ACC Power Rankings updated after Week 7 of college football

The latest ACC Power Rankings are here following Week 7 of college football and a full slate of action, courtesy of the On3 Massey Ratings.

The On3 Massey Ratings – which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated high school sports team rankings since 1995 – rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.

Let’s dive into the ACC Power Rankings following Week 6 of the college football season.

1. Clemson (+1)

The Tigers are now at the top of the ACC rankings, per Massey. An impressive 49-14 win over Wake Forest was the latest for Clemson.

Cade Klubnik threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns. Phil Mafah ran for 108 yards and two scores and pushed the winning streak to five games.

2. Miami (-1)

Miami dropped one spot in the ACC rankings during its bye week, but it was a much needed week off. The Hurricanes played thrillers against Virginia Tech and Cal the last two games.

Still at 6-0, Miami hits the road against Louisville this weekend and then will host Florida State. A key stretch for Mario Cristobal and company.

3. Pittsburgh

The Panthers improved to 6-0 on the season and edged out new ACC foe Cal, 17-15. Pitt held on for dear life in this one by going scoreless in the second half.

Eli Holstein was picked off twice but the run game picked it up with Desmond Reid running for 120 yards and two scores. Next up is a bye week before a Thursday tilt with Syracuse on October 24th.

4. SMU

SMU had a week off after beating Louisville and is ranked No. 21 in the latest AP Poll. The Mustangs did not move in this week’s ACC rankings.

Next up is a road date with Stanford and Rhett Lashlee’s crew is coming in hot. As long as they get through the next two unscathed, a 7-1 SMU team could host an undefeated Pitt team on November 2nd. 

5. Louisville

Speaking of Louisville, the Cardinals got back on the winning end of things with a 24-20 win over Virginia. However, Jeff Brohm’s team stayed at No. 5 in the ACC.

Tyler Shough threw for 231 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Isaac Brown took over on the ground though, running for 146 yards and two touchdowns.

6. Georgia Tech (+1)

The Yellow Jackets moved up a spot in the ACC rankings with a win over North Carolina. This was a shootout, won 41-34, by Georgia Tech of course.

Haynes King wasn’t stellar throwing the football but he went off on the ground. He ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Jamal Haynes was unstoppable, going for 170 yards and two scores as well.

7. Duke (-1)

After suffering their first loss of the year, to Georgia Tech no less, Duke went into the bye week at 5-1. The Blue Devils also dropped a spot in the ACC rankings behind GT.

Next up is a Friday night home game against a reeling Florida State team. Get a win here and suddenly, Duke could be on the doorstep of the AP Top 25 when they host SMU on October 26th.

8. Syracuse (+3)

A big ACC win for Syracuse coming off the bye week. The oranges are now 5-1 on the season at halfway point. What a job done by Fran Brown.

In the 24-17 win over NC State on the road, Kyle McCord threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns. LeQuint Allen added 91 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

9. Boston College (+1)

Boston College also had a week off following their first loss in the CC. After losing to Virginia on October 5th, the Eagles will hit the road to take on Virginia Tech Thursday night.

It’s certainly a winnable game and could be a measuring stick if this team is going to play in an upper tier bowl game or just sneak into the postseason. To-be-determined.

10. California (-1)

The hot start for Cal is far in the rearview mirror following the Golden Bears’ third straight loss. This time, a 17-15 stinker to Pitt.

Despite that, Cal had its chances but couldn’t get the two point conversion to tie the game early in the fourth quarter. Later on, Cal missed a field goal and eventually turned it over on downs. Cal gets a home ACC tilt this weekend against NC State.

ACC Power Rankings after Week 7

11. Virginia (-3)
12. Virginia Tech
13. North Carolina
14. Florida State
15. NC State
16. Stanford
17. Wake Forest

Virginia took the biggest dive this week with a loss at home to Louisville. Tough sledding to drop out of the top of the ACC. Onto Week 8.