ACC Power Rankings: Week 2
By: will-vandervort September 8, 2016

The ACC tied its best record for non-conference wins in an opening weekend and tied the second-best total for any week with a 10-2 non-conference mark that included a 2-1 mark against SEC teams. The ACC has four teams ranked in this week’s Associated Press Poll, led by No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Florida State.

Louisville is ranked No. 13 in the latest poll, while Miami checks in at No. 25.

The only move in this week’s TCI Power Rankings is at the bottom, where Virginia slipped to No. 14 after losing to FCS Richmond in its opening game. Syracuse, Wake Forest and Boston College all moved up one spot in the rankings.

Here is this week’s TCI ACC Power Rankings.

  1. Clemson (1-0, 0-0 ACC): It wasn’t pretty but Clemson was the only ranked top 25 team to go and play a true road game in Week 1, and it was the only top 10 team that played away from home and came back with a victory. The defense looked better than many expected, especially on the defensive line where they held Auburn to 87 yards on the ground. The offense did not play its best game, but Deshaun Watson and company made plays when they had to as the Tigers left Auburn with a win for the first time since 1950. Who’s next: vs. Troy, Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
  2. Florida State (1-0, 0-0 ACC): The Noles are led by redshirt freshman quarterback Deondre Francois, who totaled 478 yards of offense in a come-from-behind win over 11th-ranked Ole Miss. Ricky Aguayo’s six field goals in his first college game tied an ACC record for most field goals in a game and tied an NCAA record for most field goals by a freshman. Who’s next: vs. Charleston Southern, Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
  3. Louisville (1-0, 0-0 ACC): Sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson, who set an ACC record with eight touchdown responsibilities in one half against Charlotte, has been named the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week. Jackson tied the ACC single-game mark for TDRs set by Clemson’s Tajh Boyd in 2012. Who’s next: at Syracuse, Friday, 8 p.m.
  4. Miami (1-0, 0-0 ACC): Brad Kaaya tossed four touchdown passes in just 18 attempts in Miami’s 70-3 win over Florida A&M. Who’s next: vs. Florida Atlantic, Saturday, 6 p.m.
  5. North Carolina (0-1, 0-0 ACC): The Tar Heels, led by the running back tandem of Elijah Hood and T.J. Logan, will face Big Ten foe Illinois, this Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Champaign-Urbana, Ill. (7:30 pm, Big Ten Network). The Illini are coached by veteran NFL coach Lovie Smith, who is in his fi rst season at Illinois. Who’s next: at Illinois, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
  6. Pitt (1-0, 0-0 ACC): For the first time since 2000, Pitt and Penn State will meet on the gridiron resuming a rivalry which has endured a 16-year hiatus. Pitt, coached by Pat Narduzzi and led by running back James Conner, will be facing a Penn State squad coached by James Franklin. Who’s next: vs. Penn State, Saturday, noon.
  7. Duke (1-0, 0-0 ACC): Duke defensive tackle A.J. Wolf had three quarterback sacks and one quarterback pressure in the season-opening win over NC Central. Who’s next: vs. Wake Forest, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
  8. Georgia Tech (1-0, 1-0 ACC): Georgia Tech’s 17-14 win over Boston College in Dublin, Ireland last Saturday was the Yellow Jackets’ fifth victory in the past two calendar years in which they scored the winning points in the final 35 seconds of regulation or in overtime. In that time, Paul Johnson’s Jackets scored the game winner against Georgia Southern with 13 seconds left; kicked a game-winning field goal against Virginia Tech as time expired; garnered an overtime win over Georgia; returned a blocked field goal against FSU as time expired; and scored the game-winner versus Boston College with 35 seconds remaining. Who’s next: vs. Mercer, Saturday, 3 p.m.
  9. Virginia Tech (1-0, 0-0 ACC): Four touchdown passes in the major college debut for Virginia Tech junior college transfer quarterback Jerod Evans. Evans completed 20 of 32 passes for 221 yards in the Hokies’ win over Liberty. Who’s next: vs. Tennessee, Saturday, 8 p.m.
  10. NC State (1-0, 0-0 ACC): Redshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Finley finished 17-of-21 passing for 174 yards and two touchdowns in his first college start vs. William & Mary last week. Who is next: at East Carolina, Saturday, noon.
  11. Syracuse (1-0, 0-0 ACC): In their first game under new head coach Dino Babers, Syracuse quarterbacks Eric Dungey (34-40) and Zack Mahoney (6- 6) completed 40 of 46 passes, a completion percentage of .8696, which is the highest by an ACC team with a minimum of 40 attempts this century. Who’s next: vs. Louisville, Friday, 8 p.m.
  12. Wake Forest (1-0, 0-0 ACC): Wake Forest defensive line Julian Jackson had five tackles and two sacks, the last of which forced a game-clinching fumble in the win over Tulane .Who’s next: at Duke, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
  13. Boston College (0-1, 0-0 ACC): Boston College middle linebacker Connor Strachan recorded a career-high and a game-high four tackles for a loss against Georgia Tech last Saturday. Who’s next: at UMass, Saturday, noon.
  14. Virginia (0-1, 0-0 ACC) Quarterback Kurt Benkert threw for three touchdowns against Richmond last Saturday in his first start at Virginia. Who’s next: at No. 23 Oregon, Saturday, 10:30 p.m.