Clemson Football: ACC Power Rankings headed into Week 7

I have such a love/hate relationship with these Power Rankings of the ACC.  I love doing them because it drums up some commentary from you folks, especially when Clemson football is not No. 1, and I also like to compare what other folks and real writers come up with for theirs.

I guess I really don’t have a hatred for it, but I do have an inner hatred of ancillary polls.  However, this has been a really fun assignment and one that I hope you, loyal readers, have enjoyed regardless of if you agree or not.

What a waste of a lede.  Oh well, here we go.

Not a ton of movement in this week’s rankings.  And Week 7 has only 4 matchups of ACC teams, meaning 6 teams are on their BYE week.  Here is this week’s Power Rankings in the ACC:

No. 14 through 10

14. Virginia Cavaliers – Last Week: 14 – (2-4) – It has to be tough to be a UVA fan at this point.  You get Louisville without their all-world quarterback, hang with the Cardinals for the better part of 2 quarters and even have a healthy lead in the first quarter, only to lose by 17 points at home.  Despite the loss, the team as a whole looked a bit better this week, but not good enough to move in the Power Rankings. Next up: @ Georgia Tech (Thurs. 10/20)

13. Virginia Tech Hokies – Last Week: 13 – (2-4) – Hard to say that this is probably the best Virginia Tech has looked this season and still took the loss to Pitt.  Grant Wells threw for 277 yards and a touchdown.  Malachi Thomas ran for 84 yards and added a touchdown as well.  But Pitt, coming off that loss to Georgia Tech was ready for all VT had to throw at them.  Next up: vs. Miami

12. Boston College Eagles – Last Week: 10 – (2-4) – Clemson and BC were tied at 3 four minutes into the second quarter.  After that, it was all Clemson as BC lost 31-3 at home.  Zay Flowers was still able to catch 8 passes for 75 yards including a long of 35.  BC could not get anything going against the Tigers and thus fall this week in the rankings.  The Eagles are stingy enough to get some wins in this conference, but be careful, Coach Hafley doesn’t like when teams “run up the score.”  Next up: @ Wake Forest (10/22)

11. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – Last Week: 12 – (3-3) – Interim Coach Brent Key has turned the fortunes of the Jackets in getting his second win of his tenure against Duke last Saturday in OT 23-20.  Jeff Sims threw for 227 and 2 TDs while adding 95 yards on the ground.  The defense was a force all day as well.  Sometimes it’s amazing what happens when a head coach gets fired mid-year, and the Jackets are a great example of that. Next up: vs. Virginia (Thurs. 10/20)

10. Miami Hurricanes – Last Week: 9 – (2-3) – The pre-season media darlings are staring at 2-3  after a hard-fought loss at the hands of North Carolina last Saturday.  Looking at Miami’s schedule, their only wins are against Bethune-Cookman and Southern Miss.  Yikes.  Tyler Van Dyke threw for 496 yards and 3 touchdowns, but a costly interception at the end led to the loss.  Fantastic Tight End Will Mallory added 115 yards receiving.  Next up: @ Virginia Tech