No. 1 Miami remains undefeated after surviving a Halloween scare at North Carolina, but the rest of the ACC continues to shift. Wake Forest strengthened its position near the top, Louisville extended its winning streak and Syracuse delivered another upset.
Here are the updated ACC power rankings following Week 9.
1. Miami (8-0, 6-0 ACC) | Previous: 1
Miami escaped North Carolina with a 38-35 victory despite allowing 341 passing yards and four touchdowns to Billy Edwards Jr.
The defensive performance raises legitimate concerns, especially after Miami allowed 35 points to Florida State a few weeks ago. Still, the Hurricanes remain the only undefeated team in the ACC and held the No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25.
- Week 7: W vs. Florida State, 43-35 (2OT)
- Week 8: W vs. Pitt, 52-23
- Week 9: W at North Carolina, 38-35
Next: at Notre Dame (Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC)
2. Wake Forest (7-1, 5-1 ACC) | Previous: 2
Wake Forest is beginning to separate itself from the rest of the ACC behind Miami. The Demon Deacons demolished Virginia 51-7, extending their winning streak to five games and improving to 5-1 in conference play.
Wake Forest rushed for 309 yards against the Cavaliers, with Ty Clark III scoring three touchdowns. Since losing to Miami on Sept. 18, Wake Forest has won five consecutive ACC games by a combined score of 217-58.
- Week 6: W at NC State, 38-14
- Week 7: W at California, 41-7
- Week 9: W vs. Virginia, 51-7
Next: vs. Merrimack (Nov. 7, 3:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network)
3. Louisville (5-3, 4-2 ACC) | Previous: 4
Louisville moves into the top three after winning its third consecutive game, defeating Stanford 52-24 behind another explosive offensive performance.
Quarterback Lincoln Kienholz accounted for three touchdowns, throwing for 250 yards and two scores while adding another on the ground. Running back Isaac Brown rushed for 139 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown, as the Cardinals finished with 545 total yards.
Louisville has scored at least 34 points in each of its past three games and owns a head-to-head victory over SMU.
- Week 6: W vs. Florida State, 44-20
- Week 7: W at Syracuse, 34-26
- Week 9: W vs. Stanford, 52-24
Next: at Georgia Tech (Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network)
4. Duke (6-2, 3-2 ACC) | Previous: 6
Duke delivered one of the most dominant performances of the ACC season, overwhelming Boston College 47-2 to improve to 6-2.
Running back Nate Sheppard set a school record with five rushing touchdowns, scoring three times before halftime, and Duke's defense recorded six sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
- Week 7: L vs. North Carolina, 24-20
- Week 8: W at Virginia, 19-16
- Week 9: W vs. Boston College, 47-2
Next: at NC State (Nov. 7, 12:30 p.m. ET, The CW)
5. Virginia Tech (6-2, 3-2 ACC) | Previous: 5
Virginia Tech remains in the top five after having Week 9 off. The Hokies have won two consecutive games, including a 20-16 road victory over Clemson.
Virginia Tech stays ahead of SMU for now, but that ranking will be tested Friday when the Hokies travel to Dallas to face the Mustangs.
- Week 6: L at California, 25-20
- Week 7: W vs. Georgia Tech, 34-24
- Week 8: W at Clemson, 20-16
Next: at SMU (Nov. 6, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
6. SMU (6-2, 4-2 ACC) | Previous: 3
SMU takes the biggest fall among the conference's upper-tier teams after a 30-27 defeat at Syracuse.
The Mustangs entered the game riding a four-game winning streak and appeared positioned to escape after Kendrick Raphael's fourth-quarter touchdown gave them a 27-20 advantage. But Syracuse responded with 10 unanswered points, including the winning touchdown with 17 seconds remaining.
- Week 7: W vs. Virginia, 23-13
- Week 8: W vs. California, 59-20
- Week 9: L at Syracuse, 30-27
Next: vs. Virginia Tech (Nov. 6, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
7. Clemson (5-3, 3-2 ACC) | Previous: 8
Clemson earned a road victory by defeating Florida State 36-24 and recovering from its disappointing loss against Virginia Tech.
Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds accounted for three touchdowns, including a 79-yard scoring run that put the game away late in the fourth quarter.
Clemson has struggled against the conference's better teams, particularly Miami and Virginia Tech, but the victory in Tallahassee keeps the Tigers above .500 in ACC play.
- Week 7: W vs. Charleston Southern, 37-0
- Week 8: L vs. Virginia Tech, 20-16
- Week 9: W at Florida State, 36-24
Next: at Syracuse (Nov. 7, noon ET, ESPN2)
8. Pitt (6-3, 3-3 ACC) | Previous: 10
Pitt ended its three-game losing streak, defeating Georgia Tech 34-11 to become bowl eligible.
Freshman running back Damon Ferguson Jr. rushed for a season-high 185 yards and two touchdowns, while the Panthers' defense recorded five sacks and held Georgia Tech to 238 total yards.
It was Pitt's first victory since losing starting quarterback Mason Heintschel to a season-ending knee injury in the win over Virginia Tech.
- Week 7: L at Boston College, 27-21
- Week 8: L at Miami, 52-23
- Week 9: W vs. Georgia Tech, 34-11
Next: vs. Florida State (Nov. 13, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
9. Syracuse (4-4, 2-4 ACC) | Previous: 15
No ACC team has improved its standing more dramatically over the past two weeks than Syracuse.
The Orange followed their 31-30 overtime victory at North Carolina with a 30-27 upset of No. 19 SMU, giving them consecutive conference victories after starting ACC play 0-4.
- Week 7: L vs. Louisville, 34-26
- Week 8: W at North Carolina, 31-30 (OT)
- Week 9: W vs. SMU, 30-27
Next: vs. Clemson (Nov. 7, noon ET, ESPN2)
10. North Carolina (4-4, 2-3 ACC) | Previous: 9
North Carolina drops just one spot despite losing its second consecutive game, largely because of how close it came to upsetting No. 1 Miami.
However, UNC's inability to close out games is becoming a problem. The Tar Heels lost to Syracuse in overtime the previous week and have now fallen back to .500 after briefly appearing to turn their season around.
- Week 7: W at Duke, 24-20
- Week 8: L vs. Syracuse, 31-30 (OT)
- Week 9: L vs. Miami, 38-35
Next: at UConn (Nov. 7, noon ET, CBS Sports Network)
11. NC State (4-4, 2-3 ACC) | Previous: 16
NC State defeated California 31-10 in its first game under interim head coach Todd Goebbel.
Quarterback CJ Bailey threw two touchdowns against California, while Davion Gause rushed for 104 yards and a score.
- Week 6: L vs. Wake Forest, 38-14
- Week 8: L at Stanford, 31-28
- Week 9: W vs. California, 31-10
Next: vs. Duke (Nov. 7, 12:30 p.m. ET, The CW)
12. Boston College (4-4, 2-3 ACC) | Previous: 7
Boston College's recent momentum disappeared in one of the most embarrassing performances of the season. The Eagles had won consecutive conference games against Pitt and Georgia Tech, scoring 76 combined points, before being overwhelmed at Duke.
The loss was particularly disappointing considering how productive the rushing attack had been during the previous two victories. Duke completely shut down that momentum and exposed a team that remains inconsistent on both sides of the ball.
- Week 7: W vs. Pitt, 27-21
- Week 8: W at Georgia Tech, 49-27
- Week 9: L at Duke, 47-2
Next: vs. Florida State (Nov. 7, noon ET, ACC Network)
13. Florida State (3-5, 1-4 ACC) | Previous: 11
The Mike Norvell era is now over after the Seminoles suffered their third consecutive loss, falling 36-24 against Clemson in Tallahassee. Quarterback Ashton Daniels threw for 350 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, but he also committed four turnovers, including three interceptions.
Florida State has now lost to Louisville, Miami and Clemson in consecutive games.
- Week 6: L at Louisville, 44-20
- Week 7: L at Miami, 43-35 (2OT)
- Week 9: L vs. Clemson, 36-24
Next: at Boston College (Nov. 7, noon ET, ACC Network)
14. Stanford (4-5, 2-4 ACC) | Previous: 13
Stanford's brief two-game winning streak ended with a 52-24 loss at Louisville.
Quarterback Davis Warren threw for 270 yards and three touchdowns, but Stanford's defense surrendered 545 total yards, including 296 on the ground.
Stanford has shown improvement at home, particularly with its recent victory over NC State, but its road performances remain a major concern.
- Week 7: W vs. Elon, 34-7
- Week 8: W vs. NC State, 31-28
- Week 9: L at Louisville, 52-24
Next: at Virginia Tech (Nov. 14)
15. California (3-6, 2-4 ACC) | Previous: 14
California continues to fall after suffering its third consecutive blowout loss, this time a 31-10 defeat at NC State.
The Golden Bears were tied at halftime before being outscored 21-0 over the final two quarters. Their offense struggled to produce explosive plays, and quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele finished with just 196 passing yards.
The Golden Bears' earlier victory over Virginia Tech remains impressive, but they have shown little ability to build on that.
- Week 7: L vs. Wake Forest, 41-7
- Week 8: L at SMU, 59-20
- Week 9: L at NC State, 31-10
Next: at Virginia (Nov. 14)
16. Virginia (4-5, 2-4 ACC) | Previous: 12
Virginia's season continues to spiral in the wrong direction as the Cavaliers managed just 16 rushing yards and were held scoreless in the first half against Wake Forest.
Virginia's 4-5 record is disappointing considering its 3-1 start, and the Cavaliers have shown little progress against the ACC's better teams.
- Week 7: L at SMU, 23-13
- Week 8: L vs. Duke, 19-16
- Week 9: L at Wake Forest, 51-7
Next: vs. California (Nov. 14)
17. Georgia Tech (2-6, 1-4 ACC) | Previous: 17
Georgia Tech remains at the bottom of the ACC after suffering its third consecutive loss, falling 34-11 at Pitt.
Georgia Tech has now lost six of its eight games, with its only victories coming against Mercer and Duke.
- Week 7: L at Virginia Tech, 34-24
- Week 8: L vs. Boston College, 49-27
- Week 9: L at Pitt, 34-11
Next: vs. Louisville (Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network)
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