ACC Power Rankings: Where does Syracuse football land after loss to Boston College?

Syracuse, N.Y. — And then there was one.
SMU remains the only team in the ACC without a league blemish after Miami lost its first game of the season to Georgia Tech on Saturday.
The Hurricanes and Mustangs remain on a collision course for the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte on Dec. 7.
As for the rest of the ACC, let’s see how the power rankings shook out and how far Syracuse football falls after a 37-31 loss to Boston College.
Record: 8-1 (5-0)
Last week’s rank: 2
Last week’s result: Off
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Boston College, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Why No. 1? I hesitated to move a team up to the top spot off a bye week, but Miami can’t stay here after a loss either. SMU has a clear path to the ACC Championship Game with Boston College, Virginia and California left on its schedule. Two (BC, Cal) of those games are at home.
Record: 9-1 (5-1)
Last week’s ranking: 1
Last week’s result: Lost 28-23 to Georgia Tech
This week’s schedule: Off
Why No. 2? Cam Ward’s magic finally wore off as a Georgia Tech strip sack stalled his latest comeback attempt. I’m not going to punish Miami too much. Everyone is allotted a bad day in college football. Only Wake Forest and Syracuse stand in Miami’s way for a trip to the ACC Championship Game. This is still a very, very good team that should make the College Football Playoff.
Record: 6-3 (4-2)
Last week’s ranking: 3
Last week’s result: Off
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Stanford, 3:30 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 3? The Cardinals were off last week and still own a very impressive road win over Clemson. Louisville finishes with Stanford, Pitt and Kentucky.
Record: 7-2 (6-1)
Last week’s ranking: 4
Last week’s result: Win 24-14 vs. Virginia Tech
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Pittsburgh, 12 p.m., ESPN
Why No. 4? The Tigers had feasted on lesser foes before beating someone substantial at Virginia Tech this week. That’s not quite enough to vault them over Louisville, who beat the Tigers at Clemson.
Record: 6-4 (4-3)
Last week’s ranking: 8
Last week’s result: Win 28-23 over Miami
This week’s schedule: Bye
Why No. 5? The Yellow Jackets get a nice bump after knocking off one of the top two teams in the ACC. Brent Key is good at beating ranked teams. Key is now 6-5 vs. AP-ranked (at game time) teams in his career as Georgia Tech head coach. No other ACC coach has more ranked wins in that span.
Record: 7-2 (3-2)
Last week’s ranking: 5
Last week’s result: Loss 24-19 to Virginia
This week’s schedule: Bye
Why No. 6? Pitt gets time to regroup after getting smoked by the best team in the ACC (SMU) and stubbing its toe at home against Virginia after losing quarterback Eli Holstein to injury in the third quarter and racking up 11 penalties against the Cavaliers. Yuck.
Record: 7-3 (3-3)
Last week’s ranking: 10
Last week’s result: Beat N.C. State 29-19
This week’s schedule: Bye
Why No. 7? Duke’s defense has given up more than 24 points just once in regulation (Miami) and was stifling again in holding N.C. State to 19 points, allowing just one touchdown. It also forced a pair of takeaways and held the Wolfpack to 3-of-15 on third down.
Record: 6-3 (3-3)
Last week’s ranking: 6
Last week’s result: Lost 37-31 to Boston College
This week’s schedule: Saturday at California, 3 p.m., The CW
Why No. 8? In the last three weeks, Syracuse has been blown out by Pitt, snuck by Virginia Tech in overtime and got run over by BC. Now it is a nine-point underdog at Cal this week. SU has to dig down deep and prove it can win a tough league game in the dreaded month of November.
Record: 5-4 (2-3)
Last week’s ranking: 9
Last week’s result: Off
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Wake Forest, 8 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 10? We’ll see how the Tar Heels do after a bye. UNC went into its week off with two wins over Virginia and Florida State by a combined score of 76-25.
Record: 5-4 (3-3)
Last week’s ranking: 11
Last week’s result: Win 24-19 over Pittsburgh
This week’s schedule: Saturday at No. 10 Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., NBC
Why No. 10? The Cavaliers snap a three-game losing streak with a gritty win over No. 18 Pitt. It is going to be a tough road for the ‘Hoos to get bowl eligible with Notre Dame, SMU and Virginia Tech left on the slate.
Record: 5-4 (2-3)
Last week’s ranking: 12
Last week’s result: Win 37-31 over Syracuse
This week’s schedule: Saturday at SMU, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Why No. 11? The Eagles ran a marathon on Syracuse’s defense with over 300 yards gained on the ground alone to grab a second ACC win. BC gets two chances to get bowl eligible at home against UNC and Pitt.
Record: 5-5 (3-3)
Last week’s ranking: 7
Last week’s result: Loss 24-14 to Clemson
This week’s schedule: Bye
Why No. 12? The Hokies are fading fast after losses to Syracuse and Clemson. It will be a much-needed week off for Brent Pry’s crew to lick some wounds before finishing the season at Duke and home to rival Virginia.
Record: 5-4 (2-4)
Last week’s ranking: 13
Last week’s result: 29-19 loss to Duke
This week’s schedule: Bye
Why No. 13? The Wolfpack hang here in ACC purgatory after losing to Duke but having a head-to-head win over the team below them in the rankings.
Record: 5-4 (1-4)
Last week’s ranking: 14
Last week’s result: Win 46-36 over Wake Forest
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Syracuse, 3 p.m., The CW
Why No. 14? Congrats to Cal on its first ACC win, but beating Wake Forest isn’t going to leapfrog you very far in the rankings. Now, if you beat Syracuse this week, whole different story. This is going to be a tough trip for the Orange. The Bears play hard and its four losses have come by a combined total of nine points.
Record: 4-5 (2-3)
Last week’s ranking: 15
Last week’s result: Lost 46-36 to California
This week’s schedule: Saturday at North Carolina, 8 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 15? The Demon Deacons stay put after a 10-point loss at Cal. Wake is thanking its lucky stars the two teams below them are so bad.
Record: 2-7 (1-5)
Last week’s ranking: 16
Last week’s result: Off
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Louisville, 3:30 p.m., ACC Network
Why No. 16? Good news, Stanford fans! You didn’t lose this week. *Insert bye week joke here* Bad news? Yeah, you’re still one of the worst teams in the ACC. Want some more good news? At least you’re not Florida State!
Record: 1-9 (1-8)
Last week’s ranking: 17
Last week’s result: Lost 52-3 at Notre Dame
This week’s schedule: Bye
Why No. 17? Florida State has now gone 12 straight games without topping 21 points. This season could be the Seminoles lowest win total in a full season since Florida State was 3-8 in 1975. On Sunday, Florida State has announced the firings of OC Alex Atkins, DC Adam Fuller and WR coach Ron Dugans.
Who would even take the Seminoles in another conference at this point? At least you’d get a discount.
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