ACC Power Rankings Week 11: Hurricanes Reclaim Top Spot

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Nine weeks into the season, the Atlantic Coast Conference was full of question marks. There were still four teams that remained undefeated in conference play, and none of them seemed ready to back down. With the No. 4 Miami Hurricanes (9-0, 5-0 ACC), No. 13 SMU Mustangs (8-1, 5-0) and No. 23 Clemson Tigers (6-2, 5-1) not facing each other in the regular season, there was legitimate concern that these teams would all go undefeated, leaving one team unfairly out of the ACC Championship.

In Week 10, the ACC title race got a lot less crowded all on its own. The Mustangs showed that they were ready to be a true contender in their first year in the conference with a dominating display over the No. 18 Pitt Panthers (7-1, 3-1). While Miami's explosive offense carried them to a comfortable win over the Duke Blue Devils (6-3, 2-3), the Clemson offense disappeared entirely in a shocking home loss to the Louisville Cardinals (6-3, 4-2). In just one week, the ACC title race went from one that was crowded and full of uncertainty to one with two clear contenders.

Week 10 reminded us that there are no certainties in college football. Any week has the potential for surprising upsets that can completely shift the dynamics of conference races. While Miami and SMU are in the driver's seat in the ACC for now, they are just one upset away from throwing the title race back into chaos.

Here are the Week 11 ACC Power Rankings as voted on by the College Football Dawgs staff.

1. Miami Hurricanes (9-0, 5-0)

Previous Ranking: 2

In what has become a common theme of Miami's season, the No. 4 Hurricanes found themselves trailing late in their Week 10 game and relied on their explosive offense for a comeback win. Quarterback Cam Ward led the charge in a 53-31 win against a solid Duke defense, going 25-for-41 passing for 400 yards and 5 touchdowns. Wide receiver Xavier Restrepo was electric as well, catching 8 passes for 146 yards and 3 touchdowns. Restrepo's third score of the day was a 66-yard catch-and-run that effectively put the game out of reach.

Upcoming game: at Georgia Tech (5-4, 3-3)

2. SMU Mustangs (8-1, 5-0)

Previous Ranking: 4

In a pivotal clash of the two surprise contenders of the ACC, the No. 13 Mustangs played their most complete game of the season to date. On a national stage, SMU showed that they deserve to be mentioned alongside the elite teams in the country with its overwhelming 48-25 victory over the previously undefeated No. 18. Panthers.

Running back Brashard Smith was electric, rushing for 161 yards on 23 carries with 3 total touchdowns. Quarterback Kevin Jennings was clinical, going 17-for-25 passing with 306 yards and 2 touchdowns. Both performances helped the Mustang jump out to a 31-3 lead at halftime. A week after a six-turnover game against Duke nearly destroyed their ACC title hopes, the Mustangs played their cleanest game of the season and showed off their dangerous potential.

Upcoming game: Bye

3. Pitt Panthers (7-1, 3-1)

Previous Ranking: 3

The No. 18 Panthers just severely disappointed against their first ranked opponent of the season. The defense that played so aggressively against the Syracuse Orange just a week before was sloppy, missing tackles that resulted in chunk plays for the SMU offense. Explosive running back Desmond Reid was given no chance to get rolling as the game got out of hand for the Panthers early. The Pitt offense rebounded in the second half and finished with 453 total yards. But there are still problems that will have to be addressed with a brutal closing stretch to the season ahead.

Upcoming game: Virginia (4-4, 2-3)

4. Louisville Cardinals (6-3, 4-2)

Previous Ranking: 6

In the most shocking result of Week 10, the No. 22 Cardinals dominated the No. 23 Tigers in Death Valley to earn their first-ever win over Clemson. The Louisville defense was the story of the game, consistently holding the Tigers' offense out of the end zone until it was too late and coming up with a key fourth-and-1 stop late in the game. Freshman running back Isaac Brown showed off his explosive ability, taking 20 carries for 151 yards and a rushing touchdown that put the game out of reach.

Upcoming game: Bye

5. Clemson Tigers (6-2, 5-1)

Previous Ranking: 1

Coming off a six-game stretch in which the No. 23 Tigers averaged 48.5 points per game and 540.8 yards per game, many expected the Clemson offense to continue its dominance against Louisville. Instead, they reverted back to their Week 1 form. Quarterback Cade Klubnik was unrecognizable, throwing for just 228 yards on 56 pass attempts and leading the offense to just 7 points through three quarters. The Tigers' kicking woes caught up to them as well as both of their field goal attempts were blocked, shifting the momentum of the game completely to the Cardinals. The Tigers will have to find a way to rebound quickly with a harsh closing stretch to the season coming up.

Upcoming game: at Virginia Tech (5-4, 3-2)

ACC Power Rankings: Nos. 6-17

6. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-4, 3-3)

Previous Ranking: 7

Last game: Bye

Upcoming game: No. 4 Miami (9-0, 5-0)

7. Syracuse Orange (6-2, 3-2)

Previous Ranking: 9

Last game: 38-31 OT win over Virginia Tech (5-4, 3-2)

Upcoming game: at Boston College (4-4, 1-3)

8. Boston College Eagles (4-4, 1-3)

Previous Ranking: 11

Last game: Bye

Upcoming game: Syracuse (6-2, 3-2)

9. Duke Blue Devils (6-3, 2-3)

Previous Ranking: 8

Last game: 53-31 loss to No. 4 Miami (9-0, 5-0)

Upcoming game: at NC State (5-4, 2-3)

10. Virginia Tech Hokies (5-4, 3-2)

Previous Ranking: 5

Last game: 38-31 OT loss to Syracuse (6-2, 3-2)

Upcoming game: No. 23 Clemson (6-2, 5-1)

11. Virginia Cavaliers (4-4, 2-3)

Previous Ranking: 10

Last game: Bye

Upcoming game: at No. 18 Pitt (7-1, 3-1)

12. North Carolina Tar Heels (5-4, 2-3)

Previous Ranking: 13

Last game: 35-11 win over Florida State (1-8, 1-7)

Upcoming game: Bye

13. NC State Wolfpack (5-4, 2-3)

Previous Ranking: 14

Last game: 59-28 win over Stanford (2-7, 1-5)

Upcoming game: Duke (6-3, 2-3)

14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (4-4, 2-2)

Previous Ranking: 12

Last game: Bye

Upcoming game: Cal (4-4, 0-4)

15. Cal Golden Bears (4-4, 0-4)

Previous Ranking: 15

Last game: Bye

Upcoming game: at Wake Forest (4-4, 2-2)

16. Stanford Cardinal (2-7, 1-5)

Previous Ranking: 16

Last game: 59-28 loss to NC State (5-4, 2-3)

Upcoming game: Bye

17. Florida State Seminoles (1-8, 1-7)

Previous Ranking: 17

Last game: 35-11 loss to North Carolina (5-4, 2-3)

Upcoming game: at No. 10 Notre Dame (7-1)