ACC Football: Chaos in the Rankings and a Glimpse of the Future

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The first full week of conference play has officially shaken up the ACC. The most notable change is a familiar sight’s disappearance: the Clemson Tigers are no longer in the Top-25, marking the first time they’ve been unranked since 2014. The 24-21 road upset by Georgia Tech has thrust the Yellow Jackets into the polls in their place, signaling a potential power shift within the league.

Heading into Week 4, the ACC is well-represented in the polls. In the latest AP Top-25, Miami is at #4, Florida State is at #7, and Georgia Tech makes its season debut at #18. The LBM Coaches Poll has a similar look, with Miami at #6, Florida State at #9, and Georgia Tech at #19. The conference remains one of only three to have multiple teams ranked inside the Top-10.

With six teams still undefeated—Georgia Tech, NC State, California, Miami, Florida State, and Louisville—the league’s landscape looks as competitive as ever. All six are in action this weekend, with the spotlight on several key matchups.

This Week’s Marquee Matchups

Clemson (1-2, 0-1) vs. Syracuse (2-1, 0-0)

The Tigers return home looking to get their season back on track against a Syracuse team with a dynamic offense. Clemson holds a 10-2 record against the Orange and has won the last six meetings. Tigers wide receiver Bryant Wexco has been a consistent bright spot, recording back-to-back 100-yard receiving games—the first Clemson wideout to do so since 2020. They will face a formidable challenge in Syracuse QB Steve Angelo, who leads the nation in passing with 1,072 yards, averaging an impressive 357.3 yards per game.

NC State (3-0, 1-0) at Duke (1-2, 0-0)

The undefeated Wolfpack head to Durham for a conference clash with Duke. The Blue Devils lead the all-time series 43-37-5 and have won four of the last five matchups. NC State will lean on running back Hollywood Smothers, who leads the league in rushing with 380 yards and 126.7 yards per game. He is the first Wolfpack running back with multiple 140+ yard games since 2005. Duke’s defense, however, is formidable, ranking ninth in the nation in tackles for loss per game (9). Their biggest weakness is ball security, as they have seven turnovers (five fumbles, two interceptions) while only forcing one.

Stanford (1-2, 1-0) at Virginia (2-1, 0-0)

Riding the momentum of their conference-opening win over Boston College, the Stanford Cardinals head to Charlottesville. The Cardinal defense was outstanding in their last outing, shutting out the Eagles in the second half. They have also been opportunistic, tying with SMU for the national lead with two defensive touchdowns. They will face a well-balanced Virginia offense that has recorded 868 yards passing and 800 yards on the ground—the only FBS team to hit those marks. Virginia’s offensive line has been a fortress, not allowing a single sack through three games.

Game of the Day: Miami (3-0, 0-0) vs. Florida (1-2, 0-1 SEC)

The Sunshine State rivalry takes center stage on Saturday night. Miami holds a slight 30-27 all-time series advantage over the Gators. The Hurricanes, led by quarterback Carson Beck, are red-hot. Beck, who previously played at Georgia, is a familiar foe for the Gators and leads the nation in completion percentage at 79.3%. He is 11th in passing efficiency with a rating of 185.7. Florida, meanwhile, is trying to snap a two-game skid. They have not won at Miami since 1985, but their defense has been a strength, giving up just 87 yards on the ground this season and holding opponents to 20 or fewer points in their last seven straight games.