1. Clemson (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Clemson has outscored its first two non-conference opponents by a combined margin of 90-20. The Tigers have an opportunity to show if they are for real this year with a Thursday night game against the Louisville Cardinals, followed by back-to-back games against Notre Dame and Georgia Tech.
2. Florida State (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Sophomore running back Dalvin Cook has been what the Seminoles needed to help graduate quarterback Everett Golson become comfortable in the Seminole offense, as he tallied 266 rushing yards and three touchdowns against South Florida this past Saturday. Cook will look to keep the hot streak going as the Seminoles begin conference play Friday against Boston College.
3. Georgia Tech (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Head coach Paul Johnson and the triple-option offense are still going strong in Atlanta, as the Yellow Jackets have amassed 134 points during the first two games of the season. They will try to continue the scoring spree against the No. 8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish in South Bend, Indiana this Saturday.
4. Duke (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
The Blue Devils defense has been stout these first two games, surrendering only seven points between their first two contests, including a 55-0 drubbing of fellow Durham school North Carolina Central. The Devils will get their first chance to showcase what they can do against top tier competition when they host the Northwestern Wildcats this Saturday.
5. NC State (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
The Wolfpack has been playing lights out football the past two weeks, barreling through the Troy Trojans and Eastern Kentucky Colonels. Junior running back Matt Dayes has been solid in the absence of senior running back Shadrach Thornton, running for 242 yards and five touchdowns in two games. The Wolfpack has two remaining non-conference games before it starts its conference schedule against the Louisville Cardinals.
6. Miami (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Despite averaging more than 40 points per game during the early season, the Hurricanes were dealt a huge blow when sophomore linebacker Darrion Owens was lost for the season due to a knee injury, joining running back Gus Edwards as the second player lost for the year on the Canes. Now Miami will be without a top defender when it challenges a Nebraska Cornhuskers team that has averaged 40.5 points this season.
7. Boston College (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
The Eagles have taken full advantage of their non-conference schedule, outscoring opponents 100-3, which included a crushing 76-0 victory over the Howard Bison. Despite this, Boston College has only averaged 145.5 passing yards per game, which ranks 102nd in the FBS. The team’s passing game is not likely to improve as it challenges the Seminoles, who are allowing only 15 points per game.
8. Virginia Tech (1-1, 0-0 ACC)
The Hokies had an early test during Labor Day, playing host to the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Hokies were playing well until quarterback Michael Brewer broke his collarbone, after which Ohio State ran away with the game. Things won’t get any easier for the Hokies with road matches against the Purdue Boilermakers and East Carolina Pirates.
9. North Carolina (1-1, 0-0 ACC)
The Heels rebounded from a dismal performance against the South Carolina Gamecocks with a resounding 53-14 victory over the North Carolina A&T Aggies. Their much maligned defense from a year ago has seemed to improve under the tutelage of Gene Chizik, only allowing 15 points per game, good for 15th in the FBS.
10. Pittsburgh (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
The Panthers are the only team in the ACC that have a full-fledged position battle at quarterback after Tennessee transfer Nathan Peterman took over for incumbent Chad Voytik. In addition to losing its starting running back, James Connor, to a torn MCL in week one, Pittsburgh will look to move to 3-0 when it travels to the Midwest to challenge the Iowa Hawkeyes.
11. Syracuse (2-0, 1-0 ACC)
The Orange has looked much improved from a season ago so far, with freshman quarterback Eric Dungey looking very poised in his first collegiate start. The Orange will look to match its win total from last season when they take on Central Michigan this Saturday.
12. Louisville (0-2, 0-0 ACC)
While a loss to Auburn is understandable, the loss looks worse considering the Tigers barely scraped by FCS Jacksonville State; the Cards then followed up with a loss to the Houston Cougars. They will have to look for solutions quickly with a Thursday night matchup against the Clemson Tigers on the way.
13. Virginia (0-2, 0-0 ACC)
The Cavs had the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on the verge of being upset, only to let them escape with a narrow victory on a Hail Mary. The Cavs will have another tough non-conference opponent as they travel to Idaho to take on the Boise State Broncos on their famous blue turf.
14. Wake Forest (1-1, 0-1 ACC)
The Deacs look like a much better team from a year before, but are still struggling with turnovers and defensive lapses. A trip to West Point to take on Army should prove to be a nice bounce-back game for the Deacs.
