The Wolfpacker's ACC Power Rankings: Week 1

A new season of ACC football is already underway. Florida State and North Carolina started their seasons with blowout wins over FCS opponents over the weekend. Week one starts off with Pittsburgh hosting West Virginia is the renewal of a classic Big East rivalry and ends with Clemson facing Georgia Tech in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Every Tuesday, The Wolfpacker will power rank each of the 14 ACC football programs using the past week’s results, the momentum around the respective programs and what we are hearing from around the conference to inform our decisions.

Here are our ACC Power rankings for week one of the college football season:

1) NC State (0-0)

Last week’s result: N/A

NC State returns almost every single starter from its nine-win 2021 team, including an All-ACC caliber quarterback in Devin Leary and one of the most experienced defenses in the nation. Both the AP and Coaches polls selected the Wolfpack No. 13 in their preseason polls, tying the program’s best-ever preseason selection in the AP and setting up for an exciting season.

The linebacker trio of Isaiah Moore, Drake Thomas and Payton Wilson has a chance to be one of the best units in the nation and, with a talented and experienced group around them, NC State leads the power rankings to start the year.

It’s Dave Doeren’s tenth season with the program, and it could be the year the Wolfpack makes a leap into unprecedented territory. The first step is a matchup against ECU in Greenville this Saturday.

2) Clemson (0-0)

Last week’s result: N/A

Most media outlets consider Clemson the favorite to win the ACC. The Wolfpacker does not.

The Tigers’ roster, packed with five-star talent throughout with a new-look coaching staff, is still good enough to win 10 games in a down year, like they did last year, and it would not surprise many people if Clemson, the AP preseason No. 4 team in the nation, ended the season with a conference title.

Before the team takes the field and has a chance to address those expectations, the question marks on offense are a little to significant to ignore. Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei will likely have to take a significant step forward to put Clemson back in contention for a national championship.

With a defense of the same prestige as NC State’s, the Tigers will be in every game they play this year, and the offense will determine their ceiling. The state of the quarterback position between NC State and Clemson separate the two schools for now, but the top spot on this list could change hands frequently this year.

3) Pittsburgh (0-0)

Last week’s result: N/A

Losing Jordan Addison, the best wide receiver in the ACC last year, and NFL first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett in the same offseason is a massive blow to team’s offensive firepower, but Pat Narduzzi reliably puts a productive defense on the field each season and Kedon Slovis could still be a great option at quarterback. As a freshman at USC, he threw for 3,502 yards and 30 touchdowns.

In a conference loaded with high-quality quarterback play this year, Slovis will likely be the x-factor for the Panthers. The defense, led by star defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado, will be stout as it usually is with Narduzzi as head coach, and the reigning ACC champions are secure in the No. 3 spot in this week’s power rankings. West Virginia travels to Pittsburgh for a new era in a storied rivalry to open the season Thursday.

4) Miami (0-0)

Last week’s result: N/A

Quarterback play is certainly not a question mark for Miami this year. Tyler Van Dyke is coming off of an extremely impressive redshirt freshman season and, paired with the arrival of head coach Mario Cristobal from Oregon, there’s a lot of excitement around the Hurricanes. Miami was my pick to win the Coastal this year over Pittsburgh, and I still think it could still take the division title, but I think it will take a few games before we see the program’s full potential with a first-year head coach. The Hurricanes start the season Saturday with a matchup against Bethune-Cookman.

5) Louisville (0-0)

Last week’s result: N/A

The talent and skill of Malik Cunningham secured Louisville a top-five start to the season in these power rankings. He’s an electrifying quarterback who can take over and win a game. He will have the chance to build on a successful junior year that included almost 3,000 yards passing and more than 1,000 yards rushing. Preseason All-ACC selections, cornerback Kei’Trel Clark and offensive lineman Caleb Chandler, join Cunningham with a chance to make a significant jump in team success after finishing 2021 6-7. They face Syracuse Saturday night.

6) Wake Forest (0-0)

Last week’s result: N/A

Wake Forest would be third in this power ranking if Sam Hartman was suiting up for the program week one. With the uncertainty surrounding his availability this year, the Demon Deacons’ ceiling takes a hit. Having A.T. Perry at receiver will absolutely keep the team’s pass offense alive, and redshirt freshman quarterback Mitch Griffis will step into the spotlight as the starter. Wake Forest hosts VMI Thursday night.

7) Florida State (1-0)

Last week’s result: A 47-7 win over Duquesne

Florida State dominated its season opener in week 0, holding Duquesne to 164 yards of total offense while racking up 638 yards of its own, including 406 rushing yards. Three of the Seminoles’ running backs surpassed 100 yards, led by Treshaun Ward‘s 127 yards and two touchdowns. The competition ramps up quick for the program this weekend, with a showdown with LSU in New Orleans slated for Sunday.

8) Boston College (0-0)

Last week’s result: N/A

Boston College comes into this season underrated. The Eagles’ had the third-best scoring defense in 2021 and began the year 4-0 before an injury to starting quarterback Phil Jurkovec derailed their hot start. Jurkovec is back this year, and watch out for wide receiver Zay Flowers to have a breakout season. Boston College hosts Rutgers in its season opener.

9) North Carolina (1-0)

Last week’s result: A 56-24 win over Florida A&M

Quarterback Drake Maye looked great in his debut for UNC last week, throwing for 5 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. The defense, which was often the issue for the Tar Heels during last year’s let-down season, was a bit concerning again, allowing 24 points to Florida A&M— a program missing 26 players for the season opener. North Carolina will learn a ton about its team this year when it travels to Boone this weekend for a matchup against Appalachian State.

10) Virginia (0-0)

Last week’s result: N/A

Brennan Armstrong could be the best quarterback in the ACC but, after extensive overhaul to his offensive line, the protection around him is a mystery. The Cavaliers’ defense also gave up 31.8 points-per-game last year, finishing in the bottom half of the ACC. In Tony Elliot’s first year leading the program, some growing pains early will be understandable, but Armstrong’s talent keeps UVA‘s floor pretty stable. Virginia hosts Richmond Saturday.

11) Syracuse (0-0)

Last week’s result: N/A

Led by superstar freshman running back Sean Tucker, Syracuse needs to take a step forward in year seven of Dino Babers‘ tenure as head coach. Tucker ran for 1,496 yards last season and broke the Orange’s single-season rushing record. He has a chance to win ACC Player of the Year if Syracuse can put together a solid season.

12) Virginia Tech (0-0)

Last week’s result: N/A

Brent Pry arrives at Virginia Tech with a lot of work to do. After below-average recruiting from the previous staff, the new coaching staff hit the transfer portal to try to fill needs, including former Marshall quarterback Grant Wells who, while turnover-prone at times, can put up impressive numbers. The Hokies open the season with an intriguing test on the road against Old Dominion.

13) Georgia Tech (0-0)

Last week’s result: N/A

Geoff Collins has one of the hottest seats in the nation, and Georgia Tech will likely have to take a significant step forward this year to avoid a coaching change. The Yellow Jackets start the season with a brutal neutral-site showdown with Clemson.

14) Duke (0-0)

Last week’s result: N/A

Mike Elko is a first-year head coach who will likely instill defensive toughness in this Duke program, but the team has a long way to go. Patience will be key for Blue Devil fans this year. They face Temple in their season-opening matchup.