2021 ACC Rankings Week Six

Atlantic

1. Wake Forest Demon Deacons: WF is the first ACC team to qualify for a bowl, the only undefeated ACC team, and they are 6-0 for the first time since 1944. Their last two games have been close, but good teams win close games. Hartman had his second consecutive 300+ yard game, throwing 330 yards and tossing three TDs, including his longest of the year – a 69-yard strike to A.T. Perry. In fact, all his TDs were for greater than 20-yards. In addition to the 69-yard pass there were touchdown throws of 46-yards and a 22-yard score in OT to win the game. Wake is on a bye.

2. NC State Wolfpack: NCST was idle this week.

3. Clemson Tigers: Clemson was idle this week.

4. Boston College Eagles: BC was idle this week.

5. Louisville Cardinals: The Cards seemed to have this game in hand, leading 30-13 to start the fourth quarter. Then they allowed UVA to march down the field and score three times. Malik Cunningham was kept out of the game, due to the Louisville defense allowing long sustained drives, and put up his most mortal numbers of the season. Louisville gets a break next week.

6. Syracuse Orange: The Orange gave it everything they had and found a lot of success on the ground. Dual-threat QB Garret Shrader’s 178 rushing yards and RB Sean Tucker’s 153 rushing yards and two TDs lead the way to Syracuse running for 354 yards total yards. The Orange forced overtime but were unable to close the deal. Next week is a battle between orange jerseys when Syracuse hosts Clemson.

7. Florida State Seminoles: After spotting UNC a 10-point lead the Seminoles went off, scoring 35 points in Q2 and Q3. QB Jordan Travis scored all five touchdowns, throwing for three and running for another two. FSU is now riding a two-game winning streak after starting the season a dismal 0-4. The Seminoles are on a bye.

Coastal:

1. Pittsburgh Panthers: Pitt was idle this week.

2. Virginia Cavaliers: QB Brennan Armstrong went back to raining pain on teams. The Cavaliers had 60 passing plays with Armstrong connecting 40 times for 487 yards, three TDs, and two INTs. During the fourth quarter the Hoos had three scoring drives of 75-yards, 73-yards, and again 75-yards, closing a 20-point gap and winning the game in dramatic fashion. Next week UVA looks to extend their two-game winning streak against Duke.

3. Virginia Tech Hokies: You can read the post-mortems we put out, but the fact is the Hokies played their best game of the season on their way to losing to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 32-29. Though they scored, the Hokies defense struggled to adjust to the dual quarterback play of ND. It was a tough emotional loss for VT, but there’s no time to sulk with Kenny Pickett and the dynamic Pitt offense showing up at Lane Stadium next week. Fun fact, Pickett has more passing yards than the Hokies have total offensive yards (1,731 yards – Pickett, 1,647 yards – VT total offense).

4. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: GT defeated Duke with a 36-yard TD pass with 0:51 left in the game. It will still be a tough road to bowl eligibility with teams like Notre Dame and Georgia left on the slate, but the Yellow Jackets are performing beyond pre-season expectations. GT is on a bye.

5. North Carolina Tar Heels: Like the Hokies the Tar Heels jumped out to an early 10-0 lead but failed to capitalize and lost at home to FSU. Sam Howell was, once again, the total of North Carolina’s offense, throwing for 203 yards and running for 108 yards. There is a lot of talent on that North Carolina bench to start 3-3 and be dropping games to GT and a struggling FSU squad. Next week they face another beleaguered Florida team when the Hurricanes visit Chapel Hill.

6. Duke Blue Devils: QB Gunner Holmberg did everything he could to win a close one against Georgia Tech, throwing for 292 yards, two TDs, and one INT. His single interception was during their final drive trying to answer the Yellow Jacket’s late TD. Running Back Mateo Durant was the Duke workhorse, rushing 43 times for 152 yards and a TD. Next weekend the Blue Devils face UVA and the nation’s leading passer.

7. Miami Hurricanes: Miami was idle this week.

Overall

1. (No. 16 AP / No. 16 Coaches) Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-0, 4-0 Conf.) – Static

2. (No. 22 / No. 21) NC State Wolfpack (4-1, 1-0) – Static

3. (Unr. / No. 25) Clemson Tigers – Static

4. Pittsburgh Panthers (4-1, 1-0) – Static

5. Boston College Eagles (4-1, 0-1) – Up One

6. Virginia Cavaliers (4-2, 2-2) – Up Three

7. Virginia Tech Hokies (3-2, 1-0) – Down Two

8. Louisville Cardinals (3-3, 1-2) – Down One

9. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-3, 2-2) – Up Two

10. Syracuse Orange (3-3, 0-2) – Static

11. North Carolina Tar Heels (3-3, 2-3) – Down Three

12. Duke Blue Devils (3-3, 0-2) – Static

13. Florida State Seminoles (2-4, 2-2) – Up One

14. Miami Hurricanes (2-3, 0-1) – Down One