All regular-season long, college basketball analysts were touting the ACC and the difference in the league for men's basketball compared to a year ago. The conference got eight teams in the 68-team field and could have gotten one or two more if a couple of teams didn't suffer late-season meltdowns.
However, when the dust settled, the conference was shut out from the Final Four this upcoming weekend after Duke blew a 19-point lead to UConn and lost on an incredible buzzer-beater on Sunday in the East Regional Final. That closed the door on the men's basketball season for the ACC, and now all eyes turn toward the Transfer Portal that opens next week. Here are the final ACC Men's Basketball Power Rankings for the 2025-26 campaign.
Final ACC Men's Basketball Power Rankings for 2025-26 season
The Yellow Jackets had another disappointing season, which led to coach Damon Stoudamire being fired. Until they pump more resources into the program, the results are going to be more of the same in Atlanta.
As expected, the Earl Grant era in Chestnut Hill ended after the Eagles missed the ACC Tournament thanks to a Pitt overtime win against Syracuse on the final day of the regular season. BC hired UConn assistant Luke Murray, but like Georgia Tech, until money is pumped into the program, expect more of the same.
The Irish had to deal with injuries all season long, which led to them missing the ACC Tournament like Georgia Tech and Boston College. A big offseason is underway in South Bend.
A first-round exit in the ACC Tournament led to Adrian Autry's expected dismissal in New York. Syracuse turned to Siena coach and former Orange legend Gerry McNamara to turn things around for a program that was begging to be woken up again.
After beating Stanford in the ACC Tournament before being bounced by North Carolina State, Jeff Capel survived for another season with the Panthers.
The Demon Deacons ended Virginia Tech's NCAA Tournament hopes with a first-round overtime win in the ACC Tournament.
What a brutal end to a promising season. After entering the ACC Tournament still on the NCAA Tournament bubble, the Hokies lost for the second time this season to Wake Forest, which ended their season after they turned down an NIT bid. It's going to be a long offseason in Blacksburg.
Another bubble team entering the ACC Tournament, the Cardinal dropped a disappointing game to Pitt, which ended their hopes.
The Golden Bears, another NCAA Tournament bubble team when they got to Charlotte, fell to Florida State in the second round to burst their bubble.
There was no team that anyone didn't want to see in Charlotte more than the Seminoles. If the season were another couple of weeks along, they just may have played their way into the NCAA Tournament. That's not an overreaction.
The Mustangs got into the NCAA Tournament and played Miami of Ohio in the First Four. They lost, but it was a potential lie they sold to the NCAA committee to get into the tournament that got all the headlines in Dayton.
Will Wade and the Wolfpack got bounced in the First Four in Dayton by Texas, but after that was over, Wade jumped ship after just one season in Raleigh and is headed back to LSU.
The Tigers advanced to the ACC Tournament semifinals, but suffered an injury that carried over to the NCAA Tournament, and they were bounced in the first round by Iowa, which advanced to the Elite Eight.
The Tar Heels were bounced in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament, then bounced in the first round of the NCAA Tournament after blowing a 19-point lead to VCU. They fired Hubert Davis and are now looking for his replacement.
The Cardinals picked up a four-point win over South Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but they fell in the second round to Michigan State. It was a tough season for star guard Mikel Brown, Jr.
What a first season in South Florida for Jai Lucas with the Hurricanes. They picked up an NCAA Tournament win over Missouri before falling to Purdue. Things are trending upwards quickly in Miami.
It was a very good first season for Ryan Odom in Charlottesville. They were a couple of possessions away from a spot in the Sweet 16.
What a gut-wrenching loss for Duke in the NCAA Tournament to UConn. Blowing a big lead with a spot in the Final Four on the line creates a long offseason.