Week 2 ACC Power Rankings: Clemson still No. 1, Duke and Wake Move Up
By Eddie Becker
Teams 11-9
11) Pittsburgh (up 3 spots)
Record: 1-1
Recent game: lost to #4 Penn State 33-14
Turnovers killed the Panthers Saturday, so the final score against Penn State is a bit misleading. Pitt isn’t a bad team, but they aren’t what they were last year with Nate Peterman under center. Max Browne needs to get it figured out soon.
Next game: vs. #9 Oklahoma State
10) North Carolina (up 2 spots)
Record: 0-2
Recent game: lost to #17 Louisville 47-35
Give the Tarheels credit, they went toe-to-toe with Louisville much of the day Saturday before the Lamar Jackson show took over. Now the 0-2 Heels face questions about defensive ineptitude and, more than that, questions as to who is their starting QB? Redshirt freshman Chazz Surratt is the ACC Freshman of the Week, but is he the team’s starter, or is it LSU transfer Brandon Harris? Larry Fedora needs to pick a guy and go with him.
Next game: at Old Dominion
9) NC State (down 2 spots)
Record: 1-1
Recent game: defeated Marshall 37-20
It wasn’t pretty, but the Wolfpack managed to find their offense in the second-half to pull away from the Thundering Herd. For all the talk about NC State’s defense, it’s been the offense that’s showed out the past two weeks. QB Ryan Finley threw for 341 yards and 3 TDs. You get the feeling we still don’t know how good this team really is. We’ll find out in two weeks when they travel to Tallahassee for their ACC opener.
Next game: vs. Furman