ACC Rankings Week 11

You guys, I can’t this week. Between the Hokies and the Jaguars... I need something fun. So, this week will be communicated with Ryan Gosling gifs.

Atlantic

1. Clemson Tigers: The Tigers held BC to 113 total yards, winning 27-7. That is ridiculous. Clemson is hitting their stride at the perfect time. With the victory they clinched the Atlantic and a fourth consecutive spot in the ACC Conference Championship game. Next week they face a decent Duke team.

2. Syracuse Orange: Fun fact… of the Orange’s two losses, one was a four-point deficit to Clemson and the other was a three-point loss, in overtime, to Pitt. Notre Dame better be careful this Saturday…

3. Boston College Eagles: The game against Clemson was more about how good the Tigers’ defense is rather than the Eagle’s not being a good team. AJ Dillon was held to a pedestrian 39 yards over 16 carries, but the BC defense held the Tigers to their lowest points total of the year (so did Syracuse). Boston College rolls into Tallahassee on Saturday.

4. N.C. State Wolfpack: Okay… that was surprising, but it is why they play the game. NCST was knocked out of the top 25 and contributed to the poor narrative that is ACC play this year when they fell to Wake Forest by allowing an 80-yard touchdown drive with only 1:39 left on the clock. NCST’s remaining three foes have a combined five wins. This weekend they will face the woeful Cardinals.

5. Wake Forest Demon Deacons: With Pitt and Duke remaining on the slate an upset will be necessary to secure bowl eligibility, but that was a solid effort to upset the then No. 14 Wolfpack. Sophomore Jamie Newman started at QB and dominated with 297 yards and three TDs in the air. On the ground he kept plays alive with his legs and rushed 13 times for 44 yards. It’ll be an uphill fight to get that sixth win against Pitt, but the Panthers better not sleep on WF.

6. Florida State Seminoles: One of the three former ACC heavyweights looking at themselves in the mirror. Notre Dame recently provided the opportunity for FSU to reflect when Dexter Williams ran for 202 yards and two TDs on the way to a 13-42 defeat of the Seminoles. Needing two wins to be bowl eligible and with their two remaining foes both being ranked the fight for the post season will be hard for Florida State.

7. Louisville Cardinals: Well… Louisville decided to end Bobby Petrino’s second stint with the Cardinals, firing the head coach after the 54-23 shellacking they received from Syracuse. Louisville will finish the remainder of the season under interim coach Lorenzo Ward. Rumors are already swirling that Louisville will pursue Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm. Before any of that they must face N.C. State this Saturday.

Coastal

1. Pittsburgh Panthers: Pitt hasn’t technically locked up the Coastal, but all they need is either a win against Wake Forest next weekend or a UVA loss and they will be the team to lose to Clemson in the ACC Championship game. The Panthers savaged a young and injured VT defense to the tune of 492 yards, on the ground, and six rushing TDs. With the win Pitt firmly established themselves as the lead team in the Coastal and qualified for a bowl.

2. Virginia Cavaliers: Bryce Perkins accounted for four TDs and 257 offensive yards during UVA’s 45-24 romp of the Liberty Flames. The seventh victory on the season marks the most wins for the program since 2010 when they collected eight. This weekend the Hoos face Georgia Tech.

3. Duke Blue Devils: Duke defeated their in-state rivals, 42-35. Daniel Jones was an offensive powerhouse throwing for three TDs and 361 yards while rushing for 186 yards and another TD. Of Duke’s 629 yards Jones was involved in 547 of them. Saturday Duke gets a shot at the king when they travel to Clemson.

4. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: GT qualified for a bowl game, edging Miami 27-21. GT and UVA will meet on Saturday in game that is largely about Coastal bragging rights.

5. Miami-Florida Hurricanes: You know who else is having a rough third year as a coach? Mark Richt. Miami dropped their fourth in a row against the Yellow Jackets. The ‘Canes defense did a good job slowing down the triple-option, but the offense’s three turnovers were too much to overcome. Next week Miami and VT meet in Blacksburg, and one of them has to win...

6. Virginia Tech Hokies: I’ve been sitting here trying to think about what to write about Virginia Tech and haven’t come up with anything to add to the conversation. You’ve heard it all before: youth and injuries. Tighten your belts, ladies and gentlemen, it’s probably going to get worse before it gets better.

7. North Carolina Tar Heels: Another day another close loss for UNC. They should get their second win next week against the Western Carolina Catamounts.

Overall Conference

1. (No. 2 AP / No. 2 Coaches) Clemson Tigers (10-0 / 7-0) – Static

2. (No. 12 / No. 12) Syracuse Orange (8-2 / 5-2) – Static

3. (No. 22 / No. 22) Boston College Eagles (7-3 / 4-2) – Up One

4. Pittsburgh Panthers (6-4 / 5-1) – Up One

5. N.C. State Wolfpack (6-3 / 3-3) – Down Two

6. Virginia Cavaliers (7-3 / 4-2) – Static

7. Duke Blue Evils (7-3 / 3-3) – Static

8. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-4 / 4-3) – Static

9. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (5-5 / 2-4) – Up Three

10. Miami-Florida Hurricanes (5-5 / 2-4) – Down One

11. Florida State Seminoles (4-6 / 2-5) – Down One

12. Virginia Tech Hokies (4-5 / 3-3) – Down One

13. North Carolina Tar Heels (1-8 / 1-6) – Static

14. Louisville Cardinals (2-8 / 0-7) – Static