POWER RANKINGS

Breaking down the ACC

1. Clemson (1-0, 1-0):

The Tigers made a big splash in their opener, though Texas A&M might provide more resistance than the Yellow Jackets.

2. Syracuse (1-0):

For the Orange, it could be like old times by matching up with Maryland, which was an ACC member well before Syracuse joined.

3. Virginia (1-0, 1-0):

The Cavaliers did their part in their first game making sure preseason prognosticators look smart by picking them atop the Coastal Division.

4. Boston College (1-0, 1-0):

The Eagles sometimes don’t win games like the way they handled the Hokies in the opener.

5. Miami (0-1):

The Hurricanes had a weekend off after losing the opener, so the first ACC game on the slate at North Carolina takes on importance.

6. Pittsburgh (0-1, 0-1):

The Panthers were supposed to lose that game to Coastal Division preseason favorite Virginia. It’s just that they could have looked a little crisper.

7. Georgia Tech (0-1, 0-1):

Let’s not hold it against the Yellow Jackets just yet. That assignment at Clemson would have been too tough to handle for many teams.

8. Wake Forest (1-0):

The Demon Deacons had a great escape against Utah State. It might be a nice one to add to the final win tally later in the season.

9. Virginia Tech (0-1, 0-1):

The Hokies could be in some serious trouble, so in Week 2 the priority is avenging last year’s loss to Old Dominion.

10. North Carolina (1-0):

The Tar Heels figured out how to finish a game, something that had been lacking in recent seasons. Wonder if the Gamecocks were all that good?

11. North Carolina State (1-0):

The Wolfpack was basic and yet pretty good in the East Carolina game, a nice way for new starting quarterback Matthew McKay to get rolling.

12. Florida State:

Shame on the Seminoles. The Boise State game was moved to their campus from a neutral site and they built a big lead and then let that one get away.

13. Duke (0-1):

The Blue Devils were a bit out of their league in tangling with Alabama, but maybe the benefits of that exercise show up later.

14. Louisville (0-1):

Perhaps a game against Notre Dame to begin the Scott Satterfield era with the Cardinals wasn’t such a good idea. Still, Cardinals put up a solid effort.