ACC Power Rankings
By: will-vandervort September 24, 2015

Clemson holds onto the top spot once again in The Clemson Insider’s ACC Power Rankings. Florida State moved back into the No. 2 position following its win at Boston College, while Georgia Tech fell two spots after its loss to sixth-ranked Notre Dame. NC State jumped up two spots to No. 3, while Louisville continues to drop and comes in at No. 12. The Cardinals started the season at No. 4 in the TCI Power Rankings.

The ACC heads into Week Four of the season having posted a 27-9 (.750) non-conference record with six of the nine losses to teams that are ranked in this week’s AP Top 10.

  1. Clemson (3-0, 1-0 ACC), Last week No. 1: It was not a pretty win, but it was a win nonetheless. Clemson stayed a top of the ACC Power Rankings with a 20-17 victory over Louisville. The Tigers held Louisville’s ground game to 19 yards, while sacking quarterback Kyle Bolin five times. Clemson gets an off week before hosting No. 6 Notre Dame in Death Valley on Oct. 3. Who is next: vs. Notre Dame, Oct. 3, 8 p.m.
  2. Florida State (3-0, 1-0 ACC), Last week No. 3: The Seminoles also got an ugly win, but the defense stepped up and pitched a shutout in a 14-0 victory over Boston College. FSU managed just 214 total yards, while running back Dalvin Cook was held to 54 rushing yards. Cook still leads the ACC with 476 yards. Who is next: at Wake Forest, Oct. 3, 3:30 p.m.
  3. NC State (3-0, 0-0 ACC), Last week No. 5: NC State has scored 35 or more points in each of its first three games of the season for only the second time in its history, matching a similar start in 2000 behind a young true freshman quarterback named Philip Rivers. Who is next: at South Alabama, Saturday, 8 p.m.
  4. Georgia Tech (2-1, 0-0 ACC), Last week No. 2: The Yellow Jackets’ triple-option running attack was stymied by Notre Dame in South Bend last week. Georgia Tech rushed for just 216 yards, while quarterback Justin Thomas completed just 8 of 24 passes for 121 yards. Who is next: at Duke, Saturday, Noon.
  5. Miami (3-0, 0-0 ACC), Last week No. 7: They have not played all too well in the last two weeks, but the Hurricanes continue to find a ways to win. Miami blew a 23-point lead in the last eight minutes to survive Nebraska in overtime. There was some good, though. Quarterback Brad Kaaya threw for a career-high 379 yards in the Hurricanes’ 36-33 overtime win. Kaaya completed 25 of 42 passes for 379 yards, 2 TDs and only one interception. He threw for 226 yards in the first half alone, 141 in the opening quarter. Who is next: at Cincinnati, Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m.
  6. Duke (2-1, 0-0 ACC), Last week No. 4: It is never good for your punter to have to punt the ball 11 times in one game, but if he has to it is good that he averages 55 yards per punt. That is what Duke punter Will Monday did in last week’s loss to Northwestern. Monday ranks second nationally at 49.9 yards per punt. Who is next: vs. Georgia Tech, Saturday, Noon.
  7. Boston College (2-1, 0-1 ACC), Last week No. 6: Defensive end Harold Landry had 4.5 tackles for a loss in the Eagles loss to Florida State last week. He finished with a game-high 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks as BC held the Seminoles to 98 rushing yards and 214 overall. Boston College leads the nation in total defense after three games. Who is next: vs. Northern Illinois, 1 p.m.
  8. Virginia Tech (2-1, 0-0 ACC), Last week No. 8: Quarterback Brenden Motley threw two touchdown passes and ran for one in the Hokies’ 51-24 win over Purdue last week. Virginia Tech so far as a balanced offense through three games as it is averaging 221.7 yards per game on the ground and 236.3 through the air. Who is next: at East Carolina, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
  9. Syracuse (3-0, 1-0 ACC), Last week No. 12: The last time Syracuse started a season 3-0 was in 1991. The Orange, who host 8th-ranked LSU this Saturday at the Carrier Dome, began 3-0-1 in 1993. Quarterback Eric Dungey has completed 21 of 36 passes for 428 yards and 5 TDs so far this year. Who is next: vs. LSU, Saturday, Noon.
  10. Pitt (2-1, 0-0 ACC), Last week No. 9: Pitt defensive back Jordan Whitehead had 16 tackles in last week’s loss to Iowa. The Panthers held the Hawkeyes to 105 rushing yards. Wide receiver Tyler Boyd has 21 receptions in just two games this season, including 10 catches for 131 yards and a touchdown against Iowa. Who is next: at Virginia Tech, Oct. 3, Noon.
  11. North Carolina (2-1, 0-0 ACC), Last week No. 11: When North Carolina’s Ryan Switzer returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown against Illinois, it was the sixth punt return for a score in Switzer’s career. That ties him for the ACC career record with former Maryland standout Steve Suter, who had six punt returns for scores between 2003 and 2004. As a freshman in 2013, Switzer set the ACC single-season mark and tied the NCAA record with five punt return touchdowns. Who is next: vs. Delaware, Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
  12. Louisville (0-3, 0-1 ACC), Last week No. 10: Freshman Traveon Samuel leads the ACC this week and ranks sixth nationally in kickoff returns with a 36.0 yards per return average. Samuel returned a kick 100 yards for a score against Clemson last Thursday night. The Cardinals rank 115th in rushing offense at 109.0 yards per game. Who is next: vs. Samford, Saturday, 6 p.m.
  13. Virginia (1-2, 0-0 ACC), Last week No. 13: Virginia linebacker Micah Kiser had a career-high 15 tackles, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and career-best two sacks in the win over William & Mary. Who is next: vs. Boise State, Friday, 8 p.m.
  14. Wake Forest (2-1, 0-1 ACC), Last week No. 14: Place kicker Mike Weaver made a 47-yard field goal as time expired last Saturday to give the Demon Deacons a road win over Army. Wake Forest will host an undefeated Indiana team on Saturday. Who is next: vs. Indiana, Saturday, 12:30 p.m.