Florida State’s trip to Tuscaloosa turned ugly in a hurry, and the Seminoles’ latest collapse is only one reason the ACC hierarchy looks shaky after Week 3.
The conference wrapped the week with a 4-3 mark against non-conference opponents, while several teams kept grinding through league play. At the top, Miami stayed put after another win. At the bottom, Stanford and Florida State continue to look like teams searching for answers that may not be there yet.
Miami remains No. 1 in the ACC power rankings after improving to 3-0. Wake Forest pushed the Hurricanes far harder than expected, which at least makes the result feel more meaningful than a routine Saturday stroll. Still, the top spot does not change.
Louisville climbs to No. 2 at 2-1, and the Cardinals have a big piece to build around in Lincoln Kienholz, who is described as a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback. With that kind of talent and an experienced roster, the ceiling is obvious.
Duke makes one of the week’s biggest jumps, rising all the way to No. 3 after beginning the year at No. 8 in these rankings. The Blue Devils were expected to be much closer to the middle of the pack after losing starting quarterback Darian Mensah and several other notable players ahead of the 2026 season, but through three weeks they have looked far stronger than that. A big reason is running back Nate Sheppard, whose production has helped drive the fast start.
Pitt sits at No. 4 after opening 3-0, though the Panthers still have not delivered the kind of performances that make the record feel fully convincing. Virginia Tech is right behind them at No. 5 and continues to push its case as the ACC’s most improved team. The next step for the Hokies is tightening up against the pass on defense.
Virginia drops to No. 6 after a loss to West Virginia. That result does not bury the Cavaliers, but other teams near the top made cleaner statements in Week 3.
California stays at No. 7 after handling FCS Wagner 49-7. If that level of play carries over into the Clemson matchup, a rise is on the table.
SMU falls hard to No. 8 after sliding from No. 3.
Kevin Jennings has thrown four interceptions in two conference games, and the loss to Louisville only sharpened the warning signs. The Mustangs need a much cleaner effort from start to finish.
Wake Forest moves up to No. 9 even after dropping two spots might have seemed more logical on paper. But the Demon Deacons put 20 points on Miami, and that is not something you can brush aside.
This is not the standard Wake Forest outfit, and the narrow loss to the Hurricanes does not deserve to drag them down. Louisville is next, and that one could tell us plenty about where the season is headed.
Georgia Tech lands at No. 10 after a 44-11 win over Mercer. That kind of result will not move the Yellow Jackets much, but Stanford gives them a chance to show more against conference competition.
Clemson rises to No. 11 after beating North Carolina and Bill Belichick, giving Dabo Swinney a 2-1 record. The Tigers, though, still need to win with more authority if they want to keep climbing.
North Carolina drops to No. 12 after its undefeated run came to an end. The Tar Heels were likely headed for trouble against Notre Dame anyway, and Clemson controlled the momentum in the second half before UNC could take it back.
Boston College moves up to No. 13, mostly because NC State fell apart in even more dramatic fashion. The Eagles are 2-1, but a six-point win over Maine does not exactly inspire confidence.
NC State tumbles to No. 14 after CJ Bailey panicked while trying to take an intentional safety and literally handed Vanderbilt a game-winning touchdown. The Wolfpack were good enough elsewhere to avoid falling further, and conference play could still offer a path forward with a favorable schedule.
Syracuse sits at No. 15, where the biggest issue is still the quarterback position. That problem was already hanging over the Orange a year ago, and it remains unresolved now.
Florida State is No. 16 after a brutal defensive performance against Alabama. The Seminoles allowed 50 points, 567 yards, and nine straight scoring drives, then compounded the mess with four turnovers. There were chances to fight back, but the defense never stopped the bleeding, and the roster looks like it has more problems than solutions.
Stanford remains at No. 17.
The Cardinal have been even worse than the teams around them, and the defense has become a full-blown nightmare. Two ACC games have produced just 13 combined points, and with the conference looking the way it does, NC State may be Stanford’s only realistic shot at a league win this season.
In Other News...
Florida States Passing Struggles Put One Norvell Staff Decision Under Fire
Florida States passing game has become one of the more frustrating parts of an uneven season, and the discussion around it has started to focus as much on coaching structure as on quarterback play. The Seminoles entered the year with Austin Tucker handling the quarterbacks room, a notable setup for a former wide receiver who had not previously coached the position, and the production has not taken a step forward.
With the offense ranking 65th in the FBS and Ashton Daniels sitting at four touchdown passes and four interceptions, the scrutiny around that decision has only grown. Inside the staff, there are other options with more direct quarterback experience, including Tom Herman and Brady White, which makes the current arrangement look even more unusual as Florida State searches for answers through the air. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Could Finally Get Answer On Its Backup QB Battle
Florida State has spent the first three games of the 2026 season looking competitive, but the more intriguing development may be happening behind the starter. Ashton Daniels has handled every snap in the most recent game, while the Seminoles have kept the backup quarterback picture open between Malachi Marshall and Kevin Sperry. Marshall has been taking second-team reps in pregame, a sign that the staff is at least sorting out the depth chart while the games still matter.
Central Arkansas arrives on the schedule Sept. 26, and that matchup could finally give the Seminoles a chance to see what they have behind Daniels. If Florida State does turn to its backups, it would offer a real evaluation point in a battle that has been mostly fought in practice and pregame work so far. For a team that has stayed competitive early, the next question is less about the starter and more about who is ready if the Seminoles need the next man up. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Has A New Reason To Watch Ta'Shawn Poole Closely
Ta'Shawn Poole turned in one of the more eye-catching nights on a Georgia high school field this fall, and it came at a good time for a player Florida State will want to keep tabs on. In Howards 49-43 regional win over Baldwin, Poole set a Georgia state record with six touchdown catches while piling up 245 receiving yards, a performance that put his name squarely on the radar.
The outburst also came with some grit behind it, because Howard was coming off losses to Valdosta and Perry before finally breaking through. Poole also chipped in seven tackles and a tackle for loss, underscoring how much he affects the game on both sides of the ball, and he and his teammates made clear afterward that the lesson was about learning to keep fighting until the end. [Read more 🡒]