Dec. 15, 2025, 2:19 p.m. ET
December has become the ACC’s proving ground, where nonconference matchups expose strengths, weaknesses and depth long before league play begins. As schedules intensify and opponents grow tougher, results start to carry more weight, making every possession matter in shaping the conference landscape. Some teams have handled the pressure with confidence, while others are still searching for answers as rotations tighten and expectations rise.
With résumés evolving and momentum shifting weekly, this latest set of ACC power rankings reflects where each program stands at this point in the season — not just based on wins and losses, but on how those performances have unfolded. From the teams building early credibility to those fighting to regain footing, here’s a full breakdown of how all 18 ACC programs stack up heading into mid-December, with just two weeks before conference play.
18. Boston College Eagles (5–6)
Boston College has battled through a mixed early schedule — a narrow 67–63 win over New Haven featured reserve Fred Payne’s 18, but the Eagles’ overall inconsistency (offensive lulls and limited rotation depth) has them once again at the bottom of the conference snapshot.
Unless BC finds more consistent outside shooting and secondary playmakers, they’ll struggle to climb.
17. Pittsburgh Panthers (5–6)
Pittsburgh’s non-conference slate has been challenging; Villanova handled Pitt 79–61 in a game where the Panthers struggled to find consistent perimeter defense and a go-to scorer, leaving questions about offensive identity as ACC play nears.
Until the Panthers establish a reliable scoring option and improve their 3-point defense, upward movement will be hard to come by.
16. Florida State Seminoles (5–5)
Florida State’s early-December slide (including a high-scoring loss to UMass and an earlier loss to No. 8 Houston) has exposed turnover issues and second-half shooting woes. Injuries and roster gaps compounded the Seminoles’ problems in December, and performances, including Robert McCray V’s bright spot,s haven’t been enough to reverse the trend.
For FSU to climb the power rankings, they must stabilize guard play, limit turnovers in close windows, and address late-game scoring droughts.
15. Syracuse Orange (6–4)
Syracuse’s December has been up-and-down: a bright upset over No. 13 Tennessee was followed by a disappointing 70–69 home loss to Hofstra (Cruz Davis leading the Pride with 22 points), highlighting the Orange’s vulnerability when perimeter defense slips and bench depth is tested.
The Orange can produce signature wins, but inconsistency keeps them toward the lower-middle of the pack.
14. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6–5)
Georgia Tech snapped a tough patch with a 79–67 win over Monmouth, where Kowacie Reeves Jr. and Lamar Washington each scored 23 (Reeves’ second straight big outing), but the Jackets’ December still featured uneven stretches vs. higher-caliber opponents. That roller-coaster December places GT squarely in the middle until they prove consistent against stronger teams.
13. Stanford Cardinals (8–2)
Stanford held off a late San Jose State rally for an 86–82 win, with AJ Rohosy and Chisom Okpara combining for 40 points and the Cardinal showing the ability to close out frenetic games despite missing Ebuka Okorie, the nation’s second-leading freshman scorer, to injury. Kyle Smith’s team looks competitive in December, but close calls and roster adjustments keep them competitive but unproven against the league’s upper half.
12. NC State Wolfpack (7–4)
NC State hit a stumbling block this week with a loss at Kansas, where the Wolfpack struggled to contain the Jayhawks’ size and scoring punches, exposing defensive vulnerabilities that have cropped up in previous non-conference tests. Despite the setback, NC State’s offense showed flashes — including strong production from Ven-Allen Lubin — and the team’s talent still keeps them in the lower-middle rankings of the ACC picture as they head into the more critical stretch of the schedule.
11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9–3)
Notre Dame dominated Evansville 82–58 on Dec. 13 as Braeden Shrewsberry poured in a career-high 28 with 8-for-10 3-point shooting, showing the Irish can get hot from deep and pile on quick leads. When Notre Dame’s shooters are dialed in and Shrewsberry has space, they’re dangerous.
10. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8-3)
Wake Forest took care of business in its lone game of the week, handling Queens University with a comfortable home win while leaning on its offensive depth and perimeter shooting. The Deacons moved the ball efficiently and avoided extended scoring droughts, but the level of competition limits how much their résumé shifts.
9. Clemson Tigers (8-3)
Clemson took a step back this week with a non-conference loss to BYU, a game that exposed some offensive stagnation when the Tigers were forced to score in the half-court. Clemson did, however, survive a toughness test against Mercer (70–63) while Coach Brad Brownell notched a milestone win; Dillon Hunter (15 points) and a balanced four-man double-digit scoring night showcased Clemson’s bench scoring and late-game poise.
8. Virginia Tech Hokies (10–2)
Virginia Tech’s December resume includes a 73–62 victory over previously unbeaten George Mason in which Jaden Schutt drilled six 3s (18 points) and Amani Hansberry delivered a multi-stat impact, demonstrating the Hokies’ bench depth and 3-point punch. Tech’s ability to win with both starting and reserve scorers has produced steady results and room to grow as ACC play arrives.
7. California Golden Bears (10-1)
Cal’s non-conference résumé has been impressive: the Golden Bears won the Empire Classic and beat No. 18 UCLA earlier, then followed with a 79–70 victory over Northwestern State, where John Camden scored 25 (six 3s) to extend Cal’s seven-game win streak. That consistent production from Chris Bell, Camden, and Lee Dort gives Cal a legitimate claim to the top half heading into ACC play.
6. Miami Hurricanes (9-2)
Miami’s offense hit another high note in a 104–79 win over UL Monroe (Dec. 13), paced by Malik Reneau’s inside dominance (22) and strong complementary guard work; the Hurricanes shot 60% and pushed the pace in spurts. The scoring versatility — with Udeh, Reneau, and Tru Washington capable of carryingthe load — explains Miami’s top-half placement.
5. Virginia Cavaliers (9-1)
Virginia’s identity — disciplined defense and efficient ball movement — has produced blowouts and controlled wins; the Cavs’ 104-78 throttling of Marshall (Thijs De Ridder 23; Dallin Hall and Malik Thomas 18 each) included a 61-point first half that showed Virginia can explode offensively when the shots fall.
That two-way balance and veteran coaching discipline keep UVA firmly toward the top of the conference.
4. North Carolina Tar Heels (9-1)
UNC’s December form has leaned on interior dominance and reliable veterans — Caleb Wilson’s 20/11 double-double vs. USC Upstate reinforced his role as a matchup problem, and transfers/backups like Jonathan Powell provided timely bench punch.
Those paint advantages and consistent rebounding are why UNC remains a top-5 team entering the conference grind.
3. SMU Mustangs (9-2)
SMU drops slightly after a surprising loss to LSU, where turnovers and cold shooting in the second half prevented the Mustangs from closing out a winnable game. Despite the setback, Jaron Pierre Jr. and Boopie Miller showed flashes of brilliance, and the team’s overall talent still earns them a top-three spot heading into the remainder of December.
2. Louisville Cardinals (9-1)
Louisville continued to pile up high-end offensive outputs, torching Memphis 99–73 in mid-December with multiple players scoring in double figures; Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell were central to a balanced attack that shot efficiently and got to the line repeatedly.
That kind of offensive depth and few bad losses so far make Louisville a consistent top-3 ACC pick in the early snapshot.
1. Duke Blue Devils (10-0)
Duke did not play this week, but the Blue Devils remain firmly at the top of the ACC power rankings based on their undefeated resume, depth, and demonstrated poise in high-pressure situations. Their combination of balanced scoring, elite defense, and consistent execution keeps them the benchmark for the rest of the league.
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