

Next opponent: 9/20 1:00PM vs. Maine Black Bears (1-1)

Boston College takes the momentum of their 37-31 win over #17 USC to the Maine Black Bears. Also, this is definitely worth the click.

4th - Louisville Cardinals 2-1 ACC: 1-1

AP/Coaches ranking: NR/NR

Previous week: @ Virginia (2-1); Result: LOSS 23-21

Next opponent: 9/20 3:30PM @ FIU Panthers (1-2)

FIU gave Pittsburgh all they could handle this past weekend. Now Louisville looks to bounce back from their loss to Virginia with a trip to South Florida.

5th - Syracuse Orange 2-0 ACC: 0-0

AP/Coaches ranking: NR/NR

Previous week: @ Central Michigan Chippewas (2-1); Result: WIN 40-3

Next opponent: 9/20 12:30PM vs. Maryland Terrapins (2-1)

Syracuse could not have shed their dreary performance against Villanova any better with a 40-3 showing against a CMU team that had upset Purdue the previous week. A tougher task awaits this Saturday with a Maryland Terrapins squad returning from a shootout with West Virginia.

6th - N.C. State Wolfpack 3-0 ACC: 0-0

AP/Coaches ranking: NR/NR

Previous week: @ South Florida Bulls (1-2); Result: WIN 49-17

Next opponent: 9/20 6:00PM vs. Presbyterian Blue Hose (2-1)

7th - Wake Forest Demon Deacons 1-2 ACC: 0-0

AP/Coaches ranking: NR/NR

Previous week: @ Utah State Aggies (2-1); Result: LOSS 36-24

Next opponent: 9/20 3:30PM vs. Army Black Knights (1-1)

Coastal Division

1st - Duke Blue Devils 3-0 ACC: 0-0

AP/Coaches ranking: NR/NR

Previous week: vs. Kansas Jayhawks (1-1); Result: WIN 41-3

Next opponent: 9/20 12:30PM vs. Tulane Green Wave (1-2)

The Blue Devils have done everything right against lesser opponents. Tulane is Duke's last non-conference foe before the Blue Devils set their eyes on ACC play and travel to Miami.

2nd - Pittsburgh Panthers 3-0 ACC: 1-0

AP/Coaches ranking: NR/NR

Previous week: @ FIU Panthers (1-2); Result: WIN 42-25

Next opponent: 9/20 12PM vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (2-1)

Pittsburgh squares off against a Big Ten Iowa Hawkeyes squad that's played mediocre at best to begin the season.

3rd - Virginia Tech Hokies 2-1 ACC: 0-0

AP/Coaches ranking: NR/NR

Previous week: vs. East Carolina Pirates (2-1); Result: LOSS 28-21

Next opponent: 9/20 12PM vs. Georgia Tech (3-0)

Virginia Tech's meteoric rise after besting Ohio State was short-lived once East Carolina came to Blacksburg and outperformed the Hokies. Both Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech begin ACC play this weekend in what will prove to be a better measuring stick as to where each team ranks within the conference.

4th - Virginia Cavaliers 2-1 ACC: 1-0

AP/Coaches ranking: NR/NR

Previous week: vs. Louisville Cardinals (2-1); Result: WIN 23-21

Next opponent: 9/20 @ #21 BYU Cougars (3-0)

You have to give the Cavaliers credit for their non-conference scheduling. They've never shied away from top competition and if their success continues they may very well be the next ACC member to be represented in the polls.

5th - Miami Hurricanes 2-1 ACC: 0-1

AP/Coaches ranking: NR/NR

Previous week: vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves (1-2); Result: WIN 41-20

Next opponent: 9/20 8:00PM @ #24 Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-0)

State of the U will have you covered as Miami takes on Nebraska. Here's a few links to get you started:


6th - North Carolina Tar Heels 2-0 ACC: 0-0

AP/Coaches ranking: NR/25th

Previous week: BYE; Result: N/A

Next Opponent: 9/20 3:30PM @ East Carolina Pirates (2-1)

A struggling Tar Heel squad faces their toughest test of the season yet with an emerging East Carolina.

7th - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 3-0 ACC: 0-0

AP/Coaches ranking: NR/NR

Previous week: vs. Georgia Southern Eagles (1-2); Result: WIN 42-38

Next opponent: 9/20 12PM @ Virginia Tech (2-1)


Conference Notes:

ACC vs. AAC (2-1)

ACC vs. Big Ten (1-0)

ACC vs. Big 12 (2-0)

ACC vs. PAC-12 (1-1)

ACC vs. SEC (0-1)



#GOACC