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ACC Power Rankings: Week 11

Last weekend saw two crucial games shape the top of the ACC.

Clemson v North Carolina State Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

The very top and very bottom of the ACC have been very steady for most of the season. Between that, there’s been some wild fluctuations, especially in the middle of the conference. A team will win one weekend, and then lose to someone weird the next. Let’s look at where the teams fall this week in the random dartboard that is the ACC power rankings.

1. Clemson (8-1, 6-1 ACC)

With their victory over NC State, the Tigers now just need to win their final conference game against Florida State to wrap up another Atlantic Division title. They haven’t blown away either of their opponents post-Syracuse loss, but neither team should have been a walkover, so no foul there.

The Tigers went into this season as a potential playoff contender, and despite the loss, nothing has really changed that.

This week: vs. Florida State

2. Miami (8-0, 6-0 ACC)

On the other side of the conference was another game that put a team a win away from a division title. The Hurricanes dispatched their closest Coastal rival Virginia Tech relatively easily and are on the verge of their first division title.

On the surface, Miami’s final scores don’t look overly dominant, and they certainly didn’t look dominant a couple weeks ago in Chapel Hill. Yet, they’re still undefeated and it would take some doing for them to not win the Coastal.

Coming up this week, they get another huge test when Notre Dame comes to town. This game could either expose the Hurricanes or prove that they are a legit contender for not only the ACC, but the playoff.

This week: vs. Notre Dame

3. Virginia Tech (7-2, 3-2 ACC)

On the losing end of that key Coastal matchup was Virginia Tech, who doesn’t drop too far. The Hokies are probably now out of the running for the division, but they’re still in fine shape for a good season. They came into the season expected to be the 3rd or 4th best team in the conference, and they’ve played like the 3rd or 4th best team in the conference.

This week: @ Georgia Tech

4. NC State (6-3, 4-1 ACC)

Penalties, laptops, and definitely not Clemson just being the better team conspired to give NC State their third loss of the season last week. The Wolfpack now need some help to have a chance to win the Atlantic, but they’re still a solid team and have had a solid season. Offensive juggernaut Boston College should provide them an interesting test this weekend.

This week: @ Boston College

5. Virginia (6-3, 3-2 ACC)

Going into week 11, there are three teams technically still alive for the Coastal. And one of them is Virginia? The Cavaliers have a game left against Miami, so if they win out and the Hurricanes lose both of their remaining conference games, Virginia would win the division.

That’s probably not going to happen, but it’s still pretty wild. Bronco Mendenhall’s team has still had some down moments this season, like losing to Pitt a couple weeks ago. However, they’re one of five ACC teams currently bowl eligible, which is not something many people would have predicted before the season.

This week: @ Louisville

6. Boston College (5-4, 3-3 ACC)

Offensive juggernaut Boston College got last weekend off as they prepare to host NC State this weekend. The middle class of the ACC is pretty big this season, but somehow the Eagles are deserving of their place near the top of it, scoring a combined 121 points in their last three games

This week: vs. NC State

7. Wake Forest (5-4, 2-3 ACC)

The Demon Deacons put up a good effort against Notre Dame, but they fell in too deep a hold in the first half to really keep the game close. Despite the loss, Dave Clawson’s team is still is good shape to have a pretty decent season. Their last three games feature two fairly winnable ones. Wake Forest will in all likelihood be bowling once again.

This week: @ Syracuse

8. Louisville (5-4, 2-4 ACC)

This has been such a strange season in the ACC that the last place team in the Atlantic Division is fairly ranked somewhere in the middle of the conference. This hasn’t been the season Lamar Jackson and the Cardinals were looking for, but they still have a winning record and should pick up one more win and go to a bowl game.

This week: vs. Virginia

9. Georgia Tech (4-4, 3-3 ACC)

Georgia Tech may still be .500, but after their loss last weekend, the Yellow Jackets bowl hopes are very shaky. They have three games left, and need two wins out of Virginia Tech, Duke, and Georgia to get to six.

Based on what they’ve done this season up to this point, eighth is about right for them, but things have gotten way too close for comfort in Atlanta.

This week: vs. Virginia Tech

10. Florida State (3-5, 3-4 ACC)

This week saw the news that FSU has rescheduled their game against UL Monroe that had been cancelled due to the hurricane. Playing UL Monroe on conference championship weekend was probably not what they had in mind before the season, but they’re doing it and they might need it to make a bowl.

FSU beat Syracuse last weekend to snap a two game losing streak, getting them to three wins. If you assume they beat both Monroe and Delaware State and lose to Clemson, their chance at a sixth win will come down to a game against Florida, who themselves might need a win in that game. What a weird season.

This week: @ Clemson

11. Syracuse (4-5, 2-3 ACC)

The Orange drop below Florida State on account of losing to them last week. However, they have three winnable games left on the schedule, so odds are they’ll rise back up before the end of the season.

This week: vs. Wake Forest

12. Pitt (4-5, 2-3 ACC)

The Panthers’ season looked doomed after they lost to NC State and fell to 2-5 on the season. Now they’ve won two straight and have an outside shot at a bowl game. The shot is definitely an outside one as two of their games left are against Virginia Tech and Miami. Still, they’re in a better position than they were even a month ago.

This week: vs. North Carolina

13. Duke (4-5, 1-5 ACC)

They were once 4-0. Now they’re not.

This week: @ Army

14. North Carolina (1-8, 0-6 ACC)

At least they didn’t lose last weekend.

This week: @ Pitt