After a wild Week 8 in college football, only three teams from the ACC are even ranked in the AP Top 25. That’s a shockingly low number for a Power Five conference, especially when you see who’s sitting at the top: the Miami Hurricanes, checking in at No. 1.
The ACC’s Thin Air
Florida State was on a bye week after their double overtime loss to Miami, 43-35, a week prior. They didn’t even get a single vote in the AP Top 25 after Week 8, which tells you a lot about the current state. So, who *is* ranked from the ACC? You’ve got Miami at No. 1, Wake Forest at No. 14, and SMU at No. 19. That’s it. Just three teams. And if you’re looking for any other contenders, only Virginia Tech received any votes at all in the “others receiving votes” category, and they snagged a grand total of one. The ACC looks… sparse.
Miami’s Shaky Ascent to the Top
Now, about Miami at No. 1. This is the part that makes you scratch your head a little. They retained the top spot after crushing Pittsburgh 52-23. But here’s the kicker, the one detail that jumps off the page: Miami has *not defeated a single ranked opponent this season*. Think about that for a second. The No. 1 team in the conference, arguably the No. 1 team nationally, hasn’t proven itself against a top-tier opponent. Meanwhile, Ohio State climbed to No. 2 after BYU dropped a game to unranked UCF. Georgia is sitting at No. 3, with Indiana and Notre Dame rounding out the top five. Texas made a big move, climbing eight spots to No. 11 after taking down Ole Miss, while those BYU Cougars were the biggest fallers, dropping six spots from No. 2 to No. 8. It’s a wild landscape out there, and Miami’s perch feels precarious, doesn’t it?
What’s Next for FSU?
While the ACC is looking pretty thin in the rankings, Florida State has a chance to start working their way back. They’ll welcome the Clemson Tigers (4-2, 2-1 ACC) to Tallahassee this Halloween. If they can take care of business against Clemson, they might just break into the “others receiving votes” category. That game is set to air on ESPN on Saturday, October 31, on the ACC Network. It’s a big one for FSU if they want to get any respect back in a conference that desperately needs some.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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