Clemson Football: ACC Power Rankings through Week 13

Ugh Clemson football fans, that was ugly.  We haven’t seen our Tigers lose to their feathered rivals in nearly a decade.  This is unchartered waters we will try to navigate until they can get on the field again against each other.

The ACC as a whole did not perform well in their out-of-conference games with the SEC.  Will these results mess with the power rankings this week?  Well, read on to see.

These are the Power Rankings through the just completed Week 13.

No. 14 through 10

14. Miami Hurricanes – Last Week : 14 – (5-7) – Just when things couldn’t get worse for the Hurricanes, they get blown out by Pitt at home 42-16.  Year one of the Mario Cristobal era has not finished the way the talking heads presumed.  Next up: Season complete

13. Boston College Eagles – Last Week: 13 – (3-9) – BC finished a terrible season with some fight, but their deficiencies were just too great for even Zay Flowers to overcome.  Next up: Season over

12. Virginia Tech Hokies – Last Week: 12 – (3-8) – No game for the Hokies this past weekend.  Hard to move them with no result.  Next up: Season over

11. Virginia Cavaliers – Last Week: 11 – (3-7) – No game for the Cavaliers, as a tragedy within the program concluded the trying season.  Next up: Season over

10. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – Last Week: 9 – (5-7) – The Jackets hung with their in-state rivals for the first quarter.  They looked competent under Brent Key, but reports are coming in that the new head coach will be Willie Fritz, who had a fantastic season at Tulane, and a likely New Years Six bowl.  That’s a great hire for the Jackets in my opinion.  Next up: Season over

No. 9 through 5

9. Syracuse Orange – Last Week: 10 – (7-5) – The Orange took care of business with 26 points in the 4th quarter to beat Boston College on Saturday to snap a 5-game losing streak.  Such a promising start to the season was derailed with injuries and ineptitude down the stretch.  Next up: Bowl Game TBA

8. Wake Forest Demon Deacons – Last Week: 6 – (7-5) – Wake has been so inconsistent during the last quarter of the season.  Losing a heart-breaker to the biggest surprise in the ACC (Duke) shouldn’t drop the Deacs much, but they went from having a really good season to meh.  Next up: Bowl Game TBA

7. Louisville Cardinals – Last Week: 4 – (7-5) – Even with a healthy-ish Malik Cunningham, the Cards looked listless in their rivalry game with Kentucky.  The defense played well enough to win, but the offense couldn’t get out of its own way.  A disappointing end to the regular season for a team that was hot.  Next up: Bowl Game TBA

6. NC State Wolfpack – Last Week: 8 – (8-4) – A huge victory against the Coastal’s representative in the ACC Championship, UNC in overtime.  This game was a fun watch as it truly went back and forth and ultimately the Tar Heels missed a field goal for the Pack to grab the bragging rights in the state.  Dave Doeren had some choice words about UNC which almost made me like him…almost.  Next up: Bowl Game TBA

5. Duke Blue Devils – Last Week: 7 – (8-4) – Riley Leonard threw for nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns in clearly his best effort of the year.  The steady QB hasn’t been asked to put up those numbers for the rest of the season but he was obviously up to the task in their victory against in-state rival Wake Forest.  Year 1 in Durham was a success for Head Coach Mike Elko.  I bet he’s glad to have left Texas A&M.  Next up: Bowl Game TBA

All is not lost for Clemson football, despite losing multiple streaks over the weekend

No. 4 through 1

4. North Carolina Tar Heels – Last Week: 3 – (9-3) – Tough loss for the Heels against the Wolfpack in 2 OTs.  Drake Maye couldn’t seem to get open as the Pack had a great game plan against the dynamic QB.  The defense has been a problem for most of the season and Friday night was no different.  Next up: vs. Clemson (ACC Championship)

3. Pitt Panthers – Last Week: 5 – (8-4) – Pitt took care of business going to Miami and coming back to the cold and damp northeast with a 42-16 victory.  You-know-who had 111 yards rushing and 2 scores and the defense had no problems with all three of Miami’s quarterbacks.  Next up: Bowl Game TBA

2. Clemson Tigers – Last Week: 1 – (10-2) – The sky isn’t falling.  It’s weird to lose at home and to an opponent you hadn’t lost to in nearly a decade, but all is not lost.  Even the most devout Clemson fan (should) think that this team had its flaws and was likely to be someone’s victim had they gotten into the playoff.  Now, a NY6 is on the line in the ACC Championship.  Next up: vs. North Carolina (ACC Championship)

1. Florida State Seminoles – Last Week: 2 – (9-3) – This is purely because they were the one ACC team to beat their SEC rival this past weekend.  The game was probably closer than some anticipated, however Jordan Travis was electric the entire night.  The Noles are definitely on the upward swing, and with a bowl win will have their first ten-win season in quite some time.  Next up: Bowl Game TBA