Ranking the ACC After Week 10 of College Football Action

1. North Carolina (6-2, 2-2)—Last week: 2

Butch Davis is going to have some sleepless nights trying to figure out how to stop Georgia Tech's triple option offense, which looked unstoppable at times today. It's a shame the loser of this game is virtually eliminated from the Coastal Division race, as the two teams have been the ACC's most consistent squads.

 

2. Georgia Tech (7-2, 4-2)—Last week: 4

If you're a Yellow Jacket fan, only a win over the Georgia Bulldogs is more savored than a victory over the hated Seminoles. Josh Nesbitt and the Yellow Jacket triple option looked like the most explosive offense in the country this side of the Big 12 for two-and-a-half quarters today.

Nesbitt, who looked as comfortable as he has all season running the offense, suffered an ankle injury that Tar Heel and Jacket fans will watch closely this week. Jaybo Shaw is an adequate backup, but Nesbitt is a game-changing athlete. Hopefully he's fine and the Heels and Jackets play each other at full strength.  

 

3. Florida State (6-2, 3-2)—Last week: 1

Florida State's vaunted defense was shredded for 288 yards rushing against the Yellow Jacket offense, but if you think the Noles aren't taking steps to getting back to being a major threat in the ACC, you're sadly mistaken.

The Noles were still only an end zone fumble from winning today's game and aren't out of the Atlantic Division race by any stretch. Expect one angry group of Seminoles next week against Clemson.

 

4. Maryland (6-2, 3-1)—Last week: 5                                                              

Maryland might want to send a thank you note to Paul Johnson and the Jackets today. Florida State's loss leaves the Terps in sole possession of the Coastal Division lead. The Terps' final four stretch is brutal: @ Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, and @ Boston College. If Maryland wins the division, they will have earned it.

 

5. Miami (6-3, 3-2)—Last week: 7

By winning at Virginia, Randy Shannon and Miami are in the thick of the Coastal race. Why Shannon and offensive coordinator Patrick Nix continue to go with quarterback Robert Marve starting over Jacory Harris is something I just don't understand. It was Harris's late heroics that led the 'Canes to victory over Virginia today.

Miami now gets a week to watch the wacky ACC Coastal before playing Virginia Tech on the 13th of November. 

 

6. Virginia (5-4, 3-2)—Last week: 3                                                              

Just when you thought Virginia might run the table, they blow a seven-point lead late by giving up a fourth quarter 95-yard drive to Miami, and then cough up the football on a fumble by Cedric Peerman to lose this game in overtime.

The loss doesn't knock Virginia out of the Coastal race though. They are one of five Coastal teams with two losses and are only one back in the win column to Georgia Tech, who they have already beaten.  

 

7. Virginia Tech (5-3, 2-2)—Last week: 8

The Hokies are also still right in the middle of this wild Coastal race. They have already beaten Georgia Tech and North Carolina to boot. It's still up in the air who might play quarterback for the Hokies Thursday, as starter Tyrod Taylor and backup Sean Glenn are still questionable.  

 

8. Wake Forest (5-3, 3-2)—Last week: 9        

The Deacs escape with a 33-30 victory over Duke today. This keeps their bowl hopes alive, in addition to their Atlantic Division title hopes. The Deacs don't always win with style, but as has been the case over the last 3-4 years, they keep finding ways to win. Don't count them out yet.

 

9. Clemson (4-4, 2-3)—Last week: 11

Good for Dabo Swinney, and good for Clemson. In a season where Clemson fired their coach and their top 10 ranking is just a memory, they come up with a gutty 27-21 win at Boston College. With games @ FSU, vs. Duke, @ Virginia, and vs. South Carolina, Clemson will be hard-pressed to win three out of their last four to get bowl eligible and salvage something from this lost season.

The skill position talent is still there, and C.J. Spiller's hamstring appears healed. He had 242 total yards in today's game, and the defense has played pretty well most of the season, so the Tigers might have a surprise or two left in them yet.

 

10. Boston College (5-3, 2-3)—Last week: 6                                                      

Boston College could not afford to lose today's game today to Clemson. Quarterback Chris Crane has been, to put it lightly, inconsistent this season. 18-39 for 116 yards—ugh, that's not good. Boston College has lost two in a row and will look to right the ship next week against Notre Dame.

 

11. Duke (4-4, 1-3)—Last week: 10

Duke could have used a win in today's game against Wake Forest to get closer to that magic six-win mark for bowl eligibility. The Dukies still have four more shots to get those two wins. A bowl invite for Duke would be like a 10-win season for most teams.

 

12. NC State (2-6, 0-4)—Last week: 12

The Wolfpack don't lose today. Well, they weren't playing. Mark it down, though—they will win another game to put a major thorn in some ACC team's side.