As we look over the ACC Power Rankings for week four, it is nearly time for the ACC schedule to begin in earnest. The Clemson Tigers are ready to get into conference play this weekend, when they take on the Florida State Seminoles, in what could be the most important conference game of the year for either team (even with the the suspension of Jameis Winston). Otherwise, this is the last week that non-conference games dominate the schedule. Next week we will start to get a much better idea of where the teams stand and these ACC Power Rankings will be grounded in fact, rather than a mostly-theoretical exercise.
2014 ACC Power Rankings: Week Four
No. 1 Florida State Seminoles
The Florida State Seminoles remain No. 1 in these ACC power rankings, as well as No. 1 in the country, following a bye week.
No. 2 Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers also had a bye week and remain at No. 2 in these ACC power rankings.
No. 3 Pittsburgh Panthers
The Pitt Panthers received a bit of a scare early on from the Florida International Golden Panthers but won going away in the second half, 42-25.
No. 4 Duke Blue Devils
Another week, another lame out-of-conference opponent for the Duke Blue Devils. Duke advanced to 3-0 with a 41-3 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks this week. The Jayhawks may be from the Big 12, but the Blue Devils probably would have received a tougher game from most mid-majors.
No. 5 Virginia Cavaliers
The Virginia Cavaliers are for real. That much is clear after they opened ACC play with a win over Louisville. But could they also be contenders in the Coastal division? We will see, but it is starting to look like a possibility.
No. 6 Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals are probably a very good team this year, despite the loss to Virginia. Either that, or the Miami Hurricanes are awful… which is also a possibility.
No. 7 Boston College Eagles
Boston College’s victory over the USC Trojans is probably the biggest surprise of the 2014 season so far. But although they played inspired football this weekend, they are still a week removed from being dominated by Pittsburgh. Honestly, Boston College doesn’t make a whole lot of sense right now, so they have moved up into the middle of the pack until further notice.
No. 8 Virginia Tech Hokies
After one week in the top 25, Virginia Tech tumbled right back out of it, following a loss to ECU this weekend. The Ohio State Buckeyes looked pretty bad when the Hokies pulled the upset in the Horseshoe last week and now it’s hard not to wonder if it was more a product of the Buckeyes struggling without Braxton Miller than a Virginia Tech resurgence. But letdown games happen, and the Hokies can make a statement by pummeling Georgia Tech to open their ACC schedule this weekend.
No. 9 Syracuse Orange
Syracuse hit the road last week to play a Central Michigan team that destroyed Purdue the week before. The Orange ended up dominating in a 40-3 win. It looks like the issues that plagued the Orange in their week one battle with Villanova might be behind them now that starting QB Terrel Hunt is back on the field. Hunt accounted for four total touchdowns against the Chippewas, with one through the air and three on the ground. Syracuse will take on the Maryland Terrapins at home this weekend and, hopefully, give Randy Edsall another kick out the ACC’s door. We all hope you enjoy being in a real “football conference,” Edsall, because it was clear that you couldn’t cut it in the ACC.
No. 10 North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels enjoyed a much-needed bye week after struggling in their first two games against San Diego State and Liberty. The Tar Heels get East Carolina next, which suddenly looks like a very tough game. If UNC hasn’t worked some things out, they could be become another W on East Carolina’s schedule.
No. 11 Miami Hurricanes
Since Miami was trounced by Louisville in week one, the Hurricanes have picked up two easy wins against Florida A&M and Arkansas State. The break is over this weekend though, as Miami will head to Nebraska to take on the Corn Huskers.
No. 12 NC State Wolfpack
The Wolfpack haven’t played a quality opponent yet but they did finally win a game in convincing fashion last week. NC State took on the USF Bulls and dominated from start to finish for a 49-17 win. The Wolfpack will have a chance to get to 4-0 to start the year, with another lame out-of-conference game coming up against Presbyterian.
No. 13 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Like NC State and so many other teams, the Yellow Jackets haven’t played a tough opponent yet in 2014. Consequently, they are 3-0, despite looking like a very mediocre football team. After getting off to a fast start against Georgia Southern this weekend, the Yellow Jackets went to halftime up 35-10, then utterly collapsed in the second half. Georgia Southern scored 28 straight points, taking a 38-35 lead with about ten minutes left in the game. Georgia Tech rallied for a late touchdown that put them back in the lead and sealed the victory, but they certainly gave observers plenty of reason for skepticism.
No. 14 Wake Forest Demon Deacons
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons lost to Utah State this weekend and continue to show no signs of dragging themselves out of the ACC basement in 2014.