ESPN ranks ACC Football teams from first to last after Week 7

Miami is the clear favorite to win the ACC, but there’s plenty of turmoil beneath the Hurricanes. ESPN recently released its updated ACC rankings, and the list included numerous surprises.

The rankings are based on ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI). FPI is “a predictive rating system designed to measure team strength and project performance going forward.” It does not rate teams based on their résumé, but instead lists teams in a power ranking style.

The system will certainly leave some fans upset this week. With so much to cover, let’s dive into ESPN’s latest ACC rankings.

1. Miami Hurricanes (8)

ESPN believes Miami is the No. 8 team in the country and the top team in the ACC. The Hurricanes enjoyed a bye this past weekend after defeating Florida State 28-22 in Week 6.

The Hurricanes have three ranked wins this season, along with a victory over the Florida Gators. With no ranked teams remaining on Miami’s schedule, ESPN gives the Hurricanes 30.2% chance of winning the remainder of their regular season contests.

2. Florida State Seminoles (25)

Florida State is 0-3 in ACC play, but ESPN still believe it’s the second-best team in the conference. In fairness, the Seminoles kicked off the 2025 campaign with a win over Alabama, which is shaping up to be one of the top teams in the SEC.

However, FSU has shown little signs of life recently, falling 34-31 to Pittsburgh in Week 7. In the loss, FSU’s defense couldn’t find stops, allowing the Panthers to rack up 476 total yards of offense.

3. Clemson Tigers (29)

After going 1-3 through its first four games, Clemson is picking up steam. The Tigers have won back-to-back games, most recently defeating Boston College in emphatic 41-10 fashion.

Clemson committed three turnovers in the win, but still amassed 504 total yards. Quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 22-of-his-30 pass attempts for 280 yards and a touchdown, compared to one interception.

4. Duke Blue Devils (33)

Duke also had a sluggish start to the season. Alas, the Blue Devils hit their stride at the perfect time and are entering Week 8 with a 3-0 record in ACC play. On Saturday, Duke handily defeated California 45-21.

The Blue Devils’ defense gave California headaches. They squeezed four turnovers out of the Golden Bears, all of which were interceptions. Duke has eight interceptions this season, tied for the fifth-most in college football.

5. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (35)

Georgia Tech is 6-0 and ranked No. 12 in the country, but ESPN isn’t convinced the Yellow Jackets are legit ACC contenders. In fairness, Georgia Tech has had some close calls, namely a 1-point win over a subpar Wake Forest.

Alas, it’s difficult to fault a team with a flawless record. As expected, quarterback Haynes King has been spectacular this season. He’s leading the team in both passing and rushing yards, and boasts 13 total touchdowns.

6. Louisville Cardinals (37)

Louisville had a bye in Week 7 after suffering a 30-27 loss to Virginia in overtime the previous weekend. It was the Cardinals’ first loss of the season and a heartbreaking one, at that.

Louisville tallied nearly 150 more yards of offense than Virginia in the game, but committed two costly turnovers that ultimately cost it the game. With a showdown against Miami on Friday, the Cardinals’ season could spiral out of control if they’re not careful.

7. Virginia Cavaliers (38)

Virginia is arguably the most dangerous team in the ACC right now. The Cavaliers have won five consecutive games and are showing no signs of slowing down.

Virginia’s 5-1 record is the program’s best start since 2007. The Cavaliers’ defense was key in their win over Louisville. The unit scored two touchdowns, a scoop-and-score and a pick-six, while the Cavaliers’ offense struggled.

8. SMU Mustangs (40)

After a 2-2 start to the season, SMU has won its last two outings. On Saturday, the Mustangs secured a convincing 34-10 win over Stanford. The Mustangs entered the season with high expectations after reaching the College Football Playoff last season.

While it doesn’t appear SMU will be returning this season, it’s not impossible. Mustangs QB Kevin Jennings was stellar in the team’s win over Stanford, completing 22-of-his-30 pass attempts for 247 yards, while throwing no interceptions.

9. Pittsburgh Panthers (45)

Despite downing Florida State 34-31 on Saturday, Pittsburgh is still only ranked No. 9 in the conference. If the Panthers continue play like they did against the Seminoles, it won’t be long before ESPN has no choice but to improve Pitt’s ranking.

Quarterback Mason Heintschel stole the spotlight in the win, recording 321 passing yards and two touchdowns, compared to two interceptions. Additionally, Heintschel led the team in the run game with 64 rushing yards on 16 carries.

10. NC State Wolfpack (58)

NC State has been unpredictable this season. The Wolfpack burst out of the starting gates, picking up wins over Virginia and Wake Forest. However, the team has lost three of its four games since, and weren’t even competitive in their 36-7 loss to Notre Dame.

In the loss, NC State totaled just 12 first downs despite having possession for nearly 30 minutes. Wolfpack QB CJ Bailey threw three interceptions in the loss.

11. Wake Forest (69)
12. Virginia Tech (70)
13. Syracuse (71)
14. California (81)
15. Stanford (87)
16. Boston College (90)
17. North Carolina (100)