ESPN ranks ACC Football teams from first to last ahead of Week 5

The latest ACC rankings ahead of Week 5 of college football are here, via ESPN’s FPI rankings and metrics. It’s shaping up to be a very interesting race ahead of October.

The Miami Hurricanes seem to be the class of the conference right now. In other news, Clemson is taking a dip but you’d be surprised to see where they are in the rankings.

So, let’s dive into the latest ACC rankings from ESPN. Remember this is based on the FPI metrics and ratings.

1. Miami

The Hurricanes are the top team in the ACC with a 4-0 record a win over Florida in their most recent contest. Miami has a Heisman candidate in Carson Beck at QB, a solid running game and a suffocating defense.

This seems to be the year for Miami, compared to others under Mario Cristobal. They have a bye week before heading to Florida State in an AP Poll top 10 matchup.

2. Florida State

The Seminoles are also unbeaten after a bye week, so they’re just 3-0. Still, they’ve been one of the best teams in the ACC to this point.

Thomas Castellanos backed up his smack talk against Alabama and FSU hasn’t looked back since. They get their conference opener this weekend against Virginia before taking on Miami.

3. Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets rolled to a 4-0 start this season and that includes wins over Colorado to open the year and over a previously ranked No. 12 Clemson team. Sure, the ACC might not run through the Tigers anymore, but it was a good win at the time.

Can Georgia Tech keep it rolling? They’ll take on Wake Forest this weekend before the rest of the conference schedule opens up. Haynes King looks like one of the better QBs in the ACC.

4. Louisville

The Cardinals have yet to be truly challenged through three games, so their ACC opener is at Pitt this weekend. Louisville has not given up more than 17 points in a game so far.

At 3-0, it’s early, but Louisville looks like an ACC contender. They still have Miami and SMU on the road later down the schedule.

5. Virginia

Virginia is ranked top five in the ACC despite being 1-1 in the conference. The Cavs fell short to NC State in Week 2, but have boat raced all other opponents.

The measuring stick game will be Florida State this weekend, with the Seminoles coming to their place. Watch out for RB J’Mari Taylor, who has 298 yards and six touchdowns because he averages over six yards a carry.

6. SMU

SMU seems to be a tougher team to figure out in the ACC. The Mustangs made the conference title game last year and look like a solid team again, but are just 2-2.

Both losses came to Big 12 teams, for what it’s worth. Will SMU rise back up the rankings with a win over Syracuse in two weeks? Or will Rhett Lashlee and crew have to play catch up at 2-3 in the middle of next month?

7. Clemson

At 1-3, the Tigers are still in the top 10 of the ACC per ESPN’s FPI rankings. But other than a win over Troy, which had problems too, there’ve been few positive moments for Clemson this year.

Coming off back to back ACC losses is not where most thought Dabo Swinney and crew would’ve been through four games. If they lose to North Carolina on October 4th, this could be an absolute disaster.

8. Syracuse

Remember when Fran Brown made the team run sprints after beating UConn? Message received we guess! 

The Orange are now 3-1 and 1-0 in the ACC with a win over Clemson on the road. How they play against Duke and SMU will tell us where this team is in Year 2 under Brown. Without QB Steve Angeli due to injury will be an interesting test.

9. NC State

NC State got off to a 3-0 start, including two ACC wins! But a 45-33 loss to Duke ended early hopes of an undefeated slate.

The Wolfpack will host Virginia Tech this weekend to try and get back on the right track. It could be good timing too since the Hokies are in a bit of a crisis after firing Brent Pry.

10. Pittsburgh

Pitt dominated their first two non-conference games but lost to rival West Virginia on the road. Now, they’ll take on Louisville this week to open ACC play.

Where does the Pitt team fall when we look ahead a few weeks? Tough to tell right now considering the 2-1 record. The Panthers have Florida State in a few weeks and then a brutal end to the schedule with Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Miami. 

ESPN ranks ACC football teams ahead of Week 5

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