Clemson Football: ACC Power Rankings headed into Week 9

4. Syracuse Orange – Last Week: 3 – (6-1) – Syracuse is a good football team, I think.  What I’ve seen through my four watchings of Dino Babers’ squad is an offense that uses only three players and a really physical, yet undersized defense that gets after ball carriers.  It wasn’t enough versus Clemson this past weekend, but they will be a force going forward.  The three-dimensional offense is concerning, as the Tigers were able to take away do-everything RB Sean Tucker and made QB Garrett Shrader and WR/TE Oronde Gadsden try to beat them.  The first half, it worked.  The second half, it did not, as the Orange could only amass 119 total yards after halftime, and forty of which came in the last drive ending with Shrader throwing an interception.  Next up: vs. Notre Dame

3. North Carolina Tar Heels – Last Week: 4 – (6-1) – There was no bigger winner in the conference this past weekend than the Tar Heels.  They are now two full games clear of second place in the Coastal division and hold all the cards for an invite to the ACC Championship in Charlotte.  Drake Maye continues his torrid start to his career throwing for 2,283 yards in 7 games; 24 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions.  He’s also added 378 yards on the ground and 3 more scores.  The defense is getting better, and this team is clearly in the top third in the conference at this point.  Next up: vs. Pitt

2. Wake Forest Demon Deacons – Last Week: 2 – (6-1) – If it wasn’t for the loss to Clemson, Wake would likely be in the top five in the country.  With the likely ACC Player of the Year in Quarterback Sam Hartman continuing to be one of the best players in the country, and a slew of quality receivers, this Wake team is really good.  They continued to take care of business, putting it on a bad BC team on Saturday.  Hartman was responsible for 6 touchdowns.  Next up: @ Louisville

1. Clemson Tigers – Last Week: 1 – (8-0) – Clemson clawed back from a 21-10 halftime deficit in Death Valley on Saturday.  Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei was not sharp from the get-go and the offense leaned on Will Shipley (172 yards) and Phil Mafah (94 yards) to beat a valiant effort from the Syracuse Orange.  DJ was pulled for Freshman Cade Klubnik, who steadily led the offense for the final quarter plus.  He was tasked with trying to get a spark for the offense, and he continued to hand it to the horses.  The defense stepped up after halftime and held the Orange in check offensively, capped off with an RJ Mickens interception as Syracuse was driving at the end.  Next up: @ Notre Dame (Saturday 11/5)