ACC Football Power Rankings, Week 11: Trevor Lawrence reintroduces himself

Let’s jump right into this week’s ACC Football Power Rankings, starting with (who else?) Trevor Lawrence and the Clemson Tigers.

 

No. 1 Clemson

There’s been plenty of hand-wringing over Trevor Lawrence this season, including injury concerns and efficiency questions. Well, over the last three weeks, Lawrence has gone 48-of-62 (77 percent) through the air for 769 yards (12.4 yards per attempt), nine touchdowns and zero interceptions. He’s also run for two touchdowns in that span, too.

Clemson won those three games with a point differential of +142.

Up Next: Wake Forest

 

No. 2 Virginia

For the fourth time this season, Bryce Perkins led Virginia in passing and rushing during the home win over Georgia Tech on Saturday — his second straight 100-yard rushing performance.

Up Next: Bye Week (Liberty, 11/23)

 

No. 3 Miami

Kudos to Jarren Williams, who has helped spark a late-season charge for Miami. During the win over Louisville, Williams became the first ACC player since Lamar Jackson in his Heisman Trophy season to throw for six touchdowns and no interceptions in the same game.

Up Next: at Florida International

 

No. 4 Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech has now won four out of its last five games. Justin Fuente and the Hokies travel to Charlottesville for a Nov. 30 showdown that could have serious Coastal Division implications.

Up Next: at Georgia Tech

 

No. 5 Pittsburgh

There are only three FBS teams that average at least four sacks per game: SMU (4.2), Pittsburgh (4.44) and Ohio State (4.56). Pittsburgh will need that pass rush to take flight this week when the Panthers host Sam Howell. (Miami ranks fourth in the nation with 3.7 sacks per game.)

Up Next: North Carolina (Thursday, 11/14)

 

No. 6 Wake Forest

Playing without Scotty Washington, Wake Forest’s offense never got going on Saturday at Virginia Tech. This was a rough game for Jamie Newman, who completed 45.7 percent of his passes and tossed two interceptions, too.

Up Next: at Clemson

 

No. 7 Louisville

After flying high for the last month or so, the Cardinals crashed down with a 52-27 loss at Miami. Louisville ran the ball for only 168 yards (4.8 yards per carry) against Miami — one of the team’s lowest totals this season. The Cards are now 0-3 when they run for less than 200 yards in a game this season.

Up Next: NC State

 

No. 8 North Carolina

North Carolina has beaten Pittsburgh every year since the Panthers entered the ACC — six straight. After 12 days off for both teams, Thursday night presents an interesting matchup in the Coastal.

Up Next: at Pittsburgh (Thursday, 11/14)

 

No. 9 Florida State

Hats off to Odell Haggins — FSU was absolutely ready to play on Saturday. James Blackman threw for 346 yards — the second best outing of his career — and two touchdowns during the win at Boston College.

Up Next: Alabama State

 

No. 10 Duke

Duke continues to struggle challenging its opponents with a limited vertical passing game. This was all too easy for Notre Dame’s defense on Saturday, winning 38-7. The Blue Devils have now dropped three straight games.

Up Next: Syracuse

 

No. 11 Boston College

Entering last weekend with a 5-4 record, Boston College’s home game with Florida State presented a major opportunity. The Eagles, however, fell and head into the bye week at 5-5. The final two games of the regular season are both on the road, too: Notre Dame and Pittsburgh.

Up Next: Bye Week (at Notre Dame, 11/23)

 

No. 12 NC State

“What is a dramatic representation of NC State’s 2019 football season, Alex?”

Up Next: Louisville

 

No. 13 Georgia Tech

Even as Georgia Tech has managed to play friskier football late in the season, the strong play of running back Jordan Mason has mostly flown under the radar. Mason is a physical runner and one of the best in the ACC.

Up Next: Virginia Tech

 

No. 14 Syracuse

This hasn’t been a banner year for Syracuse, which is 0-5 in conference play with a point differential of -97.

Up Next: at Duke

 

Contributor Rankings

David GlennBrian GeisingerJosh GrahamConsensus
1ClemsonClemsonClemsonClemson
2MiamiVirginiaPittVirginia
3VirginiaMiamiVirginia TechMiami
4Virginia TechVirginia TechVirginiaVirginia Tech
5PittWake ForestWake ForestPitt
6Wake ForestPittMiamiWake Forest
7Florida StateLouisvilleLouisvilleLouisville
8LouisvilleUNCUNCUNC
9UNCFlorida StateDukeFlorida State
10DukeDukeFlorida StateDuke
11Boston CollegeBoston CollegeBoston CollegeBoston College
12NC StateNC StateNC StateNC State
13Georgia TechGeorgia TechGeorgia TechGeorgia Tech
14SyracuseSyracuseSyracuseSyracuse

 

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