NEW BSD Staff ACC Football Power Rankings

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Our new weekly feature: BSD Staff ACC Power Rankings.

How it works: Each writer gives a ranking and a brief description. All rankings are averaged and compiled into an overall ranking.

NOTE: These rankings are through week 5, and do not take into account week 6 games.

Composite ACC Power Rankings

1) Clemson

Average Ranking: 1

Highest Ranking: 1

Lowest Ranking: 1

2) Wake Forest

Average Ranking: 2.2

Highest Ranking: 2

Lowest Ranking: 3

3) Virginia

Average Ranking: 2.8

Highest Ranking: 2

Lowest Ranking: 3

4) Duke

Average Ranking: 4.8

Highest Ranking: 4

Lowest Ranking: 6

5) Florida State

Average Ranking: 5.4

Highest Ranking: 4

Lowest Ranking: 7

6) North Carolina

Average Ranking: 6

Highest Ranking: 5

Lowest Ranking: 7

7) Boston College

Average Ranking: 7.6

Highest Ranking: 6

Lowest Ranking: 8

8) Pittsburgh

Average Ranking: 7.8

Highest Ranking: 4

Lowest Ranking: 12

9) Syracuse

Average Ranking: 9.6

Highest Ranking: 9

Lowest Ranking: 11

10) North Carolina State

Average Ranking: 9.8

Highest Ranking: 7

Lowest Ranking: 11

11) Miami

Average Ranking: 10.2

Highest Ranking: 7

Lowest Ranking: 12

12) Louisville

Average Ranking: 10.8

Highest Ranking: 9

Lowest Ranking: 13

13) Virginia Tech

Average Ranking: 12.8

Highest Ranking: 12

Lowest Ranking: 13

14) Georgia Tech

Average Ranking: 14

Highest Ranking: 14

Lowest Ranking: 14

Individual ACC Power Rankings

Adam

1) Clemson

This one is just obvious.

2) Wake Forest

We’re the only other undefeated team in the ACC and we have some quality wins in USU, UNC, and @ BC.

3) Virginia

The Hoos’ only loss is to a Top 10 team on the road. They also have wins over FSU and @ Pitt

4) Pitt

The Panthers have a solid win over a top 15 UCF team and their 2 losses are both to ranked opponents.

5) North Carolina

The Heels are 2-3, but all of their losses have been by less than a score against teams that are currently undefeated.

6) Duke

The jury is still out on the Devils. They lost to Bama and beat a couple of cupcakes, so that doesn’t really move the needle for me at all. Time will tell whether their blowout win over VT said more about them or the Hokies.

7) Florida State

After a horrible start to the season the Noles appear to be turning things around. They definitely have the talent to be dangerous if they start to pull it together.

8) Boston College

The Eagles have a couple of P5 (even if they are Rutgers and VT) wins, and that’s pretty much all that separates them from the rest of the teams below them.

9) Syracuse

The Orange have gotten blasted by both P5 teams they’ve played this year. I feel like they have the most potential of the remaining teams.

10) NC State

Like Syracuse, they’ve lost to both the P5 teams they’ve played (WVU and FSU) but they don’t have any embarrassing losses.

11) Louisville

Pretty much the same as Cuse and State. They haven’t beaten anyone good, but they beat the teams they are supposed to beat.

12) Miami

Wins over Bethune Cookman and Central Michigan don’t do anything for me, but they did seem competent against Florida in Week 0.

13) Virginia Tech

They’ve already lost 2 ACC games and they just got annihilated by Duke at home. It feels like the wheels are about to fall off for Fuente.

14) Georgia Tech

They are just plain bad.

Cam

1) Clemson

Until they lose they will be #1 in the conference and a top 2 team in the NCAA. Have shown flaws but no one has been able to top them in almost 2 years!

2) Wake Forest

This also shouldn’t be a surprise. Only other undefeated team in the conference, defense has been very improved, the offense has been insane and Sciba has been rock solid. They have gotten through a possible top 3 QB drafted in Jordan Love, the return of the Mack, and and a bruiser of a game in BC. I’m a believer in the #BermundaBoyz

3) Virginia

I went back and forth of putting them 3 or 4. I give them the edge cause well they beat who I have #4 and think they are a solid team

4) Florida State

They just have so much talent, seem to be playing very well with Hornibrook under center. Akers is so bleeping good, if that OL keeps being serviceable then they can do some damage

5) Duke

I’m not sold on this team just yet cause VT might just be a bad team this year but seem to be playing decently well

6) Boston College

AJ Dillon and Zay Flowers are the only reason they are above UNC. This team is punishing.

7) North Carolina

Howell is good but still glaring weaknesses here

8) Miami

I want them to be good but man they make it hard

9) Louisville

Can be dangerous but think good passing destroys this team

10) NC State

Not sure they can throw a forward pass still but hey Zonovan Knight is good!

11) Syracuse

At least they’re better than Pitt?

12) Pitt

Thanks for letting me get my UCF jokes off but this team stinks

13) Virginia Tech

Embarassed by Duke, had to grind wins out vs Furman and ODU, next.

14) Georgia Tech

I dont want to talk about it.

Samurai

1) Clemson

Because really, who else would it be?

2) Wake Forest

Yeah I’m gonna go there; I sincerely believe Wake Forest is the second best team in the conference right now and it might remain that way going forward. We’ll see.

3) Virginia

They’re ranked and still playing pretty well. Not that complicated really. Here’s where the rankings get mushy...

4) Duke

Looking pretty scary, if I’m being honest.

5) North Carolina

They’ve been so close so many times. That puts them ahead of a bunch of others.

6) Florida State

They’ve also been really close a bunch, but in a less favorable way. They might be rounding into form, though. Uh oh...

7) NC State

They’ve looked pretty solid for the most part, contextually anyway.

8) Boston College

I’m giving them credit for playing us as close as they did, plus they have some undeniably great pieces.

9) Pitt

Pretty bad but also they beat UCF so it is a mystery.

10) Syracuse

After a lot of preseason hype, they’ve really collapsed.

11) Louisville

Here’s where it starts to get really nasty. I mean, maybe they could end up being better? Note I’m doing this before the BC game is over so yeah keep that in mind.

12) Miami

They’ve blown somebody out so that’s worth... something?

13) Virginia Tech

REALLY bad. But also really young so....

14) Georgia Tech

Who else would be here? I offer one piece of evidence. Temple 24, GT 2. Any questions, honestly?

Elijah

1) Clemson

Even though they have struggled more than anticipated (see UNC game), the Tigers will still be the team to beat.

2) Virginia

Even with a loss that seems worse than actuality, I think Virginia is slightly better than Wake right now. UVA gave away a lot of points to the Fighting Irish and I think their defense is still pretty scary.

3) Wake Forest

Wake is still undefeated but has only played one conference game. I know the ACC seems down but those teams are more familiar. My floor has now moved up a little bit and double digit wins seems more attainable than at the beginning of the year.

4) Florida State

Lost a couple of early games, including an implosion again Boise State but they are rounding into form and have a ton of elite athletes.

5) Duke

Quietly been very solid. Might be a little low on them.

6) North Carolina

Sometimes UNC looks like a good team, usually in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, they play like a really average team for the first three quarters usually.

7) Miami

Remember when this looked like a decent team because an overly high ranked Florida team battled with them? Maybe UF is bad too but Miami has pure talent like FSU.

8) Boston College

BC would probably be much better if they moved on from Anthony Brown. His inaccuracy can really derail their offense at times.

9) Syracuse

After a lot of preseason hype, Dino was the next big thing... not anymore.

10) Pitt

Similar to a lot of the coastal teams, we just don’t really know. Pitt gets a nod because of their win over UCF.

11) NC State

They’ve looked solid but not spectacular.

12) Virginia Tech

Surprisingly a struggling squad this year.

13) Louisville

Somewhat low when I look at it but their best showing this year was the first half against Notre Dame.

14) Georgia Tech

Temple 24, GT 2. It’ll take a while to get players to play a conventional offense after years of being an option team.

Edward

1) Clemson

Until someone actually beats them they will perpetually be number one. And even when they are beaten with the rest of the league being so bad, they may still be number one.

2) Wake Forest

Being the only other remaining undefeated team in the conference automatically moves you up to #2 behind only Clemson in my mind.

3) Virginia

The Cavaliers’ only loss is to a Top 10 Notre Dame team. No shame in that, and the Cavs may be in a position to move up to #2 if they look impressive going forward.

4) Duke

The Blue Devils are the only team besides Clemson to be ranked in the top 3 in the conference in both offense and defense.

5) Pitt

Their only losses are to Top 25 teams in Penn State, whom they played very closely, and Virginia. No shame in that.

6) Florida State

After embarrassing losses to start off the season, the Noles seem to have found their identity, and may have found something in transfer quarterback Alex Hornibrook.

7) North Carolina

Sam Howell has looked impressive, and the Heels’ three losses are to undefeated teams. This team took Clemson down to the wire, and if they ever figure out how to put two good halves together they have the potential to be really good.

8) Boston College

The Eagles have struggled somewhat (see the loss to Kansas), but put up a good fight against Wake Forest last week. They also have one of the best running backs in the nation in AJ Dillon, and should be able to lean on him heavily going forward.

9) Syracuse

Syracuse has been absolutely embarrassed by the two Power Five schools they have played, and just simply doesn't look like a very good football team.

10) Louisville

The Cardinals are in a rebuilding year under first year head coach Scott Satterfield. Their inexperience shows on the field, and it may be a couple of years before Satt really has them competing in the ACC again.

11) NC State

NC State’s passing game has been abysmal, and it may prove to be a very long season for them if they can't figure something out.

12) Miami

Miami’s two wins are over Bethune Cookman and Central Michigan, and they barely took down the Chippewas. Not exactly the start the Hurricanes were looking for under Manny Diaz.

13) Virginia Tech

The Hokies are off to a very, very bad start. They struggled to beat Old Dominion and Furman, and were blown off the field at home by Duke. Expect the fans to start calling for Justin Fuente’s job, if they haven't already.

14) Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is in a major rebuild, and it shows after losing to FCS The Citadel at home and managing only a safety against Temple. This team is just plain bad.

How would you all rank the ACC? Comment below.