Here are the final ACC Power Rankings of the 2021 season — topped by the two teams headed to league’s title match.
1. Wake Forest
Wake Forest put together a statement win on the road vs. Boston College: 41-10, with Sam Hartman accounting for four total touchdowns. In doing so, Wake Forest clinched the Atlantic Division.
🎩 34 Pass TD
🎩 10 Rush TD @WakeFB's Sam Hartman became the fourth player in ACC history with 30 Pass TD & 10 Rush TD in a season 👏 pic.twitter.com/6pnj0UViJC— ACC Network (@accnetwork) November 29, 2021
Feels like 2006, you guys.
2. Pittsburgh
Kenny Pickett did the thing — four touchdown passes — and Pitt rolled Syracuse, 31-14.
The only QB in ACC history with 4,000+ pass yards and 40 TD in the regular season 🔥🔥@kennypickett10 @Pitt_FB pic.twitter.com/O4c6nUIjgC
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) November 28, 2021
3. NC State
It looked like the lights were about to go out on NC State — and then lightning struck. NC State’s improbable come-from-behind victory over North Carolina was one for the ages.
This is a truly incredible statistic, too.
NC State trailed by 9 with 2:12 left to play in the 4th quarter vs North Carolina before coming back to win.
They are the 1st team to win a game this season when trailing by 9 with less than 2:30 to play.
Teams had been 0-451 in that scenario this season prior to their win. pic.twitter.com/NLCX8cYNa5
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 27, 2021
4. Clemson
Don’t look now: The Tigers have won five straight games, including two victories over Wake Forest and South Carolina the last two weeks by a combined 51 points.
It’s hard to believe, I know: the team with all over the really talented players is good at winning football games.
No. 5 Miami
The final game of the David Cutcliffe era at Duke was just another day at the office for Tyler Van Dyke. The freshman quarterback threw for 381 yards and three touchdowns as the Canes stomped the Blue Devils, 41-10.
Van Dyke finished the regular season with 2,931 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
No. 6 Louisville
Louisville’s run defense was shredded by Kentucky, and the Cards flopped in Saturday’s rivalry matchup: 52-21.
Kentucky Quarterback Will Levis getting some air during the Governor's Cup. @heraldleader @KentuckySports pic.twitter.com/EKLzC7JdPf
— Ryan C. Hermens (@ryanhermens) November 28, 2021
No. 7 North Carolina
What looked like a soon-to-be defiant road win for Sam Howell over NC State went south — quickly. As unlikely as that final result was, it’s really a fitting coda for North Carolina’s 2021 regular season.
Now, it remains to be seen what Howell will do next.
No. 8 Virginia
The Hokies, for the most part, held Brennan Armstrong in check, which is a big problem for the Cavaliers. Virginia was outscored by Virginia Tech 5-0 in the fourth quarter and lost 29-24.
No. 9 Virginia Tech
It wasn’t pretty, but Virginia Tech won a wild rivalry matchup with Virginia over the weekend. The victory was VT’s first since Justin Fuente left. Virginia Tech is now bowl eligible, too.
No. 10 Florida State
Florida State’s comeback effort fell just short vs. Florida. For Mike Norvell and FSU, there will be a lot of eggs in the 2022 basket.
Mike Norvell and Mel Tucker among the head coaches going in-home to see five-star OT Kiyaunta Goodwin (@K_Goodwin2022) this week. He has also scheduled his official to #MichiganState. More here: https://t.co/CThVZsCeeD
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) November 29, 2021
No. 11 Boston College
Buoyed on with support from Wolfpack Nation, Boston College was still unable to prevail at home vs. Wake Forest. Hartman and the offense were simply too much.
No. 12 Syracuse
After moving to 5-4 with a win over Boston College back on Oct. 30, Syracuse lost three straight games and fell just short of qualifying for a bowl game.
Dino Babers could be in some trouble at Syracuse, as evidenced by multiple staffing changes following the season.
No. 13 Georgia Tech
Unsurprisingly, Georgia Tech was thumped by Georgia; the Yellow Jackets lost 45-0. Over the final two weeks of the season, Georgia Tech lost to Notre Dame and UGA by a combined 100 points. Georgia Tech was shut-out in both games, too.
No. 14 Duke
There’s no doubting some of the accomplishments David Cutcliffe achieved at Duke. Unfortunately, the writing had been on the wall for some time now. As the two parties mutually part ways, Nina King must now look for the next head coach in Durham, which is never an easy process.
Contributor Rankings
| BG | JG | Consensus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake Forest | Wake Forest | Wake Forest |
| 2 | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh |
| 3 | NC State | NC State | NC State |
| 4 | Clemson | Clemson | Clemson |
| 5 | Miami | Miami | Miami |
| 6 | Louisville | Louisville | Louisville |
| 7 | UNC | UNC | UNC |
| 8 | Virginia Tech | Virginia | Virginia |
| 9 | Virginia | FSU | Virginia Tech |
| 10 | BC | Virginia Tech | FSU |
| 11 | FSU | BC | BC |
| 12 | Syracuse | Syracuse | Syracuse |
| 13 | Georgia Tech | Georgia Tech | Georgia Tech |
| 14 | Duke | Duke | Duke |
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