This is truly one of the highlights of my week. Putting together a rankings list for the ACC and placing Clemson football within those rankings. For those that know me, and have read my stuff, you know that I hate ancillary rankings. Despise them actually, so it’s been a fun mental battle that I put these together each week and truly believe in them. They’ve drummed up some (small) controversy, mostly with friends, and therefore has brought me tremendous joy.
Before the rankings, I would like to send the most sincere condolences to the entirety of the University of Virginia family. The senseless loss of three of their players, all three of whom, we’re learning, were great kids that had much more to give to this world. #UVAStrong
These are the Power Rankings through the just completed Week 12.
No. 14 through 10
14. Miami Hurricanes – Last Week – 11 – (5-6) – The bottom has officially fallen out for the once proud program. The 40-10 loss to the Clemson Tigers was just the icing on the proverbial cake. Injuries have not been kind to the Hurricanes, and therefore they bring up the rear of the rankings this week. Next up: vs. Pitt
13. Boston College Eagles – Last Week – 9 – (3-8) – BC had been playing well of late before heading into Notre Dame, arguably the hottest team in the country. The 44-0 loss was demoralizing and a taste of reality for the Eagles for how bad of a season they’ve actually had to this point. Next up: vs. Syracuse
12. Virginia Tech Hokies – Last Week – 14 – (3-8) – Virginia Tech beat a Liberty team that was 8-2 coming into the weekend. In one of the better games of the weekend that no one watched, the Hokies pulled out a 23-22 win, although they tried to lose the game, as they’ve been known to do all year. They blew a 4th quarter lead not once but twice on Saturday before finally holding on for the win. Season Over
11. Virginia Cavaliers – Last Week – 13 – (3-7) – Virginia canceled their game with Coastal Carolina last weekend and understandably so. The game against the Virginia Tech Hokies has officially been cancelled as well, thus ending UVA’s trying season. Season Over
10. Syracuse Orange – Last Week: 10 – (6-5) – Tom Petty had a #1 hit called Free Falling. Or maybe it was Fallin’. Needless to say, Syracuse has lost 5 straight games since visiting Clemson as a 6-0 team and ranked in the top 15 in the country. Garrett Shrader returned to full health, and that didn’t matter at all. The offense played better, putting up 35 points. However, the defense gave up 45. Next up: @ Boston College
No. 9 through 5
9. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – Last Week: 12 – (5-6) – I’m not sure Brent Key will get the job full-time at Georgia Tech, but he’s put together a really compelling argument. He’s 4-3 in his 7 weeks as interim head coach, and capped off the rollercoaster with a really nice 21-17 victory over North Carolina. Next up: @ Georgia
8. North Carolina State – Last Week: 6 – (7-4) – Not sure why I like to move NC State to the bottom half of the conference, but I do get some joy out of it. Hopefully, for NC State fans, Dave Doeren doesn’t bolt for an opening at another school. For the rest of the ACC? We’ll help him pack. Next up: @ North Carolina
7. Duke Blue Devils – Last Week: 8 – (7-4) – Duke has had a really good season, and played a really fun game in losing to Pitt this past weekend. Mike Elko has the basketball school playing really well. The question is still can he recruit to Duke to be competitive in the ACC. Time will tell. But one thing is for sure, he greatly over-achieved in his first season in Durham. Next up: vs. Wake Forest
6. Wake Forest Demon Deacons – Last Week: 7 – (7-4) – Finally, Wake and Sam Hartman played to the same level that they played Clemson at all those weeks ago. Hartman was careful with the ball, as turnovers have told the story of their recent woes, and the Deacs scored 45 points in a win against Syracuse. Next up: @ Duke
5. Pitt Panthers – Last Week: 4 – (7-4) – My most oft mentioned player in the conference Israel Abanikanda ran for 113 yards and a touchdown as Pitt beat Duke in a highly entertaining game last weekend. Duke went for 2-point conversions on their two 4th quarter touchdowns, but neither were successful and that was the difference as the Panthers snuck out with a win. Next up: @ Miami
Clemson football has returned to the top of the ACC Power Rankings
No. 4 through 1
4. Louisville Cardinals – Last Week: 5 – (7-4) – Louisville bounced back after getting handled by Clemson to take care of NC State behind 4 field goals by James Turner. Brock Domann got the start at quarterback for the injured Malik Cunningham and didn’t do much, however RB Jawhar Jordan ran for 105 yards and a touchdown to lead the Cards. Next up: @ Kentucky
3. North Carolina Tar Heels – Last Week: 1 – (9-2) – The Tar Heels lost more than the game on Saturday night against Georgia Tech, Drake Maye likely lost his invite to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation. Probably not going to win the award, but the signal caller threw for his least amount of yards on the season (202). And Georgia Tech erased a 17-point early deficit to beat the Heels. Next up: vs. NC State
2. Florida State Seminoles – Last Week: 3 – (8-3) – The Noles stepped out of conference and laid it on the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 49-17. I fully expected to look at the stats and see some eye-popping numbers from QB Jordan Travis, but that was not the case. I’m telling on myself that I didn’t lay any eyes on this game at all. However, the Noles are headed in the right direction whether we, as Clemson fans, would like to believe it or not. Next up: vs. Florida
1. Clemson Tigers – Last Week: 2 – (10-1) – Clemson had a bye week against Miami this past weekend. The defensive line was completely dominant, and as much as the offense went off the rails in the third quarter, they had done enough in the previous two quarters to put the game away. Another “never in doubt” game for the Tigers as they return to their rightful place in the best Power Rankings in the country. Mine. Next up: vs. South Carolina