It was a weekend of joy and a weekend of heartbreak for some ACC football teams, whether it was because of results on the field or injuries that occurred on the field. Some teams separated themselves from the rest of the pack, while others raised more doubt about just how good they are.
We are five weeks into the 2026 season, and things are going to heat up in terms of conference play as everyone tries to prove that they are the second-best team in the conference behind Miami. With that said, let's fire up the latest ACC Football Power Rankings.
Week 6 ACC Football Power Rankings
It was a rough trip for the Cardinal to Winston-Salem, with a 57-3 loss to Wake Forest. It gets worse this upcoming weekend with a trip to No. 3 Notre Dame. Yikes.
After a bye week, the Orange returned to the field with a wild 42-41 overtime win at UConn in a non-conference game. Fran Brown and his club get a trip to Charlottesville on Saturday night against Virginia, coming off a 31-point loss to Florida State.
It was a bye week for the Yellow Jackets and head coach Brent Key after a loss at Stanford last weekend. Georgia Tech returns to the field at home this week against Duke, who also had a bye.
The Eagles played another rain game, this time at SMU, and mistakes and missed opportunities plagued BC in its second straight ACC loss. Their bye week is coming at a perfect time for coach Bill O'Brien and his club.
Virginia Tech heads to Berkeley this weekend to face the Golden Bears, who are coming off a non-conference loss at UNLV. Quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele left the game after appearing wobbly after a hit. He was cleared to return, but head coach Tosh Lupoi held him out.
After wins over TCU and East Tennessee. State, Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels dropped a shootout at home to No. 3 Notre Dame. Next up is a trip to 5-0 Pittsburgh.
What should we make of the Cardinals? After beating SMU a couple of weeks ago at home, Louisville lost to Wake Forest at home, and on Saturday, they lost by three points to a desperate North Carolina State team. They have gone from being a favorite to make the ACC Championship Game to trying to just become bowl-eligible.
Let's not beat around the bush. Who else is getting 2024 Virginia Tech vibes with the Cavaliers? A team with all the clippings entering the season, only to prove that it was major overhype. It proves that 2025 was a fluke and Virginia still has a way to go. Looks like James Franklin made the correct QB decision over the offseason.
What a statement win for Florida State over Virginia. Head coach Mike Novell needed it, as did his team, with a daunting schedule coming up. Quarterback Ashton Daniels rushed for five touchdowns against the Cavaliers' defense, rallying from an early 7-0 deficit.
What an up-and-down season so far for the Wolfpack. A big win over Louisville, and there is more talent on this Wolfpack roster than the record shows.
You may be wondering why the Tigers moved up a couple of spots after losing to Miami. They can thank Louisville and Virginia for brutal losses.
The weather was a nightmare for the Mustangs at home, but they found a way to grind out a gritty win over Boston College. The Eagles were one or two plays away from making SMU sweat more than they needed to.
When the dust settles on Thanksgiving Weekend, don't be surprised to see the Demon Deacons in the ACC Championship Game. Their final game at home against Duke could be for the spot against Miami in Charlotte.
It wouldn't be a season without a gut-wrenching loss for the Hokies, this time to Pitt at home on Friday night, after John Love missed a game-winning field goal attempt as time expired. We'll see how they respond at Cal on Saturday afternoon.
A huge win is overshadowed by a season-ending injury to quarterback Mason Heintschel against the Hokies. I know it's frustrating for Panthers fans, but it wasn't a dirty hit. He was fighting for a first down, and what is the defense supposed to do- let him get it? If the roles were reversed and the Panthers laid that hit on an opposing QB, they would say it was clean. It was a football play.
A bye week for the Blue Devils has them preparing for a trap game at Georgia Tech on Saturday, looking to remain undefeated.
Not much else to say here. Just another weekend at the office for Miami, this time at Clemson.
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