Moving into week 4, the ACC is looking very different than expected in the preseason. Miami has become the clear favorite to win the ACC, FSU already has as many wins as they did last season, and Georgia Tech finds themselves higher than Clemson in the rankings after their road upset win against the Tigers last week. Here is the ACC power rankings moving into week 4.
1. Miami (3-0)
The Hurricanes have looked balanced on offense and the defense is light years ahead of where it was last season. Carson Beck has 812 passing yards with seven TDs, and Miami is allowing just 13 points per game after throttling then-No. 18 USF, 49-12. That was Miami's biggest margin over a ranked team since 2001.
2. Florida State (2-0)
The Seminoles have one of the best wins of any ACC team — a 31-17 defeat of then-No. 8 Alabama. Since QB Thomas Castellanos led FSU in passing and rushing vs. Bama, the Crimson Tide have actually bounced back. A lot of wins have lost value over the last couple of weeks for teams in the top-10, but FSU's win over Alabama has only gotten better. FSU and Miami meet soon and things certainly could change after the outcome is decided.
3. Georgia Tech (3-0, 1-0)
Georgia Tech is perhaps the biggest winner from last week after Aidan Birr's walk-off 55-yarder beat No. 12 Clemson. Haynes King has been a nice story and GT is now ranked No. 18. The ceiling remains to be seen, but the Clemson win is huge.
4. NC State (3-0, 1-0)
Dave Doeren's team already owns a conference road win after blanking Wake Forest in the second half. RB "Hollywood" Smothers (380 rush yards) gives the Wolfpack a clear identity, and new QB CJ Bailey has been steady. After Duke this weekend, NC State faces Virginia Tech and Campbell which should turn into wins.
5. Cal (3-0)
Freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has sparked a 3-0 start and tossed three TDs in a 27-14 win over Minnesota. Cal's defense is allowing 10.7 points per game through their first three contests as well. As of right now, it looks like Louisville and SMU are the toughest teams remaining on the slate, so they can pick up plenty of wins this season.
6. Louisville (2-0)
The Cards hammered EKU, 51-17, and then closed out a physical James Madison, 28-14. Sophomore back Isaac Brown has been the tone-setter for the team with 126 rush yards vs. EKU and a 78-yard clincher vs. JMU. The vistory over James Madison is good but they're still a couple weeks out from ACC play.
7. Pitt (2-1)
A tough OT loss in the Backyard Brawl (31-24) slows the early momentum that was built, but the Panthers showed late-game toughness to force extra time. Their only wins right now come against Central Michigan and Duquesne so they can only be so high in the rankings.
8. SMU (2-1)
Rhett Lashlee's offense is humming at 38.3 points per game. The Mustangs led Baylor by 14 late before losing 48-45 in 2OT and QB Kevin Jennings has 836 pass yards and six TDs on the season. They get TCU this week and a win here would really help them get back to where they want to be.
9. North Carolina (2-1)
After a rough opener vs. TCU, UNC tightened up on defense in wins over Charlotte and Richmond (41-6). The Tar Heels now face a 2-0 UCF team that, despite the record, is also just figuring things out.
10. Syracuse (2-1)
Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli threw for 417 yards and accounted for six TDs in a 66-24 rout of Colgate. Angeli leads the ACC in passing yards with 1,072 and has thrown eight touchdowns to two interceptions. They're lower on the list because of a close win against UConn (the had to run sprints on the field after) and a 45-26 loss to Tennessee in the opening game. The Orange get a big stage next at Clemson.
11. Clemson (1-2, 0-1)
Losses to No. 9 LSU and at Georgia Tech have the Tigers reeling and out of the AP Top 25. Cade Klubnik has 633 passing yards, but late-game mistakes came back to haunt Clemson last week. Also, Dabo Swinney pushed back at the media and anytime a coach drops his age when answering questions, that's when you know it's a good rant (and that the Tigers might be in trouble).
12. Virginia (2-1)
Virginia just posted a program-record 700 yards in a 55–16 rout of William & Mary, including a school-record 97-yard TD run by Harrison Waylee. They also opened with a 48–7 win over Coastal Carolina. The Cavaliers tackle Stanford this week but then get a crack at FSU which could be a major opportunity to move up the rankings.
13. Wake Forest (2-1, 0-1)
The Deacs have playmakers, but a 34-24 home loss to NC State exposed issues. Wake Forest only could muster up 39 total yards after halftime. The 10-9 win over Kennesaw State doesn't help the resume either. They're off this week but they'll get a crack at Georgia Tech the following Saturday.
14. Stanford (1-2, 1-0)
HC Frank Reich notched his first college win as RB Micah Ford (157 yards) and a goal-line stand powered a 30-20 victory over Boston College. The next two games are winnable as they play Virginia and San Jose State.
15. Duke (1-2)
The Blue Devils beat Elon and then dropped back-to-back games, including a 34-27 loss at Tulane where BYU transfer Jake Retzlaff ran for four TDs. Duke has shown fight and QB Darian Mensah has a ton of passing yards (1,036), but the wins aren't there yet. Duke will get a matchup against NC State this Saturday.
16. Boston College (1-2, 0-1)
The Eagles are 1–2 after an overtime loss at Michigan State and a frustrating 30–20 defeat at Stanford in which a 17–6 lead vanished on a 69-yard strike and a pick-six in a 19-second span. Their only win has come against Fordham, 66-10. Until BC begins to close games, they will sit near the bottom of the rankings despite some offensive upside (Dylan Lonergan is fourth in the ACC in passing yards). They are off this week, but face Cal on Sept. 27.
17. Virginia Tech (0-3)
The Hokies are 0–3 with losses to South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Old Dominion, and they've already made a coaching change, dismissing Brent Pry and naming Philip Montgomery the interim. The ODU loss was particularly damaging, with Tech falling behind 28–0 by halftime and yielding 500-plus yards. There's talent on the roster and time to stabilize, but the ability for the players to transfer probably ends hope for picking up the pieces.