ESPN ranks ACC Football teams from first to last after Week 10

The ACC championship picture has never been more clear after the conclusion of Week 10. With less than a month left until the title game is decided, which teams have separated themselves from the rest of the pack in the ACC?

Virginia currently sits alone atop the conference standings as the only team left undefeated in conference play. Everything after that is wide open, with five more teams boasting just one loss against its ACC competition.

That being said, ESPN has overhauled its ACC rankings ahead of Week 10, per its FPI metrics. The Football Power Index (FPI) is a tool ESPN uses to measure team strength as the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season.

These rankings are the projected results based on 20,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, as well as results to date, and each team’s remaining schedule. Find out who cracked the top 10 below:

1. Miami

Miami has lost two of its last three matchups this season. Still, there’s potential for the Hurricanes to make the College Football Playoff after being ranked No. 18 in the first CFP rankings on Tuesday.

The downside, the Hurricanes no longer control their own destiny. With four games left on their season schedule, Miami could win as many as 10 games before the postseason. However, after suffering its second loss this year against SMU in overtime last week, the ACC title picture is dim at the moment for the Hurricanes.

2. Florida State

Florida State was ranked as high as No. 7 in the AP Poll this season after beginning the season 3-0, including their season-opening win over Alabama. However, the Seminoles are 1-3 ever since and haven’t been ranked for nearly a month.

Still, the Seminoles have multiple opportunities to pick up big-time wins before the season is over. They’ll play Clemson this weekend, and still has Florida on the docket later this month. Florida State will have to win at least two of its last four games to qualify for a bowl game.

3. Louisville

Louisville came in at No. 15 in the first College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday. They’re currently 7-1 with the Cardinals’ only loss to Virginia in overtime.

The Cardinals don’t play another ranked team before they reach the postseason, so there’s a real possibility that Louisville could be 11-1 at season’s end. Whether that’s enough for Louisville to make the College Football Playoff, let alone the ACC title game, remains to be seen.

4. SMU

SMU is 4-1 against the ACC this season and most recently defeated Miami 26-20 in overtime during Week 10. That was a seismic win for SMU, as the Mustangs remain a part of theACC championship race.

Looking ahead, the Mustangs will have a matchups with Louisville (Nov. 22) at home before the end of the regular season. That game could have major implications in the final conference standings.

5. Pittsburgh

Pitt is currently surging behind quarterback Mason Heintschel. In turn, the Panthers landed at No. 24 in the first CFP rankings — the first time Pitt has been ranked at all this season.

Their ranking comes amid a five-game winning streak that has seen the Panthers average 40.0 points per game during that stretch. They’re on a bye this weekend but will return to host a top-10 Notre Dame team in Week 12.

6. Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is no longer undefeated, but still remains a major player in the ACC’s title race. Currently ranked No. 17, they’re 5-0 at home this season. Relatedly, two of their last three games — both against ranked Pitt and Georgia teams — will be on GT’s home turf.

Those matchups won’t come until Week 13 and 14. In the meantime, the Yellow Jackets are on their bye during Week 11 and when they return will travel to Boston College to play the 1-8 Eagles on the road.

7. Clemson

Clemson lost a heart-breaker to Duke 46-45 on Saturday. The Blue Devils successfully pulled off a go-ahead two-point conversion in the final minute of regulation to pull off the victory.

In turn, Clemson dropped to 3-5 overall and 2-4 against its ACC competition this season. The Tigers will have to win out to qualify for a bowl game.

8. Duke

Coming off their victory against Clemson, the Blue Devils are quietly 4-1 against the ACC. Duke’s only loss against a conference foe came against a then-undefeated Georgia Tech squad last month.

In their four wins in the ACC, Duke has scored at least 38 points. They were held to 18 against Georgia Tech, and is 0-3 when scoring anything less.

9. Virginia

ESPN’s FPI doesn’t love Virginia, but there’s no denying the Cavaliers’ 5-0 start to ACC play. Three of those wins have come in overtime.

As the only undefeated team left in conference action, they completely control their own destiny as the season winds down. With three games left on their season schedule — UVA will match up against Wake Forest, Duke and Virginia Tech before the end of the regular season.

10. NC State

NC State derailed Georgia Tech’s undefeated season last weekend, defeating the Yellow Jackets 48-36 in what is the Wolfpack’s signature win of the season. They have a chance to continue that momentum with another ranked matchup during Week 12 against Miami.

On their bye this weekend, the Wolfpack is one win away from bowl eligibility at 5-4 overall. NC State has three games left to do so.

ACC rankings 11-17

11. Virginia Tech
12. Wake Forest
13. California
14. Stanford
15. North Carolina
16. Syracuse
17. Boston College