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ACC power rankings: SMU, Miami, Clemson maintain top spots heading into final 2 weeks

ehsan kassim, usa today
·6-min read

The Atlantic Coast Conference avoided near disaster during Week 12 of the 2024 college football season.

With the top-ranked No. 10, Miami, on a bye week, the following two highest-ranked teams, No. 12 SMU and No. 16 Clemson, flirted with season-altering close wins on Saturday. The Tigers escaped Pitt with a 24-20 victory in Pittsburgh, while a strong final minutes propelled the Mustangs to a 38-28 home win over Boston College.

REQUIRED READING: US LBM Coaches Poll top 10 gets overhaul after Week 12 results with BYU, Tennessee falling

The Mustangs enter the final two weeks of the season, thriving in their first season in the conference with a 6-0 mark. The Tigers wrapped up ACC play with a 6-1 record and Miami sits at 5-1 with two more conference games remaining.

Elsewhere, Pitt dropped its third straight after a 7-0 start, and Louisville fell out of the rankings after an upset loss to Stanford.

Where does everything stand in the conference after a nearly disastrous week for the ACC? Here’s how the ACC’s 17 teams stack up after Week 12 of the 2024 college football season:

ACC football power rankings

1. SMU (9-1, 6-0 ACC)

  • Last week: 1

  • This week: at Virginia

The Mustangs survived a scare against Boston College during Week 12 to maintain the top spot in the conference with an unblemished record in their first year. SMU has 5-5 teams to close out the season. If it can win both, it avoids any ACC tie-breaker scenarios.

2. Miami (9-1, 5-1)

  • Last week: 2

  • This week: vs. Wake Forest

Miami got a much-needed bye week following its loss to unexpected giant slayer Georgia Tech. The Hurricanes have two winnable games to conclude the season and then need to fiddle with the tie-breaker scenarios, with Clemson closing its ACC slate with one loss, as the teams did not face head-to-head this season. Cam Ward is among the best weapons in college football.

3. Clemson (8-2, 7-1)

  • Last week: 3

  • This week: vs. The Citadel

With matchups remaining against non-conference foes The Citadel and in-state rival South Carolina, the Tigers no longer control their own fate. With no more ACC games left, however, pulling off the improbable comeback with a huge season-saving touchdown run by Cade Klubnik keeps Clemson alive.

4. Syracuse (7-3, 4-3)

  • Last week: 8

  • This week: vs. UConn

The Orange snapped a recent skid of two losses in three weeks with a tight eight-point win over Cal on the road. Kyle McCord put up 323 passing yards in the win. Syracuse will close out the season against Miami with a chance to play the spoiler role.

5. Georgia Tech (6-4, 5-3)

  • Last week: 6

  • This week: vs. NC State

The Yellow Jackets slayed the giant of the Hurricanes last time out and enjoyed last week's bye. Now, under Brent Key, Georgia Tech can improve on which bowl game it will earn in Year 2. The record hides how dangerous the Yellow Jackets can be for Georgia to end the season.

6. Duke (7-3, 3-3)

  • Last week: 7

  • This week: vs. Virginia Tech

Duke earned a much-needed bye after a win over NC State. The Blue Devils had lost three of four before the recent win after a 5-0 start. Now Duke sits in a decent position to win nine games for the first time since 2022 and reach double figures for the first time since 2013 with a bowl win.

7. Louisville (6-4, 4-3)

  • Last week: 4

  • This week: vs. Pitt

The Cardinals are the biggest faller this week following a field goal from Emmet Kenney as time expired to give the Cardinal the upset victory over Louisville on the road. The loss dropped the Cardinals out of the rankings entirely.

8. North Carolina (6-4, 3-3)

  • Last week: 9

  • This week: at Boston College

After a 3-0 start, the Tar Heels looked dead in the water with four straight losses, but they have bounced back with a second three-game winning streak to earn bowl eligibility. It's indeed been a tale of two seasons for UNC.

9. Pitt (7-3, 4-3)

  • Last week: 5

  • This week: at Louisville

The one-time ACC Championship Game and dark-horse CFP contender Panthers have seen their season fall apart in the last few weeks. Still, Pitt almost pulled off an upset over Clemson at home despite being without starting quarterback Eli Holstein last week.

10. Virginia (5-5, 3-3)

  • Last week: 10

  • This week: vs. No. 12 SMU

Following a loss to Notre Dame last week, the Cavaliers will enter the final two weeks of the season needing just one more win to reach a bowl game for the first time since the 2019 season. Virginia will first have a chance to play spoiler for the Mustangs' postseason hopes this week.

11. Virginia Tech (5-5, 3-3)

  • Last week: 11

  • This week: at Duke

Brent Prye is just one win away from making his Hokies bowl-eligible for back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2018-19. Virginia Tech will finish the final two weeks fresh off a bye week.

12. Boston College (5-5, 2-4)

  • Last week: 12

  • This week vs. UNC

Despite the benching of Thomas Castellanos and his subsequent exit from the program, the Eagles nearly pulled off the upset of SMU on the road behind a strong performance from Grayson James. Boston College needs one more win for bowl eligibility under first-year coach Bill O'Brien.

13. NC State (5-5, 2-4)

  • Last week: 13

  • This week at Georgia Tech

Following a needed bye week after a 29-19 loss to Duke two weeks ago, the Wolfpack return to action on Thursday vs. the Yellow Jackets. Like many teams in the conference, NC State needs one more win for a bowl berth but has a tough road with games vs. the Yellow Jackets and rival UNC.

14. Stanford (3-7, 2-5)

  • Last week: 16

  • This week: at Cal

The Cardinal opened ACC play with a win over an impressive Syracuse team but then lost five conference games in a row and fell out of bowl eligibility. However, an upset win over Louisville last week is going to boost the team's confidence.

15. Cal (5-5, 1-5)

  • Last week: 14

  • This week: vs. Stanford

The Golden Bears continue to come close, with all five losses coming by a score or less. However, they have just one conference win and are running out of time to reach bowl eligibility. A slam-dunk win against the Cardinal looks less sure now.

16. Wake Forest (4-6, 2-4)

  • Last week: 15

  • This week: at Miami

The Demon Deacons have an uphill battle to avoid their second three-game losing streak when they take on Miami this week. Of course, a win is needed to snap the losing streak and have a chance at bowl eligibility. The last time Wake Forest missed a bowl game in back-to-back years was 2014-15, the first two years under coach Dave Clawson.

17. Florida State (1-9, 1-7)

  • Last week: 17

  • This week: vs. Charleston Southern

FSU used its bye week to fire two coordinators and its long-time wide receiver coach following an embarrassing loss to Notre Dame. Now, the Seminoles have a matchup against a 1-10 Charleston Southern in the ultimate get-right game ahead of a matchup against a surging Florida to end the season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ACC power rankings: SMU, Miami, Clemson maintaining top 3 spots after Week 12