Welcome to The Athletic’s ACC power rankings. Each week, Grace Raynor and Manny Navarro take turns drafting teams based on how they performed the previous week (and all season).

This week, we’re checking in on where each ACC team is at midseason — what’s gone right and what’s gone wrong. Let’s dive in.

1. Miami (previous ranking: 1)

The Hurricanes are 6-0 and have a clear path to the College Football Playoff.

What has gone right: Cam Ward has been as advertised and leads the nation with 369.8 passing yards per game.

What has gone wrong: Not much. Ward has had a couple of dicey turnovers — his pick six against Cal comes to mind — but the Hurricanes are still in great shape. — Raynor

2. Clemson (2)

The Tigers rebounded from a season-opening blowout loss to Georgia by crushing five teams with losing records by an average of 29.4 points to climb to No. 10 in the AP poll. The schedule gets tougher, with trips to Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh ahead.

What has gone right: Cade Klubnik has figured things out. He ranks 14th nationally in passing efficiency and has 17 touchdown passes and only two interceptions. The Tigers are also averaging 200.8 yards rushing per game.

What has gone wrong: If we’re going to nitpick, Clemson ranks 11th in the ACC in plays of 20 yards or more allowed (28) and 14th in the league in red zone TD percentage on offense and defense. — Navarro

QB1 showin’ out in conference play 🐅 pic.twitter.com/LVoILr2scq

— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) October 16, 2024

3. SMU (3)

The Mustangs are 5-1, including 2-0 in league play, and jumped four spots in the AP Poll this week to come in at No. 21. Rhett Lashlee’s team is coming off an idle week after a big win at Louisville and heads to Stanford this week.

What has gone right: Lashlee made the right call when he benched Preston Stone in favor of Kevin Jennings at quarterback. It was a risky move at the time, but it’s worked out … so far.

What has gone wrong: The Mustangs have been stout against the run, but the back end has been an issue. SMU’s passing defense ranks No. 13 in the ACC and No. 98 nationally. — Raynor 

4. Pittsburgh (4)

Pat Narduzzi has turned things around quickly after a 3-9 season with the hire of Kade Bell as offensive coordinator and the transfer of quarterback Eli Holstein from Alabama. The Panthers are 6-0 for the first time since 1982 and rank 20th in the AP poll.

What has gone right: Pitt is one of the most improved offensive teams in the nation. West Carolina transfer Desmond Reid (835 yards from scrimmage, eight TDs) has been a revelation.

What has gone wrong: The offensive line has been leaky in pass protection at times. The 65 pressures allowed are the most in the ACC, according to Pro Football Focus, and the 14 sacks allowed are tied for the fifth most. — Navarro

5. Syracuse (7)

Syracuse is off to a solid start in Fran Brown’s first year, sitting at 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the ACC. The Orange are off this week after holding on to win 24-17 at NC State last week.

What has gone right: Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord has been one of the most productive quarterback transfers and has given Syracuse everything it could have asked for and more.

What has gone wrong: The Orange’s loss to Stanford at home is a glaring misstep in an otherwise impressive season. — Raynor

6. Louisville (5)

Jeff Brohm’s team sits at 4-2 overall and 2-1 in ACC play heading into a huge matchup with Miami this week. The Cardinals can’t afford to lose and truly stay in contention for a return trip to Charlotte.

What has gone right: Quarterback Tyler Shough, receiver Ja’Corey Brooks, cornerback Corey Thornton and edge rusher Tramel Logan — part of a 27-member transfer class — have delivered for the most part.

What has gone wrong: The Cardinals have lost the turnover battle in three straight games (two losses) after they were plus-four in their first three victories. The pass defense has also started to slip of late. — Navarro

THE DEFINITION OF TOUGH 😤💪

Ja’Corey Brooks blows through tackles for a 61-yard gain!

📺 @accnetwork x @LouisvilleFB pic.twitter.com/SNuQjsLxdW

— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) October 12, 2024

7. Virginia (6)

The Cavaliers are 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the ACC after dropping a heartbreaker to Louisville on Saturday. Tony Elliott will head back to his old stomping grounds this week for a matchup at Clemson.

What has gone right: Elliott’s team has taken the next step in Year 3. The Cavaliers are 2-0 on the road, with wins at Coastal Carolina and Wake Forest.

What has gone wrong: The Cavaliers couldn’t cash in to beat Louisville last week, which would have made their path to bowl eligibility much clearer. Virginia’s schedule is loaded on the back half, including matchups against Clemson, Pitt, Notre Dame, SMU and the annual rivalry game against Virginia Tech. — Raynor

8. Virginia Tech (9)

The Hokies are 4-3 after beating Boston College on Thursday. Brent Pry’s team has been a bit of a mixed bag this year, but the Vanderbilt loss looks better now than it did in Week 1.

What has gone right: The Hokies have proven they can compete with anyone, having taken Miami down to the wire in Coral Gables. All three losses have come by seven points or fewer.

What has gone wrong: The hype around quarterback Kyron Drones, plus the strong play to end the 2023 season, led us to believe Virginia Tech could have one of the more exciting offenses in the league. That, however, has not been the case. — Raynor

9. Georgia Tech (10)

The Yellow Jackets have the toughest remaining schedule in the ACC. So, it’s a good thing Brent Key’s team is already 5-2, coming off back-to-back wins over Duke and North Carolina, with No. 12 Notre Dame visiting Saturday.

What has gone right: The defense has improved, and the offensive line has played at an elite level, having allowed only one sack in seven games.

What has gone wrong: New defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci cleaned up a lot of things, but the Jackets are not forcing enough turnovers, and good quarterbacks have exposed holes in the secondary. Drones, Ward and Carson Beck are among the QBs still on the schedule. — Navarro

10. Duke (12)

The Blue Devils dropped their first game earlier this month, against Georgia Tech. Duke was idle last week and hosts Florida State on Friday in what should be an intriguing matchup.

What has gone right: The Blue Devils took advantage of a soft nonconference schedule, picking up wins against Elon, Northwestern, UConn and Middle Tennessee. They started the season 5-0 after mounting a 20-point comeback against rival North Carolina to set themselves up nicely for bowl eligibility in Year 1 under Manny Diaz.

What has gone wrong: The offense has some issues. The Blue Devils have had a hard time running the ball, in particular, rushing for just 59 yards against Elon, 93 yards at Northwestern and 74 yards at Georgia Tech. — Raynor

11. Boston College (8)

The first half of Bill O’Brien’s first season went well, but the Eagles lost Thursday at Virginia Tech to fall to 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the ACC. Only one opponent with a losing record is left on the schedule. Consider BC officially on the bowl bubble.

What has gone right: Quarterback Thomas Castellanos has played very well at times under O’Brien’s tutelage, and the defense has made significant strides (despite giving up 42 points to Virginia Tech on Thursday).

What has gone wrong: BC’s been a little too turnover-prone, with five interceptions and seven lost fumbles through seven games. — Navarro

12. California (11)

The Bears have lost three ACC games — to Florida State, Miami and Pitt — by a combined 8 points.

What has gone right: Nobody in the league has a better turnover margin (plus-10) or given up fewer plays of 20 yards or more (17).

What has gone wrong: The offensive line has been putrid, allowing more sacks (24) and pressures (69) than any team in the league, and the Bears simply haven’t scored enough points (24.2 per game). Having a healthy Jaydn Ott would help. — Navarro

13. Stanford (13)

Stanford is 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the ACC. The Cardinal are on a three-game losing streak heading into a tough matchup against SMU on Saturday.

What has gone right: Stanford’s win at Syracuse was the highlight of the season. To take the Orange down to the wire, then kick a game-winning field goal as time expired — on the road — showed what Stanford can be at its best.

What has gone wrong: Starting quarterback Ashton Daniels missed the Virginia Tech game after going down with an injury at Clemson. The Cardinal haven’t been able to build momentum since the Syracuse win and have dropped three consecutive games by at least 24 points. — Raynor

14. Wake Forest (14)

Any realistic shot of getting back to a bowl game after missing out last year requires a win at UConn on Saturday. The next three games after that — against Stanford, Cal and North Carolina — are winnable.

What has gone right: The Demon Deacons’ scoring average is up by 7.5 points per game over last year, and Demond Claiborne ranks seventh in the league in rushing yards per game (87.3) behind an improved offensive line.

What has gone wrong: The defense has regressed to even all of that out. The Deacons rank last in the league in points allowed (34.0 per game) and yards per play allowed (6.5). — Navarro

15. NC State (15)

It has been a trying year for the Wolfpack, who are 3-4 overall and 0-3 in the ACC after a late rally against Syracuse fell short last week.

What has gone right: He’s still raw, but true freshman CJ Bailey has looked the part of the quarterback of the future, throwing for 601 yards in the past two games.

What has gone wrong: This doesn’t look like a typical NC State defense. And the addition of Coastal Carolina transfer quarterback Grayson McCall, who has dealt with several injuries, hasn’t worked out. — Raynor

16. North Carolina (16)

The Tar Heels have lost four games in a row, including last week’s 41-34 defeat at home to Georgia Tech. Good news: Mack Brown’s team won’t lose this week. The Heels are idle.

What has gone right: Omarion Hampton leads the ACC in rushing (128.7 yards per game) and remains a fun player to watch with a league-leading 45 missed tackles forced, according to Pro Football Focus.

What has gone wrong: The Tar Heels are once again one of the worst defensive teams in the ACC. They gave up 70 points in a home loss to James Madison. — Navarro

17. Florida State (17)

Florida State is 1-5 overall and 1-4 in ACC play in what has become a nightmare season for Mike Norvell. FSU has a chance to pick up win No. 2 this week against Duke, but this season is a wash.

What has gone right: The Seminoles seemed to have a spark against Clemson, with backup quarterback Brock Glenn stepping in for an injured DJ Uiagalelei. If there’s a silver lining to this disastrous season, it’s the opportunity to get some of FSU’s young talent more experience heading into 2025.

What has gone wrong: Everything? Uiagalelei struggled before his injury, and the offensive and defensive lines have underachieved. — Raynor

Bonus question

How many ACC teams will make the College Football Playoff?

Raynor: Two. I actually think Clemson wins the league over Miami, but the Hurricanes will get an at-large bid. SMU is one of the best stories in the league this year, but the Tigers and Canes seem to be the clear one-two punch.

Navarro: I agree with Grace that Clemson and Miami both get in if they each have 11 wins or more. I just think if Miami is ever going to win the league title, it has to be with Ward as quarterback. So I’m picking Miami to earn a top-four seed. SMU will be in the conversation for an at-large bid if it can finish the regular season 11-1. But I suspect the ACC still won’t get the respect it deserves, even in that scenario.

(Photo of Cam Ward: Darren Yamashita / Imagn Images)