ESPN ranks ACC Football teams from first to last after Week 11

The ACC championship picture is wide open following Week 11 of the 2025 college football season. At least seven teams are still alive to make the conference title game next month.

That being said, ESPN has overhauled its ACC rankings ahead of Week 12, 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 often cause controversy because 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. It doesn’t account for just win-loss records. Find out who cracked the top 10 below:

1. Miami

Miami remains atop ESPN’s FPI rankings for the ACC for another week after defeating Syracuse 38-10 on Saturday. They bounced back in a big way after losing to SMU 36-20 on the road Nov. 1.

The win improves the Hurricanes to 7-2 on the season, however, both losses for Miami this year have come against the ACC. Still, they’re one of two two-loss teams in conference play still alive in the ACC title hunt.

2. SMU

SMU may have three losses, but their College Football Playoff hopes are alive and well heading into Week 12. Currently fourth in the ACC title race, the Mustangs need some help but if they win out the rest of the regular season, the could be playing for the conference title in consecutive years.

That would constitute SMU knocking off Louisville after their bye this weekend. The Week 13 matchup against the Cardinals would likely be a game where the loser drops out of contention for the conference title.

3. Florida State

The Seminoles’ season has gone from promising to disappointing in 2025. A shocking win over Alabama has seen FSU lose five of its next eight games, and now have a 4-5 reord.

Despite this, ESPN’s FPI favors Florida State this late in the season. They still have matchups against Virginia Tech, NC State and in-state rival Florida on the docket before the end of the season.

4. Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is off to its first 8-1 start to the season since 1990. The special year has the Yellow Jackets poised to be one of the conference’s most likely representatives in next month’s CFP.

The Yellow Jackets didn’t play this weekend, and are coming off its first defeat of the season — a 48-36 loss to NC State. Despite their losing effort, Georgia Tech sits atop the ACC standings after Virginia fell to Wake Forest on Saturday.

5. Clemson

Clemson is not one of the seven teams in the ACC title race after finishing Week 11 with a 3-4 record against the ACC. However, the Tigers are coming off a 24-10 win over Florida State.

Dabo Swinney’s group travel to Louisville to play the No. 20 Cardinals. Clemson becomes bowl eligible with a win.

6. Pitt

Pitt is the hottest team in the ACC this season. A quarterback change midseason has turned the Panthers’ season around, and have won their last five games as a result.

The Panthers host ESPN’s College GameDay this weekend when they take on No. 9 Notre Dame in non-conference game that has a ton of playoff implications. However, the rest of the regular season will be a tough hill for Pitt to climb as they have ranked matchups against Georgia Tech and Miami to round out their schedule.

7. Louisville

Louisville did itself no favors by losing to unranked Cal at home in overtime last week. The loss dropped them five spots in the second College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday.

The Cardinals have matchups against Clemson, SMU and Kentucky with all but the matchup vs. the Mustangs happening at home. This favors Louisville, and if the Cards can finish the regular season with 10 wins, they may find themselves in the conversation on selection Sunday.

8. Duke

The Blue Devils are one of five one-loss teams in ACC play heading into Week 12. It’s anyone’s race to lose at this point, and Duke has a massive opportunity this weekend against No. 19 Virginia.

After that, Duke finishes off the regular season against rivals North Carolina and Wake Forest. At 5-4 overall, though, the Blue Devils are not in control of their own destiny.

9. Virginia

Virginia’s loss to Wake Forest 16-9 at home on Saturday has caused all sorts of havoc across the ACC. With seven teams still alive, the Cavaliers could finish the season 10-2 if they beat Duke on Saturday and rival Virginia Tech during Week 14.

If they win their next two games, the Cavaliers will have won 10 games in a single season for the first time since 1989. That’s a huge feat for Tony Elliott in his fourth season with the program.

10. NC State

NC State improved to 2-3 against the ACC after beating previously undefeated and then-No. 8 Georgia Tech during their last matchup. It’s the best win of the season for then Wolfpack, who are one win away from bowl eligibility.

The Wolfpack returns to the gridiron this weekend for a meeting on the road against No. 15 Miami. They’ll round out the regular season against Florida State and North Carolina.

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