There were eight ACC football games on Saturday, all conference games, with Virginia Tech on their bye week. It was another weekend of interesting results on the field, but there were really no big upsets, except for one in Central New York when Fran Brown and Syracuse upset No. 19 SMU at the Dome.
As we look ahead to Week 9, there are very interesting and juicy matchups both in ACC games and with one monster non-conference game that will have a huge effect on the College Football Playoff. Before we kick off Week 9, let's launch the latest ACC Football Power Rankings through Week 8's results.
Week 9 ACC Football Power Rankings
17. Georgia Tech
- Record: 2-6 (1-4 ACC)
- Last Week: 17
The Yellow Jackets suffered a third straight loss with a Pitt beatdown in front of a small gathering of close friends and family in Pittsburgh. Georgia Tech needs to win out against Louisville, Clemson, Wake Forest, and Georgia to become bowl-eligible.
16. California
- Record: 3-6 (2-4 ACC)
- Last Week: 16
How did Virginia Tech lose to Cal? The Golden Bears played their best game of the year, and since then, they have come back to reality, which includes a three-touchdown loss at North Carolina State. They need wins at Virginia and two at home over Stanford and Pitt to become bowl-eligible. That's not happening.
15. Stanford
- Record: 4-5 (2-4 ACC)
- Last Week: 13
The Cardinal had their two-game winning streak snapped with a 52-24 loss at Louisville. They have a bye week this upcoming weekend before flying back cross-country to Virginia Tech on Nov. 14.
14. Florida State
- Record: 3-5 (1-4 ACC)
- Last Week: 12
Mike Norvell's team put up another fight this weekend at home against Clemson, but again fell short in the win column. They need three wins out of their final four games to become bowl-eligible.
13. Boston College
- Record: 4-4 (2-3 ACC)
- Last Week: 9
It was back to reality for Bill O'Brien and Boston College on Saturday, following a 47-2 beatdown by Duke in Durham, North Carolina. Talk about a deflating loss to end October, one week after a big road win at Georgia Tech.
12. Virginia
- Record: 4-5 (2-3 ACC)
- Last Week: 10
Remember when Virginia fans thought that the Cavaliers were back after a lucky 11-3 season that included their Super Bowl win over the worst Virginia Tech team in 2025? It's back to harsh reality after a close 51-7 loss at Wake Forest. Tony Elliott has gone from fans building a statue of him in Charlottesville to wanting him fired in 10 months. Reality comes at you hard and fast.
11. Syracuse
- Record: 4-4 (2-4 ACC)
- Last Week: 15
What a win for Brown and the Orange. After beating UNC on the road in overtime last weekend, they scored late to upset SMU, 30-27, at home. A bowl game is well within reach for Syracuse this season.
10. North Carolina State
- Record: 4-4 (2-3 ACC)
- Last Week: 14
Nice win for the Wolfpack at home over Cal after firing Dave Doeren last Saturday. Did anyone expect anything different with the Golden Bears coming East?
9. North Carolina
- Record: 4-4 (2-3 ACC)
- Last Week: 8
A gut-wrenching loss for Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels at home to No. 1 Miami, 38-35, after an overtime loss to Syracuse last weekend. Rough two weeks in Chapel Hill.
8. Pittsburgh
- Record: 6-3 (3-3 ACC)
- Last Week: 11
Pitt ended a three-game losing streak, and Pat Narduzzi wants his club to be rewarded by being ranked in the Top 25 on Sunday by the Associated Press. Anyway, Pitt is bowl-eligible, but not likely to be ranked. I'm sure Narduzzi will call out the poll voters and Penn State for some odd reason.
7. Louisville
- Record: 5-3 (4-2 ACC)
- Last Week: 7
The Cardinals are quietly inching toward bowl eligibility after a rout of Stanford at home on Saturday.
6. Clemson
- Record: 5-3 (3-2 ACC)
- Last Week: 6
After suffering a 20-16 loss at home last week to Virginia Tech, the Tigers regrouped and went down to Florida State and picked up a road victory.
5. SMU
- Record: 6-2 (4-2 ACC)
- Last Week: 3
This was the biggest setback of the weekend, the Mustangs losing at Syracuse in the final seconds. They have a short week, with the Hokies visiting on Friday night.
4. Duke
- Record: 6-2 (3-2 ACC)
- Last Week: 5
The Blue Devils never let BC get comfortable and rolled over the Eagles at home.
3. Virginia Tech
- Record: 6-2 (3-2 ACC)
- Last Week: 4
The Hokies head to Dallas on Friday night after a much-needed bye week.
2. Wake Forest
- Record: 7-1 (5-1 ACC)
- Last Week: 2
The Demon Deacons pounded Virginia to remain in the driver's seat for a berth in the ACC Championship Game in early December. A win at SMU in a couple of weeks will likely seal the deal for Jake Dickert's club.
1. Miami
- Record: 8-0 (6-0 ACC)
- Last Week: 1
We almost got our yearly Mario Cristobal ACC loss that nobody sees coming, but the Hurricanes, who head to Notre Dame next weekend, survived the Tar Heels thanks to some lucky breaks.
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