As the nonconference slate winds down and the ACC shifts into full-on league play mode, there's a distinct sense that this year’s version of the conference has found its footing. A year ago, the ACC was fighting off questions about its national relevance.
Now? It’s punching back with results.
ACC teams have already logged 38 wins against Power Five opponents - a massive leap from the 16 they had at this point last season. That’s not just improvement, that’s a statement.
And the NCAA’s NET rankings are backing it up: nine ACC teams currently sit in the top 50. This time last year?
Just five.
With that context in mind, here’s where things stand heading into the holidays. These are the ACC power rankings as of December 22, based on what we’ve seen so far in the 2025-26 season.
1. North Carolina (UNC)
The Tar Heels are rolling. Since a Thanksgiving Day loss, they’ve rattled off win after win, and now sit at 11-1 - their best start since the 2008-09 season that ended with a national title.
Hubert Davis, in his fifth year at the helm, is getting the most out of a revamped roster that features 11 newcomers.
Senior guard Seth Trimble made his return in a nail-biter against Ohio State in Atlanta, and his presence on the perimeter immediately raised the ceiling for this group. Add in the dominant frontcourt duo of Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar - arguably the best 1-2 punch in the paint in the country - and UNC has the look of a team that’s built to last.
They nearly let a big lead slip away against the Buckeyes, but they made the plays that mattered. That’s what good teams do.
2. Duke
The Blue Devils had a hiccup at Madison Square Garden, blowing a 17-point lead to Texas Tech and snapping a nine-game winning streak at their unofficial second home, “Cameron North.”
Missed free throws and a lack of support around star freshman Cameron Boozer opened the door for the Red Raiders to come storming back. Still, this feels more like a wake-up call than a red flag.
Duke is 5-1 in its marquee nonconference matchups, and Jon Scheyer has more than enough talent to keep this team among the elite. Expect that Texas Tech game film to get plenty of attention in Durham.
3. Louisville
Pat Kelsey’s Cardinals got a reality check in Knoxville, getting handled by Tennessee without Mikel Brown Jr., who sat out with a lower-back injury. The good news?
It doesn’t appear to be a long-term issue.
Still, Louisville has to tighten up defensively. They’re heading west for a two-game swing against Cal and Stanford - a chance to reset and show they can grind out wins even when not at full strength.
4. Virginia
It’s a new era in Charlottesville, and so far, it’s been an offensive explosion. Under first-year head coach Ryan Odom, the Cavaliers are averaging 86.5 points per game - a pace that would mark their second-highest scoring season ever.
They just took down former ACC rival Maryland for the third straight time since the Terps left for the Big Ten. And while it’s still early, this version of Virginia is a far cry from the grind-it-out, 50-point slugfests of the past.
5. Clemson
After stumbling out of the gate in December with losses to Alabama and BYU, the Tigers bounced back with solid wins over South Carolina and Cincinnati.
Head coach Brad Brownell, now with 302 career wins, has put together another balanced squad. This group doesn’t have a ton of national buzz, but don’t be surprised if Clemson hangs around the top of the standings all season long.
6. Miami
Talk about a turnaround. After a rough seven-win campaign last year, the Hurricanes have already hit 11 wins in Jai Lucas’ first season.
It’s their best nonconference regular-season showing since 2017-18 - a year that ended with a trip to the Big Dance.
The schedule hasn’t been brutal, but Lucas has this group defending at a high level. Miami currently boasts a top-30 defense, and that alone makes them a team to watch in ACC play.
7. California
The Golden Bears are riding a nine-game winning streak - the longest active run in the conference - and just knocked off a ranked UCLA team.
It’s been a throwback start for Cal, their best since the 1959-60 season. But the real test is coming fast: four of their first six ACC games are against Duke, UNC, Virginia, and Louisville. We’re about to find out just how real this hot start is.
8. SMU
Losses to Vanderbilt and LSU took a little shine off the Mustangs’ early-season momentum, but Andy Enfield’s squad still has two of the league’s top scorers in Jaron Pierre and Boopie Miller.
They’ll have a major opportunity to make noise when UNC comes to town to open the new year.
9. NC State
Will Wade didn’t mince words when he said “kindergarten is over” for his team - and the Wolfpack responded by dismantling Ole Miss in Greensboro.
Despite a 1-4 record in Power Five games, NC State has the tools to climb. Freshman Paul McNeil has been on fire, hitting 17 threes over his last two games, including an ACC-record 11 triples against Texas Southern. If he keeps shooting like that, the Wolfpack are going to be a problem.
10. Wake Forest
Juke Harris and Myles Colvin have shown flashes, but Wake still hasn’t figured out how to win the big ones.
After coming close against Michigan and Texas Tech, the Demon Deacons got blown out by Oklahoma and Vanderbilt. A December 30 matchup with NC State in Raleigh looms large - not just for the standings, but for this team’s confidence heading into 2026.
11. Stanford
Ebuka Okorie might be the most underrated freshman in the country. After missing two games with a lower-body injury, he returned to drop 32 points - a freshman record - in a win over Colorado.
The Cardinal are sitting at 10-2, their best start since 2019-20. If Okorie keeps playing like this, Stanford could surprise some folks in ACC play.
12. Virginia Tech
The Hokies have been banged up - Tobi Lawal has missed seven games, and Neoklis Avdalas sat out the overtime win against Elon.
When healthy, this group has enough to scare the top-tier teams in the league. But they’ve got to get there first.
13. Notre Dame
Without Markus Burton, the Irish struggled in a loss to Purdue Fort Wayne.
Burton is their engine, and without him, the road ahead looks steep.
14. Syracuse
It hasn’t been pretty. The Orange lost to Hofstra and barely survived Northeastern - but somehow shot 70% from the free-throw line on 48 attempts to avoid disaster.
One of the worst foul-shooting teams in the country finally found a rhythm - at least for a night.
15. Pittsburgh
The Panthers put together a dominant showing in Hershey, blowing out Penn State 80-46 behind a 28-point performance from Roman Siulepa.
It was a much-needed spark for a team still trying to find consistency.
16. Georgia Tech
Lamar Washington has been dishing dimes - 10 assists in back-to-back games - but the Yellow Jackets are staring down a tough one at Cameron Indoor on New Year’s Eve.
It’s going to take more than ball movement to hang with Duke in that building.
17. Florida State
The Seminoles snapped a five-game skid with a win over Mississippi Valley State, but with Power Five opponents on the horizon, another losing streak could be on deck.
18. Boston College
The Eagles haven’t played since December 10. And based on what we’ve seen so far, this might be where they live in the rankings for a while.
Bottom Line:
The ACC is trending up - and not just at the top.
With nine teams in the NET top 50 and a slew of programs showing real signs of growth, the conference is deeper than it’s been in years. As league play ramps up after the holidays, expect plenty of shakeups in these rankings.
But for now, UNC is the class of the conference, and the rest of the league is chasing - with more than a few teams capable of making a run.