Miami Surges, Clemson Falters in Week 2 ACC Power Rankings

© Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

The first full week of college football has come to a close for the Atlantic Coast Conference. Teams finally had a chance to showcase the hard work and new talent gained from a long offseason. Some teams took the opportunity to flex their muscles against weaker opponents in complete, dominating performances. Others struggled, making sloppy mistakes and playing down to weaker competition. After one week of action, many teams have been left with more questions than answers.

Is Miami back? Are Georgia Tech and Boston College legitimate threats? How do the ACC's new additions stack up after a wild Week 1? The College Football Dawgs staff attempted to sort through these questions and more in this week's ACC power rankings.

1. Miami Hurricanes (1-0)

In a week filled with unexpected results, the No. 12 Hurricanes weathered the storm in style. Miami put together their most complete performance in years, dominating the Florida Gators in every facet of their 41-17 beatdown. Former Washington State quarterback Cam Ward led the charge on offense, throwing for a whopping 385 yards and 3 touchdowns. Ward's chemistry with senior wide receiver Xavier Restrepo was apparent from the start. Restrepo led all receivers and finished the game with over 100 yards receiving and a touchdown.

The Miami roster has been rich with talent for years thanks to exceptional recruiting by head coach Mario Cristobal. Poor quarterback play has held them back from reaching their potential to this point. With Ward at the helm, the Hurricanes may finally have everything they need to make a run at the College Football Playoff.

Upcoming game: vs. Ball State (0-0)

2. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-0)

After a thrilling walk-off victory against the Florida State Seminoles to open the season, the No. 23 Yellow Jackets were determined to continue their momentum against the Georgia State Panthers. Georgia Tech never trailed in the game despite a slow start and eventually cruised to a 35-12 victory. Much like in their game against the Seminoles, the Yellow Jackets boasted a balanced offensive attack. Of their 499 total yards of offense, 225 came through a rushing attack led by junior running back Jamal Haynes. Five different players scored a touchdown on the day, showcasing the depth of talent Georgia Tech possesses. The Yellow Jackets are 2-0 for the first time since 2016 as a result of the convincing win.

Upcoming game: at Syracuse (1-0)

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3. Boston College Eagles (1-0)

Boston College's 28-13 victory over the Seminoles may be the most surprising result of the past week. The Eagles dominated Florida State throughout the game, controlling the clock with a steady rushing attack that amassed 263 yards. Running back Treshaun Ward, a sixth-year senior and former Seminole, was electric throughout the game. He totaled 138 yards of offense on just 15 touches and added a 13-yard touchdown reception.

With the win, the Bill O'Brien Era at Boston College is off to a fast start. The former Houston Texans head coach and Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator is beginning his first year as the head coach of the Eagles. O'Brien put an emphasis on physical toughness and mental discipline throughout the offseason. Boston College embodied those principles throughout their Week 1 matchup. With a trip to No. 9 Missouri in two weeks, fans will have a chance to see just how dangerous this Eagles team can be.

Upcoming game: vs. Duquesne (0-1)

4. Louisville Cardinals (1-0)

Louisville was one of the big surprises of 2023, winning 10 games and making an ACC Championship appearance in Jeff Brohm's first season as head coach. The Cardinals lost several key pieces from that team to the NFL, including quarterback Jack Plummer, running back Jawhar Jordan and wide receiver Jamari Thrash.

The No. 22 Cardinals silenced many doubters in their 62-0 complete victory over Austin Peay. Transfer quarterback Tyler Shough fit perfectly in the offense, throwing 4 touchdown passes in limited action. Freshman running back Isaac Brown took just 5 carries for an unbelievable 123 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown run. This offense looked every bit as explosive as last year's 10-win team.

Upcoming game: vs. Jacksonville State (0-1)

5. SMU Mustangs (2-0)

After a shaky Week 0 performance against the Nevada Wolf Pack, Southern Methodist rebounded nicely against Houston Christian. Quarterbacks Preston Stone and Kevin Jennings split snaps in the first half, and both looked unstoppable in limited action. Stone led three scoring drives in all, including a 28-yard touchdown pass to open the game. Jennings' dual-threat ability was on full display as he tallied 54 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

The Mustangs started slow on offense against Nevada. They managed just 13 points in three quarters before a late flurry to pull out the win. For their game against Houston Christian, SMU put an emphasis on starting quickly. They put up 35 points in just over one quarter of action. As the schedule continues to get tougher, the Mustangs cannot afford any more slow starts.

Upcoming game: vs. BYU (1-0)

ACC Power Rankings: Nos. 6-17

6. No. 25 Clemson (0-1)

Last game: 34-3 loss to Georgia

Upcoming game: vs. Appalachian State (1-0)

7. Cal (1-0)

Last game: 31-13 win over UC Davis

Upcoming game: at Auburn (1-0)

8. Pitt (1-0)

Last game: 55-24 win over Kent State

Upcoming game: at Cincinnati (1-0)

9. No. 24 North Carolina State (1-0)

Last game: 38-21 win over Western Carolina

Upcoming game: vs. No. 14 Tennessee (1-0)

10. North Carolina (1-0)

Last game: 19-17 win over Minnesota

Upcoming game: vs. Charlotte (0-1)

11. Syracuse (1-0)

Last game: 38-22 win over Ohio

Upcoming game: vs. no. 23 Georgia Tech (2-0)

12. Duke (1-0)

Last game: 26-3 win over Elon

Upcoming game: vs. Northwestern (1-0)

13. Wake Forest (1-0)

Last game: 45-13 win over North Carolina A&T

Upcoming game: vs. Virginia (1-0)

14. Virginia Tech (0-1)

Last game: 34-27 loss in overtime to Vanderbilt

Upcoming game: vs. Marshall (1-0)

15. Virginia (1-0)

Last game: 34-13 win over Richmond

Upcoming game: at Wake Forest (1-0)

16. Florida State (0-2)

Last game: 28-13 loss to Boston College

Upcoming game: Bye

17. Stanford (0-1)

Last game: 34-27 loss to TCU

Upcoming game: vs. Cal Poly (0-1)

Many ACC teams are faced with tougher tests on the Week 2 slate. Fans should get a chance to learn more about what teams can be a real threat in the ACC after this week.