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ACC power rankings after Week 14: SMU completes undefeated regular season in ACC play
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Week 14 of ACC action is complete.
It was another chaotic week in the league, as both Miami and Clemson suffered close losses. However, Miami’s loss is Clemson’s gain — the Tigers will head to the ACC Championship Game to face SMU this week while the Hurricanes are forced to hope for good fortune in the next CFP rankings.
Elsewhere in the league, NC State and Virginia Tech both picked up big rivalry wins to secure bowl eligibility. Duke earned its 9th win of the season. And Florida State’s nightmare campaign finally came to an end.
Here’s Saturday Down South’s updated ACC Week 14 power rankings:
17. Florida State (Previously: 17)
Florida State’s 2024 season mercifully came to an end on Saturday with another blowout loss. It’s the Noles’ worst campaign since at least 1974 — if not ever.
16. Wake Forest (Previously: 16)
Wake gave Duke all it could handle on Saturday, but ended up losing on a walk-off touchdown pass. It’s been a rough couple of years for the Demon Deacons.
15. Stanford (Previously: 15)
Stanford closed out the season with a loss to San Jose State. The Cardinal went 3-9 this season, but they did pull off a couple of upsets in ACC play.
14. Virginia (Previously: 13)
Virginia suffered a brutal loss to rival Virginia Tech on Saturday. The Cavaliers finish the season at 5-7 as a result and will not go to the postseason. This was UVA’s best season yet under Tony Elliott, but the Cavs are still 6-17 in ACC play during his tenure.
13. North Carolina (Previously: 11)
North Carolina gave all it had in Mack Brown’s last game, but the Tar Heels came up 1 series short against NC State. The Wolfpack have now won 4 straight against the Tar Heels.
12. Cal (Previously: 10)
Cal was uncompetitive in a loss to SMU on Saturday.
11. Pitt (Previously: 9)
Pitt closed the season with a whimper after looking like it would be in ACC title contention as late as early November. The Panthers are now 7-5 heading into the postseason.
10. Virginia Tech (Previously: 12)
Virginia Tech clinched bowl eligibility with a blowout win against rival Virginia this week. The Hokies are 6-6 for a second straight season under Brent Pry.
9. NC State (Previously: 14)
NC State is bowl-eligible following a narrow win in Chapel Hill. That’s 4 straight for the Wolfpack against Carolina. A team as young as this NC State squad getting bowl-eligible is a legitimate accomplishment.
8. Boston College (Previously: 8)
Boston College wrapped up a tumultuous first season under Bill O’Brien with a big win over Pitt on Saturday. Grayson James threw for 253 yards and 2 touchdowns in the victory.
7. Duke (Previously: 5)
Duke beat Wake Forest on Saturday with a walk-off touchdown pass from Maalik Murphy. A 9-3 season was above any possible expectations for Manny Diaz’s first year in Durham. The Blue Devils drop a couple spots this week due to the close game vs. the lowly Demon Deacons, but mostly because Louisville and Syracuse both had better rivalry-week wins.
6. Syracuse (Previously: 7)
Massive win for Fran Brown and Syracuse to close out the 2024 season, beating Miami. The Orange have a ton of momentum going into next season.
5. Louisville (Previously: 6)
Louisville crushed Kentucky on Saturday in Lexington. The win snapped a streak of 5 consecutive losses to the Wildcats — and likely puts Mark Stoops on the hot seat going into next season.
4. Georgia Tech (Previously: 4)
So close, Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets very nearly upset rival Georgia in Athens on Saturday night. It took 8 overtimes for the Bulldogs to pull ahead for good. Even in defeat, it was an inspiring effort from Brent Key’s bunch.
3. Clemson (Previously: 3)
Clemson lost to South Carolina on Saturday at home, but it was still a productive day for the Tigers overall as they will appear in the ACC Championship Game next weekend. Clemson will battle ACC newcomer SMU, who went 8-0 in conference play this fall.
2. Miami (Previously: 2)
Miami has now suffered a pair of horrendous losses in November. The second defeat to Syracuse on Saturday knocks the Canes out of the ACC Championship Game — and perhaps the College Football Playoff picture. It’s a devastating end to a season that started with so much promise for Mario Cristobal and Miami.
1. SMU (Previously 1)
SMU finishes the regular season in the top spot in these power rankings. The Mustangs went 8-0 in ACC play, making them the only team in the league to finish the year with an undefeated record vs. conference opponents. SMU can clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff with a win over Clemson next weekend in the ACC title game.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
