The ACC picture got a little clearer after Week 10, and a little messier too.
Miami still sits at the top of the league’s pecking order, even after the trip to South Bend. The refs didn’t do the Hurricanes any favors, but the bigger gripe from this week is simple: Mario needs to learn what’s a catch because that wasn’t a catch.
Wake Forest is right behind, with good news that the Demon Deacons should crack the Top 12 this week. But the conversation around them is already bigger than one ranking slot. If Wake beats SMU, and then people on ESPN use that result to argue the ACC isn’t that good, the league has seen this movie before.
SMU stays in the mix as well, and Louisville is still hanging around with a path that feels very much alive. If SMU beats Wake, then SMU loses to ND and Wake loses to Duke and Pat Kelsey sends some bourbon to Jim Phillips, then the Cardinals could still make the ACC Title Game.
Duke has quietly turned into one of the league’s sharpest defensive stories. The Blue Devils have allowed just 5 total points in the last two weeks, and Jon Scheyer might want to get Manny Diaz as a defensive analyst this winter.
Clemson, meanwhile, is chasing a very specific kind of win. Dabo’s dream game- winning without an offensive touchdown. This week, he’ll try and win with field goals and safeties.
Virginia Tech’s season under James Franklin hasn’t exactly produced the return anyone was hoping for. The ROI on James Franklin’s 1st season is underwhelming.
North Carolina is still in the bowl conversation, and the path there looks decent enough. At this rate, UNC will get a decent bowl game…maybe one where Bill can get a head start on his cut-off hoodie tan.
Pittsburgh has its own quarterback situation to sort through. Do you think Narduzzi is going to keep Heintschel in the basement of Primanti’s until the portal closes? Miami is going to need a QB for next season
Virginia should get back in the win column against Cal, but the Cavaliers have been the league’s biggest letdown in one sense. Should get back in the win column against Cal but definitely the underachiever of the year in the ACC
Syracuse is still scrambling after another rough home loss, and the bowl math is getting tight. Another rough home loss as Syracuse now fights for it’s bowl life this weekend
Florida State got enough of a lift to edge BC, and that Coach P bump showed up just in time. Got that Coach P bump to edge BC
Boston College’s future under Bill O’Brien remains a talking point, but the expectation is that he gets another year. Eagles fans are torn on BOB’s future but it seems like he’ll get another year to try and meet expectations
Stanford still hasn’t found a road win in ACC play, though there’s a chance to play spoiler later. Haven’t won an ACC road game this season but they could help their rival out if they beat Cal in two weeks
NC State took a loss but added a familiar name to the mix. Lost a game but gained Phillip Rivers and his 9 kids
California and Georgia Tech round out the bottom of the list as the league keeps sorting itself out.
In Other News...
Former Syracuse Star Suddenly Has A Real NFL Opportunity
Kyle McCords path back into the spotlight has taken a quick turn, and it gives Syracuse fans a reason to keep one eye on Sundays NFL slate. The former Orange quarterback is expected to make his first regular-season start next week for the Miami Dolphins after the team lost starter Malik Willis to injured reserve with a groin injury.
McCord arrived in Miami after spending the 2026 preseason with the Green Bay Packers, and now he is set to face the Indianapolis Colts in a spot that looked far off not long ago. For a player whose pro route has already included a move and a reset, this is the kind of opening that can change how quickly a career starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuses First Loss Raised A Bigger Concern Than The Final Score
Syracuses first loss of the season came in a tight 83-80 defeat to Indiana, but the final margin was almost secondary to the way the game unfolded. With Mark Morano limited by injury and Luke Wilson slowed by foul trouble, the Orange had to lean harder on its bench than it probably expected this early in the year, and the reserve group answered with a meaningful scoring lift.
Still, the bigger concern for Syracuse is how those availability issues might carry forward, especially with St. Johns waiting next at Madison Square Garden. A one-game stumble is manageable in November, but the Orange will want a clearer read on Moranos status and a cleaner path for Wilson if it hopes to avoid turning a close loss into a more lingering problem. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Fans Found One Big Reason For Hope After Indiana
Syracuse left Gainbridge Fieldhouse with an 83-80 loss to Indiana, but the Orange also came away with something they can build on early in the season. At 2-1, they still have plenty to sort out, yet freshman point guard Ryan Moesch gave the night a different feel with the kind of poise and energy that stood out even in defeat.
Gerry McNamara made sure to single out Moesch afterward, and social media quickly latched onto the freshmans impact as one of the clearest bright spots for Syracuse. Indiana got key contributions from Jaeden Mustaf, Darren Harris and Burton, but for Syracuse the encouraging part was seeing a young guard step into a tough road game and look ready for the moment. [Read more 🡒]