{"id":302546,"date":"2025-11-20T05:01:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T05:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/302546\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T05:01:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T05:01:11","slug":"espn-ranks-acc-football-teams-from-first-to-last-after-week-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/302546\/","title":{"rendered":"ESPN ranks ACC Football teams from first to last after Week 12"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we near the end of the regular season, the ACC is jam-packed at the top with just two weeks remaining. Four different programs sit at just one conference loss (Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, SMU, and Virginia), while Miami (4-2) and Duke (4-2) are still mathematically alive in the race to the ACC Championship Game.<\/p>\n

Following Week 12, ESPN\u2018s FPI has ranked the ACC from first to last. There are certainly some surprises in the rankings, including 5-5 (2-5) Florida State sitting at No. 3 in the conference. The full rankings<\/a> are below.<\/p>\n

Miami is the lone ACC team present in the latest College Football Playoff bracket<\/a>. The Hurricanes head into the final two weeks of the regular season sitting at 8-2 (4-2), with games against Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh remaining. If not for its one-possession losses to Louisville and SMU, Mario Cristobal<\/a>\u2018s team would likely have been smooth-sailing into the Playoff for the first time in program history.<\/p>\n

The \u2018Canes have been on a roll since their loss to SMU however, as they\u2019ve won their last two games by scores of 38-10 (Syracuse) and 41-7 (NC State). Strong play from quarterback Carson Beck has been key down the stretch, as he\u2019s completed 76% of passes for 538 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions over the past two games. Their last two regular season games are on the road.<\/p>\n

\"\"Nov 1, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; SMU Mustangs running back T.J. Harden (27) scores the game winning touchdown during the overtime period against the Miami Hurricanes at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Following a rough 2-2 start to the season, SMU has won five of its last six games as it seeks a second consecutive appearance in the College Football Playoff. The Mustangs boast solid wins over Miami and Clemson and could add a third solid win to their resume on Saturday at home against a reeling Louisville team. Over the course of their last six games, the Mustangs are outscoring opponents 183-98.<\/p>\n

If not for a 13-12 loss to Wake Forest three weeks ago, SMU would likely be present in the latest College Football Playoff Rankings. If it can run the gauntlet however and finish the regular season at 9-3 (7-1), the Mustangs will have a great chance to *at least* reach a marquee bowl game if it just misses out on the College Football Playoff.<\/p>\n

Although it sits at 5-5 (2-5), Florida State sits at No. 3 in ESPN\u2018s ACC FPI Rankings. After opening the season with a 3-0 record (including a 31-17 win over No. 8 Alabama<\/a>), the Seminoles are just 2-5 over their past seven games. This includes three losses to teams at the top of the conference (Miami, Pittsburgh, and Virginia), a down Clemson team and Stanford.<\/p>\n

Due to yet another disappointing year in Tallahassee, head coach Mike Norvell<\/a> has found his name on the hot seat. Since leading the \u2018Noles to a 13-1 record in 2023, Florida State is an abysmal 7-15 over the past two seasons. Unless it can knock off NC State or Florida<\/a> in its final two games, they are on the verge of missing a bowl game for the second consecutive year.<\/p>\n

Clemson opened the season at No. 4 in the preseason AP Poll, but it has not played anywhere close to that level this season. The Tigers opened their 2025 campaign with a 17-10 home loss to LSU<\/a> and things just haven\u2019t been good since. The program has lost five games for the first time since 2009, and that number could balloon to seven with the South Carolina game and their bowl game still on the horizon.<\/p>\n

Disappointing quarterback and defense play from Clemson has sunk it this season. After opening the year as a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, Cade Klubnik<\/a> hasn\u2019t even been a top-five quarterback in the ACC. As for the defense, it ranks eighth in yards allowed (354.7 YPG) and points allowed (22.1). It\u2019ll be back to the drawing board for Swinney and his program next season.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a9 Matt Stone\/Courier Journal \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The Cardinals opened the season with a 7-1 record and skyrocketed to No. 15 in the College Football Playoff Rankings. Since then however, Louisville has suffered back-to-back disappointing losses to California and Clemson. This has taken the wind out of the fanbase, that was thinking a potential trip to the CFP just weeks ago. Due to the losses, quarterback Miller Moss<\/a> and head coach Jeff Brohm<\/a> have even received death threats from fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I don\u2019t want is for our team to lose confidence in themselves and their ability to play at a high level. Because we\u2019ve had our chances. Everybody can say this, and we could do this,\u201d Brohm said<\/a>. \u201cBut we\u2019ve lost twice on the last play of the game. Then, we had two opportunities to actually kick a field goal to win the game, and the story is different. But, it is what it is. So, I\u2019m the one responsible for it and need to take the heat.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh\u2018s five-game winning streak was snapped Saturday by No. 9 Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish came into Acrisure Stadium and dominated the Panthers by a score of 37-15. Freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel struggled mightily for the first time in his young career, passing for just 126 yards. He also tossed an interception.<\/p>\n

Although their momentum has come to an end, Pat Narduzzi<\/a>\u2018s program still has an opportunity to punch its ticket to the ACC Championship Game. It will certainly be challenging, as their final two regular season games are against No. 16 Georgia Tech and No. 13 Miami. If the Panthers reach the title game, they will have certainly earned it.<\/p>\n

Somehow, someway, Georgia Tech sits at No. 7 in ESPN\u2018s ACC FPI Rankings. The Yellow Jackets just missed the latest College Football Playoff bracket and are ranked No. 16 in the CFP Rankings this week. Brent Key<\/a>\u2018s program is 9-1 (6-1), with its lone loss coming on the road at NC State two weeks ago. If it can hold off Pittsburgh this Saturday, Tech will head into its regular season finale against No. 4 Georgia<\/a> with a 10-1 (7-1) record.<\/p>\n

Last season, No. 7 Georgia held off Georgia Tech 44-42 in an 8OT classic. This year, both programs have Playoff aspirations, making this a must-watch game. But first, Tech will have to hand Pittsburgh its second consecutive loss in Acrisure Stadium.<\/p>\n

\"\"Nov 15, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Virginia Cavaliers running back J\u2019Mari Taylor (3) scores a touchdown against the Duke Blue Devils during the third quarter at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Although it entered the season off of almost everybody\u2019s radar, Virginia is enjoying a strong 2025 campaign. The Cavaliers are 9-2 (6-1) and are ranked No. 19 in the latest College Football Playoff Rankings. Sitting at just one conference loss, Tony Elliott<\/a>\u2018s team remains more than alive for the ACC Championship Game. Their final conference game is against 3-7 Virginia Tech, setting them up nicely for their first 10-win season since 1989.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust super proud of Tony (Elliott),\u201d Dabo Swinney\u00a0said<\/a> in October. \u201cI mean, I think they\u2019re the epitome of a team that believes. They\u2019re playing together, and they believe. That is a powerful thing when you get a team that is really, really together, and really, truly believes.\u201d<\/p>\n

After opening the season 1-2, it appeared as if Duke was heading for a rough season. It however won its first three ACC games to improve to 4-2, but it has gone all downhill from there for the Blue Devils. Since then, the program has lost three of its last four games, including to UConn<\/a>. They now must take down Wake Forest or North Carolina to secure bowl eligibility.<\/p>\n

Quarterback play from Tulane<\/a> transfer Darian Mensah<\/a> has been strong however. Mensah ranks fifth in all of college football with 3,007 passing yards, along with 25 touchdowns and just four interceptions. His season has contributed to just a disappointing .500 season however, a far cry from Manny Diaz<\/a>\u2018s first season in 2024.<\/p>\n

Finally, NC State rounds out the top-10 of ESPN\u2018s ACC FPI Rankings. It\u2019s been an odd season for the Wolfpack, which opened the season with a 4-2 record. Since then however, they\u2019ve dropped three of their last four games to fall to 5-5. It now must take down Florida State or North Carolina to secure bowl eligibility for the 10th time in the Dave Doeren<\/a> era.<\/p>\n

The Pack appeared to be turning their season around when they handed Georgia Tech their first loss of the season two weeks ago, but they followed up that performance with a 41-7 loss to Miami. <\/p>\n

Teams 11-17<\/p>\n

\"\"Oct 31, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick prepares to call a timeout in the second quarter against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

11. Wake Forest Demon Deacons<\/a> (7-3, 4-3)
12. Virginia Tech Hokies<\/a> (3-7, 2-4)
13. California Golden Bears<\/a> (6-4, 3-3)
14. Stanford Cardinal<\/a> (3-7, 2-5)
15. Syracuse Orange<\/a> (3-7, 1-6)
16. North Carolina Tar Heels<\/a> (4-6, 2-4)
17. Boston College Eagles<\/a> (1-10, 0-7)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As we near the end of the regular season, the ACC is jam-packed at the top with just…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":302547,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[399,398,396,397,99],"class_list":{"0":"post-302546","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-ncaa","10":"tag-ncaa-football","11":"tag-ncaafootball","12":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=302546"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302546\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/302547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=302546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=302546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=302546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}