ACC power rankings after Week 11: Clemson, SMU benefit from Miami's first loss
Week 11 of ACC action is in the books.
It was a big week for the league, as 2 top teams lost. Miami’s crushing defeat at Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh’s late loss to Virginia could have a big impact at the top of the ACC’s standings by year’s end.
Here’s Saturday Down South’s updated ACC Week 11 power rankings:
17. Florida State (Previously: 17)
Another week, another non-competitive game from Florida State. It just gets worse and worse for the Noles every week.
16. Stanford (Previously: 16)
Stanford was idle this week.
15. Wake Forest (Previously: 15)
Wake suffered a tough loss to Cal on Friday night. The Demon Deacons will need to beat 2 of North Carolina, Miami and Duke in order to reach a bowl game.
14. NC State (Previously: 10)
Just when it seemed like NC State looked like it was headed in the right direction, the Wolfpack offense sputters in a loss to Duke. The Blue Devils didn’t convert a third down all day and still put up 29 on the Wolfpack. Reprehensible loss at home for a team that’s still seeking bowl eligibility.
13. Virginia Tech (Previously: 7)
Virginia Tech didn’t score an offensive touchdown until very late in the game against Clemson. That’s back-to-back tough losses for the Hokies.
12. Boston College (Previously: 14)
Nice win over Syracuse on Saturday for the Eagles. Bill O’Brien has Boston College within 1 win of a bowl game with 3 to play.
11. North Carolina (Previously: 9)
North Carolina did not play in Week 11.
10. Virginia (Previously: 13)
Huge win for Tony Elliott’s Virginia program on Saturday night vs. Pitt. Virginia is now 1 win away from bowl eligibility, although it will need to beat one of Notre Dame, SMU or Virginia Tech in order to get there.
9. Syracuse (Previously: 6)
Syracuse lost to Boston College on Saturday. That squanders any momentum the Orange had from last week’s overtime win over Virginia Tech.
8. Pitt (Previously: 5)
Back-to-back tough losses for Pitt. Last week’s against SMU’s was understandable. Saturday’s loss to Virginia — much less so. The Panthers are in free-fall.
7. Cal (Previously: 8)
Cal defeated Wake Forest on Friday night for its first-ever ACC win.
6. Duke (Previously: 12)
Impressive win for Duke on the road in Raleigh this weekend. Seven wins for Manny Diaz in his first season at Duke is nothing to scoff at.
5. Georgia Tech (Previously: 11)
What a win for Georgia Tech! That’s the team we saw early in the year. The Yellow Jackets had a rough go of it in October, but they appear to be firing on all cylinders coming out of their second bye weeks.
4. Louisville (Previously: 3)
Louisville was on bye this week.
3. Clemson (Previously: 4)
Huge win for Clemson on Saturday against Virginia Tech. After getting shutout in the first half, Clemson’s offense figured some things out after the break. Clemson’s run defense was also much better this week. Clemson needs a ton of help in order to reach the ACC title game, but it would be formidable if it gets there.
2. Miami (Previously: 1)
That was a horrible loss, Miami. The Hurricanes now need to be perfect down the stretch if they want to reach the College Football Playoff.
1. SMU (Previously 2)
And then there was one. After Week 11, SMU is the lone remaining undefeated team in ACC play. The Mustangs are the primary beneficiary of shocking upset losses by Clemson and Miami in consecutive weeks. SMU will enter the final 3 weeks of the regular season with some margin-for-error as it looks to make the ACC title game in its debut season.
Kudos to SMU. ACC officiating remains the headline. Simply atrocious.