ACC Football: Week 1 Power Rankings

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Week 1 was an intriguing week for the Atlantic Coast Conference, going 10-2 in the opening weekend. It was the start of something special for some and the start of a long season for others. Here are the Power Rankings entering Week 2.

Virginia Cavaliers

(0-1)

Last week: 37-20 L RichmondLast rank: n/a

It was a tough day all around for the Cavaliers. They didn’t score a point until the second quarter. They rushed the ball for 38 rushing yards and fumbled the ball three times.

Things don’t get any better for the Cavaliers next week. In Week 2, they travel to Oregon. Their last meeting with Oregon in 2013 ended in a 59-10 loss.

Boston College Eagles

(0-1)

Last week: 17-14 L Georgia TechLast rank: n/a

The Golden Eagles outgained the Yellow Jackets in total offensive yards 313-238.

Running back Jonathan Hilliman rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown. Their passing offense still looks like a work in progress. Quarterback Patrick Towles passed for 137 passing yards while completing 11-17 passes.

The defense held the Yellow Jackets to 119 rushing yards and forced three turnovers. The Golden Eagles just could not hold the lead down the stretch.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

(1-0)

Last week: 7-3 W TulsaLast rank: n/a

Wake Forest only managed ten first downs and 175 total yards of offense. Quarterback John Wolford was 9-17 with 79 passing yards.

Backup quarterback Kendall Hinton was 3-4 with 17 passing yards. Hinton also had 24 rushing yards and a touchdown.

The defense allowed 280 yards (146 rushing, 134 passing) but only allowed three points. So there’s a positive to takeaway from their victory.

Week 2 gets a little tougher as the Deacs visit the Duke Blue Devils.

Syracuse Orange

(1-0)

Last week: 33-7 W ColgateLast rank: n/a

The Orange looked good in their season debut behind new head coach Dino Babers. The game was never in question as Syracuse controlled the game from the early going.

Quarterback Eric Dungey was 34-40 with 355 passing yards and two touchdowns. Running back Moe Neal rushed nine times for 68 rushing yards and a touchdown.

The wide receivers made program history. Ervin Phillips and Amba Etta-Tawo became the first receivers in Syracuse history to record more than 10 receptions in a game. Phillips had 14 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Etta-Tawo had 12 receptions for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

Not bad for Week 1. Week 2 gets a little tougher, as they face Louisville.

NC State Wolfpack

(1-0)

Last week: 48-14 W W&MLast rank: n/a

Quarterback Ryan Finley passed for 174 yards on 17-21 passes. Matt Dayes rushed 23 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns.

Hybrid back/tight-end Jaylen Samuels scored three touchdowns on day. He caught 5 passes for 66 yards and a passing touchdown and ran for 24 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

The Wolfpack had 521 total yards of offense on the day, 259 rushing.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

(1-0)

Last week: 17-14 W Boston CollegeLast rank: n/a

The Yellow Jackets scored when it mattered, including a four yard run from freshman running back Dedrick Mills with 35 seconds remaining. Mills lead the Yellow Jackets with 68 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Quarterback Justin Thomas completed 9 of 17 passes and threw for 119 passing yards.

Week 2 is another potential victory, as the Yellow Jackets face off against Mercer.

Virginia Tech Hokies

(1-0)

Last week: 36-13 LibertyLast rank: n/a

Quarterback Jerod Evans was 20-32 with 221 passing yards and four passing touchdowns. Receiver Isaiah Ford caught 11 passes for 117 receiving yards and a touchdown.

The defense was led by cornerback Greg Stroman, who had two interceptions. The defense allowed only 160 yards all game.

Week 2, the Hokies travel to Bristol to face the Tennessee Volunteers.

North Carolina Tar Heels

(0-1)

Last week: 33-24 L UGALast rank: n/a

The Tar Heels only gave the ball to Elijah Hood 10 times and he rushed for 72 yards. The offense couldn’t seem to find a rhythm all game.

Hint: They should give Elijah Hood the ball more. UNC ran the ball 19 times at a rate of 8.4 yards per carry.

The Tar Heels defense allowed Nick Chubb to rush for 222 rushing yards and two touchdowns as well. The 13 penalties for 101 yards certainly didn’t help the Tar Heels cause either.

Week 2 should produce better results, as the Tar Heels travel to Illinois.

Duke Blue Devils

(1-0)

Last week: 49-6 W NC CentralLast rank: n/a

The Duke Blue Devils showed no signs of inexperience in with Daniel Jones’ debut at quarterback. The Blue Devils lost starting quarterback Thomas Sirk for the season to open the season but that didn’t deter things.Jones threw two touchdowns and ran for another on 10-15 passing with 189 passing yards. Running back Jela Duncan ran for 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns.It was a historic day for the Blue Devils as they began the 2016 season. The defense only allowed six points and four first downs on the day.The Blue Devils open their ACC slate against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Week 2.5

Pittsburgh Panthers

(1-0)

Last week: 28-7 W VillanovaLast rank: n/a

The Pittsburgh Panthers looked good, especially running back James Conner in his return to the football field.Conner ran for a touchdown and caught a passing touchdown in a 28-7 victory over Villanova. Conner rushed for 53 yards and caught three passes for 16 yards.Quarterback Nathan Peterman threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns.Receiver Quadree Henderson also had a kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half.The Panthers have Penn State on their schedule in Week 2.4

Miami Hurricanes

(1-0)

Last week: 70-3 FAMU WLast rank: n/a

Louisville Cardinals

(1-0)

Last week: 70-14 W CharlotteLast rank: n/a

Quarterback Lamar Jackson earned Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors for his Week 1 performance.The junior quarterback was accountable for eight touchdowns (all in the first half) in what was a confidence boost at best for the Cardinals. Jackson threw for 286 passing yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 119 yards and two touchdowns.The Cardinals offense scored 28 points each in the first 2 quarters.The defense allowed 14 points in the second half and did not allow the 49ers to convert a first down on any third downs. The 49ers were 0-13.Up next, the Cardinals travel to Syracuse to start their ACC schedule in Week 2.2

Florida State Seminoles

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Last week: vs. Ole MissLast rank: n/a

The Seminoles open the season against Ole Miss behind much fanfare with quarterback Deondre Francois.Fisher named Francois the starter in the opening week of practice and said it was a foregone conclusion the whole time.The Seminoles return much of their vaunted defense and hope this season the offense can keep pace. With Dalvin Cook at running back, it shouldn’t be an issue.The Seminoles return most of the defense that allowed only 15.7 points a game in 2015 including safety Derwin James and defensive end Demarcus Walker.The Seminoles open Week 1 against the Ole Miss Rebels.1

Clemson Tigers

(1-0)

Last week: 19-13 W AuburnLast rank: n/a

The Clemson Tigers didn’t look perfect, but thats okay when you’ve got a proven leader in quarterback Deshaun Watson.Clemson did enough to escape SEC territory with a 19-13 victory and the offense certainly has much to look forward to.Watson was 19-34 for 248 passing yards and a touchdown. Watson didn’t run the ball much, leaving that to running back Wayne Gallman, who carried the ball 30 times for 123 rushing yards and a touchdown.The defense allowed 262 total yards of offense but did not give up a touchdown until the fourth quarter. They forced three turnovers, including an interception on the goal line by linebacker Ben Boulware.The Tigers host Troy in Week 2.