Week 6 highlights in the ACC included Miami lengthening the gap between the Hurricanes and the rest of the league, bad teams somehow getting even worse, and two North Carolina schools surging up the rankings.
October is about separation and establishing true contenders heading into the final month. This past week went a long way in determining that, so let’s take a look at the ACC power rankings heading into Week 7:
1. Miami Hurricanes
Not only is Miami by far the most dominant team in the conference, but the Hurricanes are looking like a legit national title contender.
2. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
A week off allowed the most dangerous quarterback in the league (Haynes King) to get some needed rest.
3. Virginia Cavaliers
Who would’ve thought that Tony Elliott has a better shot at winning the ACC than Dabo Swinney?.
4. Louisville Cardinals
After a great comeback at Virginia, the Cardinals couldn’t finish in overtime, but this team competes.
5. Duke Blue Devils
After spotting Cal with a 14-0 lead, Many Diaz and company throttled the Bears, showing again that they can win on the road.
6. SMU Mustangs
Finally, the Ponies did something to grab my attention with a 31-18 win over Syracuse to start conference play 1-0.
7. Clemson Tigers
Clemson played inspired football at the beginning of the game for the first time this season, but it’s hard to feel great because of the opponent.
8. Florida State Seminoles
Losing to the best team in the league isn’t supposed to drop you this far, but the Seminoles are 0-2 in ACC play and have won just one of their last 10 conference games.
9. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Welcome to the top 10, Wake Forest, which was once a bottom-three team, but a road in Blacksburg backs up the rise in recent weeks.
10. Cal Bears
This up-and-down trend is likely going to be the norm for this young Cal team.
11. Pittsburgh Panthers
I’m giving Wake a lot of credit for the effort and competitiveness this team has shown over the last couple of weeks.
12. NC State Wolfpack
Dave Doeren’s squad got back on track with an easy win over FCS Campbell, but this has still been a disappointing team in 2025.
13. Syracuse Orange
It looks like this team won’t be able to overcome the loss of QB Steve Angeli this year.
14. Virginia Tech Hokies
They are who we thought they were and should probably be lower if others hadn’t been worse than VT, which lost at home loss to Wake.
15. Stanford Cardinal
A week off just delays another loss, especially with a trip to SMU on the slate this Saturday.
16. Boston College Eagles
BC got blown out by Pitt, yet the Eagles moved up a spot because of how putrid the team below them has been.
17. North Carolina Tar Heels
This is where UNC belongs for probably the rest of the season, as this Chapel Bill thing isn’t working out at all.