ACC Football Power Rankings, Week 12: Clemson fully formed; the Coastal flexes some muscle

There are only two weeks left in the regular season for ACC Football. We’re running out of time in 2019. Let’s move quickly: here are this week’s ACC Football Power Rankings, starting with You Know Who.

 

No. 1 Clemson

In last week’s power rankings, we discussed just how well Trevor Lawrence has played over the last month. Lawrence continued to hum in the blowout win over Wake Forest: 21-of-27 (77.8 percent) through the air for 272 yards, four touchdowns — three to Tee Higgins — and zero interceptions. Over the last four games, Lawrence is now 69-of-89 passing for 1,041 yards (11.7 yards per attempt), 13 touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Tigers — with the nation’s No. 1 defense and a red-hot offense led by a generational quarterback prospect — are starting to have That Look. With nine wins over FBS opponents (the only team that can make that claim in 2019), Clemson has an open week before a matchup at South Carolina and the ACC title game.

This team is rolling and dangerous.

Up Next: Bye Week (at South Carolina, 11/30)

 

No. 2 Virginia

It may be hard to not look ahead — from the outside, at least — but Virginia appears focused on this week’s foe, Liberty. While the matchup with Virginia Tech looms, Bronco Mendenhall isn’t thinking about divisional championships or long-standing losing streaks just yet.

Up Next: Liberty

 

No. 3 Miami

Despite some recent struggles on the recruiting trail, Miami is in the midst of playing its best ball under Manny Diaz. The Canes have won three straight ACC games, including two on the road; Jarren Williams looks good running the offense, too. After an off week, Miami will take on FIU.

Also, this is good news.

Up Next: FIU

 

No. 4 Virginia Tech

Ships passing in the night: Virginia Tech and Duke. Since Duke’s 45-10 demolition of Virginia Tech back on Sept. 27, these two programs have moved in completely opposite directions.

  • Virginia Tech: 5-1, +89 point differential
  • Duke: 1-5, -96 point differential

Duke’s only win in that six-game stretch came against Georgia Tech, which Virginia Tech crushed on Saturday, 45-0.

Up Next: Pittsburgh

 

No. 5 Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh hasn’t won 10 games in a season since 2009 — when the program was in something called the Big East and a 6-foot-4 mustache named Dave Wannstedt was its coach. The 7-3 Panthers have the opportunity to do just that in 2019 — perhaps even more. Regardless, it starts again this week at Virginia Tech.

Up Next: At Virginia Tech

 

No. 6 Louisville

Louisville’s run game was held in check — 77 yards on 39 carries, no touchdowns — but the Cardinals still won with relative ease at NC State, 34-20. That’s a nice team rebound after the 25-point loss at Miami.

Scott Satterfield’s program is now 6-4 and headed to a bowl game; this is quite the turnaround from the 2-10 campaign in 2018.

Up Next: Syracuse

 

No. 7 Wake Forest

Wake Forest has been one of the most fun and explosive offenses in the ACC this season; however, Saturday at Clemson was a recipe for disaster. Going up against the most efficient defense in the country, Wake Forest entered Death Valley sans Sage Surratt and Scotty Washington. The results weren’t pretty: 41 passing yards, 105 yards of total offense and 10 tackles for loss allowed.

Without Surratt, the Demon Deacons just don’t have the same vertical threat to the passing game.

Up Next: Duke

 

No. 8 Florida State

Florida State improved to 2-0 under Odell Haggins this season, following the firing of Willie Taggart. The 49-12 win over outmatched Alabama State moved FSU to 6-5 on the season, which means the Seminoles are bowl eligible again and now have two weeks to prepare for Florida.

Up Next: Bye Week (at Florida, 11/30)

 

No. 9 North Carolina

Another game, another one-possession affair, another chaotic loss for UNC. After the overtime defeat last Thursday at Pittsburgh, North Carolina is now 3-6 in one-possession games this season.

North Carolina still has plenty to play for, though. Wins over Mercer and NC State would give the program its first bowl appearance since 2016 — which would be a remarkable achievement for Mack Brown.

Up Next: Mercer

 

No. 10 Boston College

Boston College had a bye week to heal its wounds after the loss to Florida State; to close the season, the Eagles (5-5) have two tough games, both on the road — Notre Dame and Pittsburgh.

Up Next: at Notre Dame

 

No. 11 NC State

Dave Doeren has guided NC State to a bowl game in five straight seasons. For that streak to remain alive, the Pack must snag a critical Thursday night win on the road. NC State hasn’t won a football game since Oct. 10.

Before that, though, a quick tip of the cap to NC State’s run defense, which held its own against Louisville’s strong ground game.

Up Next: at Georgia Tech (Thursday, 11/21)

 

No. 12 Syracuse

Syracuse hit the brakes on what had been a four-game losing streak with a dominant win at Duke, 49-6. While the team’s passing attack still slumped, this was Syracuse’s best game of the 2019 season: 286 rushing yards (6.7 yards per carry) and four touchdowns on the ground.

Up Next: at Louisville

 

No. 13 Duke

The last two months have been rather unkind to Duke; again, the Blue Devils have won just one game since the calendar flipped to October. In the loss to Syracuse, Duke’s offense produced less than 3.3 yards per play. Over the last six games, Duke has four outings with an offensive output of less than 3.6 yards per play.

Up Next: at Wake Forest

 

No. 14 Georgia Tech

This, honestly, seems a little unfair: to close the 2019 season out, Georgia Tech has two more games on the schedule — NC State on a short work, then No. 4 Georgia.

Up Next: NC State (Thursday, 11/21)

 

Contributor Rankings

David GlennBrian GeisingerJosh GrahamConsensus
1ClemsonClemsonClemsonClemson
2MiamiVirginiaPittVirginia
3VirginiaMiamiVirginia TechMiami
4Virginia TechVirginia TechVirginiaVirginia Tech
5PittPittMiamiPitt
6LouisvilleLouisvilleLouisvilleLouisville
7Wake ForestWake ForestWake ForestWake Forest
8Florida StateFlorida StateFlorida StateFlorida State
9UNCUNCUNCUNC
10Boston CollegeBoston CollegeBoston CollegeBoston College
11NC StateNC StateNC StateNC State
12SyracuseSyracuseSyracuseSyracuse
13DukeDukeDukeDuke
14Georgia TechGeorgia TechGeorgia TechGeorgia Tech