FSU football: ACC Power Rankings after week nine

I had FSU football in the top half of my preseason ACC Power Rankings, and I feel like the way I’ve been on point with my takes regarding the rest of the ACC.

One of the biggest takeaways was Syracuse their second straight game. I said this stretch of NC State, Clemson, Notre Dame, and Pittsburgh would take its toll on them before they play FSU.

The surprise of the weekend was Louisville blowing out Wake Forest, but the Demon Deacon’s turned it over eight times, which isn’t sustainable.

Miami went to quadruple overtime against UVA before winning 14-12. The Hurricanes will welcome the Noles to Doak South as near +10 point underdogs.

North Carolina blew out Pittsburgh and has full control of the ACC Coastal.

Here are my updated rankings after eight weeks by division and then overall as a conference:

ACC Atlantic

• Clemson (8-0, 6-0 ACC)
• Wake Forest (6-2, 2-2 ACC)
• Syracuse (6-2, 3-1 ACC)
• NC State (6-2, 2-2 ACC)
• FSU (5-3, 3-3 ACC)
• Louisville (5-3, 3-3 ACC)
• Boston College (2-6, 1-4 ACC)

ACC Coastal

• North Carolina (7-1, 4-0 ACC)
• Duke (5-3, 2-2 ACC)
• Pittsburgh (4-4, 1-3 ACC)
• Georgia Tech (3-5, 2-3 ACC)
• Miami (4-4, 2-2 ACC)
• Virginia Tech (2-6, 1-4 ACC)
• Virginia (3-5, 1-4 ACC)

Overall Power Rankings

1. Clemson
2. Wake Forest
3. Syracuse
4. NC State
5. FSU
6. North Carolina
7. Louisville
8. Duke
9. Miami
10. Georgia Tech
11. Pittsburgh
12. Virginia Tech
13. Virginia
14. Boston College

Parting Thoughts

There wasn’t much for me to change from a rankings perspective. I want to move FSU above NC State and Syracuse, but that’s hard to do since Syracuse beat NC State and the latter beat FSU.

Louisville beating Wake Forest throws another monkey wrench into it, but that was kind of fluky with all of the turnovers.

I think FSU can beat Syracuse and would beat NC State if they played again. Boston College lost to UConn, I remember saying that coach got way too much love for continuing to do the same thing as the previous coach record wise.

The marquee matchup this week is NC State playing Wake Forest, but that’s a game Wake Forest should win.

FSU will travel to play Miami in their annual rivalry game, and that’s a game FSU should win for the second consecutive year. Syracuse travels to Pittsburgh, and if they lose that game, that’s another great sign for FSU. Clemson travels to Notre Dame in a non-ACC contest, and the rest of the ACC games are between the bottom feeders.