The ACC Power Rankings after Week 9 place unbeaten Miami (8‑0, 6‑0 ACC) atop the conference following a 38‑35 thriller over North Carolina, with a marquee clash at Notre Dame next. Wake Forest sits second (7‑1, 5‑1) after a dominant 51‑7 win over Virginia, while SMU and Virginia Tech tie for third at 6‑2 each, heading into a Friday showdown. Louisville (5‑3) and Duke (6‑2) round out the top six, each facing tough road games. The list drops to Pitt, Syracuse, North Carolina, Clemson, and others, highlighting surprise results like Syracuse’s 30‑27 win over SMU and Clemson’s 36‑24 victory over Florida State. The rankings set the stage for rivalry week and the race to the College Football Playoff.
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Week 9 ACC Power Rankings reveal a chaotic slate: SMU falls to Syracuse, Miami ekes out a UNC win after two onside‑kick flags, and Florida State’s poor showing under Mike Norvell sparks a "Fire Mike Novell" banner. Clemson climbs, while Georgia Tech plummets to 17th after a blowout loss to Pittsburgh. NC State bounces back with a 31‑10 victory over Cal, and Virginia endures a 44‑0 deficit at Wake Forest. Pittsburgh steadies at 13th with a 34‑11 win, and Boston College tumbles 47‑2 to Duke. The rankings set up a tense finish with Louisville, Clemson, Wake Forest and Georgia still in play.
Florida State hosts Clemson Saturday, Oct. 31 at 7 PM ET on ACC Network, with a free Fubo stream option. The Seminoles (3‑4) hope to rebound after losses to Louisville and Miami, leaning on QB Ashton Daniels’ 23 total touchdowns and a 31‑point‑per‑game offense. Clemson (4‑3) seeks to preserve its dominance—nine wins in the last 10 meetings—despite a 20‑16 loss to Virginia Tech, relying on a strong defense that has tallied 20 sacks. The primetime showdown at Doak Campbell Stadium promises high stakes for both ACC rivals.
Alabama’s bye week gives fans a full slate of college football on Saturday, Oct. 31. The day kicks off with #22 Arizona vs. #13 Texas Tech (11:00 CT), a win for Texas Tech could dent the SEC’s playoff hopes. The Big Ten pits Wisconsin at #25 Iowa, while the SEC’s marquee clash is #17 Florida vs. #3 Georgia at 2:30 CT – the famed “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.” Other notable games include Auburn at #12 Ole Miss (11:30 CT), Miami vs. North Carolina, Ohio State’s new‑QB showdown with USC, and a Clemson‑Florida State ACC slugfest. A schedule graphic from CFBGrid.com rounds out the guide.
Alabama’s bye week on Oct. 31 gives fans a chance to catch a stacked slate of college football. The Big 12 kicks off with #22 Arizona vs. #13 Texas Tech at 11:00 a.m. Central, a win‑or‑lose game that could impact SEC playoff hopes. The Big 10 follows with #25 Iowa taking on Wisconsin, while the SEC’s marquee matchup pits #12 Ole Miss against Auburn at 11:30 a.m. The headline at 2:30 p.m. is #17 Florida vs. #3 Georgia in the classic “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” a potential playoff‑changing showdown. Evening games include Miami vs. North Carolina, Ohio State’s new quarterback vs. USC, plus SEC duels Mississippi State‑Texas, Missouri‑Arkansas, and an ACC clash of Clemson‑Florida State. A schedule graphic from CFBGrid.com rounds out the guide.
Week 9 features several games that will shake out the season, including Missouri at Arkansas, Clemson at Florida State, and Washington at Nebraska.
Clemson (4-3, 2-2 ACC) and Florida State (3-4, 1-3 ACC) face off Saturday night on the ACC Network, a repeat of last year’s primetime cable slot. Both schools sued the ACC in 2023‑24 over TV revenue, settling in March 2025 with a viewership‑based payout that could net Clemson over $120 million in six years. Yet their recent .500 records and slipping viewership have left the matchup on the league’s own channel, underscoring how the legal fight failed to boost their national profile.
Oregon hands play-calling to Jay Johnson after firing its offensive coordinator, while South Carolina carries a two-game win streak over ranked teams into Norman.
Virginia Tech hires former Penn State coach James Franklin, sparking hopes of a CFP run. After a 6‑2 start and two straight wins, the Hokies face four crucial games—including SMU, Stanford, and a showdown with top‑ranked Miami. Franklin, a 134‑62 career coach with two CFP wins at Penn State, brings a proven transfer‑portal strategy; QB Ethan Grunkemeyer, a former Penn State player, already led a game‑winning drive against Clemson. The move revives memories of the Beamer era and puts VT back in the ACC title conversation.
LSU’s bye week opens a jam-packed weekend of college football action. Thursday’s tripleheader features SC State vs. Morgan State in a Celebration Bowl showdown and Troy vs. James Madison as JMU fights for division supremacy. Friday highlights Baylor’s surprise loss at UCF after Dave Aranda’s firing. Saturday’s morning offers FCS playoff stakes with #4 Youngstown State at #11 North Dakota and a Big 12 clash as #22 Arizona visits #13 Texas Tech. Mid‑day delivers the #17 Florida‑#3 Georgia rivalry in Atlanta, while the night caps off with #2 Ohio State at USC and Clemson vs. Florida State amid coaching turmoil. The guide pinpoints the must‑watch matchups and key storylines for fans deciding how to spend their Saturday.
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The ACC’s new “Receipts” ad campaign, spotted during fall ACC Network games, introduces Mr. and Mrs. ACC as fans of all 18 conference schools, including Notre Dame. While the initial spots celebrate conference highlights, the writer speculates that future installments could take a darker turn—imagine a Curry Barker‑directed series that flips from nostalgic moments to revealing legal battles involving Clemson, FSU and a possible SEC‑related lawsuit, with ominous music and stark visuals. The piece teases how the campaign might evolve over the 2026‑27 athletic year, mixing fan cheer with potential controversy.
One season ended on Saturday. A dramatically different one begins for Clemson
Clemson drops to 4-3 after a 20-16 loss to Virginia Tech, and head coach Dabo Swinney admits the program’s woes stem from coaching, not talent. Swinney blames the staff for repeated mistakes and poor execution, yet refuses to fire offensive coordinator Chad Morris, pledging his “work ethic” and promising “more points.” The Morris‑led offense is now averaging just 21.4 points per game—111th nationally—and ranks last in the ACC, with only two passing touchdowns all season. Fans demand changes, but Swinney insists stability will turn the tide, risking further criticism if the scoring drought continues.
Wake Forest jumps to #14 in the AP Top 25 after a quiet bye week, benefiting from a wave of upsets that knocked down seven teams ahead of them. Losses by BYU, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Tennessee, Houston, Iowa and USC, plus ACC defeats of Clemson and UNC, propelled the Deacons into a tie for the ACC’s lone 4‑1 record alongside SMU. With both squads controlling their destiny for the ACC Championship game on Nov. 14 in Dallas, the outcome could have CFP ramifications.
The ACC Power Rankings reveal that only three teams remain in the College Football Playoff chase, while Clemson’s season stalls after a disappointing Week 8. Georgia Tech endures a 49-27 rout by Boston College, dropping to 2-5 and out of bowl contention. Meanwhile, NC State’s 31-28 loss at Stanford triggers the firing of coach Dave Doeren. Virginia Tech validates its rise with a solid win, but most other ACC clubs struggle, including a narrow 31-30 overtime victory for Syracuse over UNC. The rankings highlight a chaotic mid‑season shift, especially for Clemson, Georgia Tech, and North Carolina.
Clemson football had Virginia Tech right where it wanted the Hokies. The Tigers held a six-point lead entering the fourth quarter and dominated the defensive battle. Yet they somehow turned a promising home performance into a brutal 20-16 defeat. It extended the frustration surrounding their 2026 campaign. Six sacks and a strong showing against the […]
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