ACC Football: Miami and NC State Make Move in Week 4 Power Rankings

Since the College Football season started I've been waiting for an ACC team to really assert themselves. Finally a couple of teams this week did in a big way. Miami went on the road and pounded the Pittsburgh Panthers in a dominant victory.

NC State announced themselves ready to contend for ACC Atlantic title by routing Georgia Tech in Atlanta. North Carolina helped the ACC by picking up a solid win at Rutgers.

What's the biggest news for this week? We're going to finally name a number one team in the ACC.

Previous Rankings at All About Sports.
Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3

1) Miami Hurricanes 2-1 (0-0) Last Week—2

There you go Canes! That was an impressive 31-3 pasting of Pittsburgh. What I really liked was the defensive speed that the Hurricanes displayed. They held the Panthers to just 232 yards of offense. They've earned this week's number one spot.

I'm still a little concerned with QB Jacory Harris. One minute he looks like an All-American the next you cringe when he throws. He had 248 yds passing with two TDs, but two INTs. That's six Interceptions in three games. One of the biggest tests of the season for Miami will be Saturday at high noon against Clemson.  

 2) NC State Wolfpack  4-0 (1-0) Last Week—5

The Wolfpack are for real. QB Russell Wilson is on fire and rolled  up over 350 yards passing on Georgia Tech. No ACC QB is playing better.

The return of LB Nate Irving has given the defense a real boost. They kept the Jacket running game in pretty decent check. NC State can really start thinking big if they beat Virginia Tech in Raleigh Saturday in what's a huge ACC game for both teams.

3) Clemson Tigers 2-1 (0-0) Last Week—3

Clemson got a week off to heal up after their war with Auburn and prepare for a monster game with Miami Saturday. Clemson needs to win this game to prove they are as good as they showed in the first half of the Auburn game, and not the team that got outscored 24-7 in the second Half.

4) Florida State Seminoles 3-1 (1-0) Last Week—4-T

Was that some defense I saw being played in Tallahassee? The Noles pitched a shutout against Wake Forest in a 31-0 route. Look I'm not saying FSU is back, but I think this is a significant result. Here's why. Back in 2006 Wake Forest beat FSU 30-0. It was a game where I thought the Noles flat out quit, and to me marked the official end of the FSU dynasty.

Is this the beginning of their return? We'll see but it was nice to see the D again at Florida State. The Noles head to Virginia Saturday to face an improved Cavs team.

5) North Carolina Tar Heels 1-2 (0-1) Last Week—7

The Heels and their patchwork team got a good win Saturday 17-13 at Rutgers. That's a nice non-conference victory for the ACC. The defense despite all their losses kept the Scarlet Knights to just 244 Total Yards.

Up next for the Heels is an East Carolina team that pushed Virginia Tech for a couple of quarters. 

6) Virginia Tech Hokies  2-2 (1-0) Last Week—9

Slowly but surely the Hokies are getting their act together. They went on the road and took care of Boston College 19-0. The defense held BC to 70 yards on the ground. They did this without Star RB Ryan Williams.

If the Hokies can go to Raleigh and defeat the ACC's most surprising team in NC State, I'll declare them ready to make a run in the ACC Coastal division.

7) Maryland Terrapins  3-1 (0-0) Last Week—8

Maryland took care of business 42-28 against Florida International this past Saturday. RB Da'Rel Scott had 103 yards with two Touchdowns. The defense did give up 472 totals yards with 355 of that through the air to FIU.

This has been a good start for Terps. They've already passed last year's win total. They open ACC play at home against the Duke Blue Devils.

8) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 2-2 (1-1) Last Week—4-T

The Jackets have major major issues on defense. I can't name one single playmaker on that side of the ball, and they were torched by NC State for 45 points. It could have been 50 something if not for some Wolfpack errors in the red zone. 

The offense can't carry the defense and a shaky special teams unit. It's having a hard enough time on its own.

The game upcoming with Wake Forest is a pivotal one for Georgia Tech. A loss here and the Jacket's faint Coastal Division title hopes would be history. I don't think they can recover from a loss to the Deacs.

9) Virginia Cavaliers 2-1 (0-0) Last Week—10

The Cavaliers rolled past VMI 48-7. They offense gained 466 total yards and the game was never in doubt.

I've been a little unsure of the Cavaliers. They played very well at USC, and now they have tremendous opportunity to make a statement in the ACC when Florida State comes to Virginia. I'm very curious to see how Virginia plays in this one.

10) Boston College Eagles 2-1 (0-1) Last Week—6

We've been just wondering how good the Eagles are. We got the answer in Saturday's 19-0 home loss to Virginia Tech. BC isn't very good especially on offense. The Eagles aren't going to win many games when QB Dave Shinskie goes 11 for 25 with two picks.

If the offense doesn't get in gear the Eagles could find themselves in a mess. A 1-3 Notre Dame team goes to Boston College next week.

11) Wake Forest Demon Deacons 2-2 (1-1) Last Week—11

The Deacs have been outscored 99-24 in their last two games. Um that's not good. The past weekend FSU whooped Wake Forest 31-0. The Deacs are dead last in the ACC in defense.

Wake Forest welcomes Georgia Tech and their ACC best rushing attack Saturday night. Loser of this game will be the second team after Duke that I will officially declare as having no chance under any circumstance of winning the ACC.

12) Duke Blue Devils  1-3 (0-1) Last Week—12

Getting clobbered by Alabama is one thing, but losing to Army by two touchdowns is totally another. The final score was Army 35 Duke 21. This was a game the Blue Devils had to have to give themselves a shot at bowl game.

We're only four games in and I don't see how the Blue Devils can navigate their way to five more wins. Duke goes to Maryland in their next game.