Clemson Football: ACC Power Rankings headed into Week 8

14. Virginia Cavaliers – Last Week: 14 – (2-4) – I hate this.  With former Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliot in his first year in Charlottesville at the helm, it pains me to continually put UVA in this spot.  But even BC isn’t struggling like Virginia has through the first half of the season.  New coach, new schemes, yada yada.  Thursday at Georgia Tech is a winnable game on paper if they can get their signal caller Brennan Armstrong to look even kind of like he did a season ago.  I’m actively rooting to move UVA in these very rankings next week.  We’ll see.  Next up: @ Georgia Tech (Thurs.)

13. Boston College Eagles – Last Week: 12 – (2-4) – BC is likely licking its wounds and trying to figure out how such a promising outlook on the 2022 season has fallen apart.  While there is plenty of talent at the skill positions, it seems like the trenches need a lot of work, plus the pesty injury bug has continued to bite Jeff Hafley’s team.  They fight, however, they’re just not that good.  Oh, and they have to travel to Wake Forest this weekend.  Yikes.  Next up: @ Wake Forest

12. Virginia Tech Hokies – Last Week: 13 – (2-5) – Hard to move a team up that lost 5 of their first 7 games of the season, however, I thought the fight of the Hokies on Saturday afternoon versus Miami was admirable.  They went down early and hung around to actually have a chance to tie or take the lead.  The effort fell short, however the life in this squad was noticeable on Saturday.  Head Coach Brent Pry is going to take his lumps this year with an empty cupboard of talent, but the buy-in seems to be there from the guys that are currently there.  Hard to win with 257 yards of total offense, but Grant Wells, arguably, had his best game of the year leading his offense.  Next up: @ NC State (Thurs. 10/27)

11. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – Last Week: 12 – (3-3) – Brent Key leads his team into the bye week riding a two-game winning streak.  The bye week likely came at the wrong time as momentum was clearly on the side of the Jackets.  However, an ACC special on Thursday night versus UVA looms and quite likely looks like Key will start his interim tenure at 3-0.  Writer-favorite Jeff Sims has thrown for 1,068 yards on the season and ran for 301.  He’s responsible for 6 of the 11 touchdowns that GT has scored all season.  Next up: vs. Virginia (Thurs.)

10. Miami Hurricanes – Last Week: 10 – (3-3) – Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of the ACC.  One week the Hurricanes look really good, and the next they sleep-walk into a close win or a loss.  This past weekend vs. VT was no different.  Early on, it looked like Mario Cristobal’s team was going to run away and hide from VT, however it ended up being a one-score game.  It had no business of being so.  Tyler Van Dyke went 29-46 for 351 yards and 2 scores.  Sophomore WR Colbie Young led all receivers with 110 yards receiving and a score.  A tricky game at home in front of ten or so fans vs. Duke awaits.  Next up: vs. Duke