We are just two weekends into the 2025 college football season, and with 34 games played by ACC members, it’s fair to say that we are rolling through the college football season. FCS teams and non-conference opponents are the name of the game, still. We saw this with teams like Wake Forest taking on the FCS Western Carolina Catamounts, and Duke taking on the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Last week, not much separated the first-place team from the second-place team in terms of tiebreaker material. Now, it’s becoming a little more apparent, with NC State claiming the top spot. For Florida State, a 77-3 dismantling of the FCS East Texas A&M Lions, will help boost their tiebreaker status in terms of points scored versus allowed. They scored the most points out of any ACC and FBS-level team this week.
With all of that out of the way, here are the standings after the week 2 slate of games in the ACC. Keep in mind that this is not the end-all-be-all for any team, and that there are so many games still left to be played.
17. Virginia Tech Hokies (0-2, 0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Ranking: 17th out of 17
Game Recap: The Hokies were defeated by the Vanderbilt Commodores, 44-20.
Next Game: vs. Old Dominion Monarchs
16. Stanford Cardinal (0-2, 0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Ranking: 15th out of 17
Game Recap: Stanford was defeated in Week 2 by the BYU Cougars, 27-3.
Next Game: vs. Boston College Eagles
15. Virginia Cavaliers (1-1, 0-0 ACC)*
Last Week’s Ranking: 11th out of 17
Game Recap: The Cavaliers were defeated by the NC State Wolfpack, 35-31.
Next Game: vs. FCS William & Mary
*Note: This game was played as an out-of-conference matchup. This match will not count as an ACC in-conference loss for Virginia.
14. Syracuse Orange (1-1, 0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Ranking: 16th out of 17
Game Recap: The Orange defeated the UConn Huskies, 27-20 in overtime.
Next Game: vs. FCS Colgate Raiders
13. SMU Mustangs (1-1, 0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Ranking: 10th out of 17
Game Recap: The Mustangs were defeated by the Baylor Bears 48-45 in double overtime.
Next Game: at Missouri State Bears
12. North Carolina Tar Heels (1-1, 0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Ranking: 14th out of 17
Game Recap: The Tar Heels defeated the Charlotte 49ers 20-3.
Next Game: vs FCS Richmond Spiders
11. Duke Blue Devils (1-1, 0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Ranking: 3rd out of 17
Game Recap: The Blue Devils were defeated by the No. 11 Illinois Fighting Illini, 45-19.
Next Game: at Tulane Green Wave
10. Clemson Tigers (1-1, 0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Ranking: 13th out of 17
Game Recap: The Tigers defeated the Troy Trojans, 27-16.
Next Game: at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
9. Boston College Eagles (1-1, 0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Ranking: 1st out of 17
Game Recap: The Eagles were defeated by the Michigan State Spartans 42-40 in double overtime.
Next Game: at Stanford Cardinal
8. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Ranking: 12th out of 17
Game Recap: The Demon Deacons defeated the FCS West Carolina Catamounts, 42-10.
Next Game: vs. NC State Wolfpack
7. Pittsburgh Panthers (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Ranking: 9th out of 17
Game Recap: The Panthers defeated the Central Michigan Chippewas, 45-17.
Next Game: at West Virginia Mountaineers (Backyard Brawl)
6. Miami Hurricanes (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Ranking: 7th out of 17
Game Recap: The Hurricanes defeated the FCS Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, 45-3.
Next Game: vs. South Florida Bulls
5. Louisville Cardinals (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Ranking: 6th out of 17
Game Recap: The Cardinals defeated the James Madison Dukes, 28-14.
Next Game: vs Bowling Green Falcons
4. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Ranking: 5th out of 17
Game Recap: The Yellow Jackets defeated the FCS Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs, 59-12
Next Game: vs Clemson Tigers
3. Florida State Seminoles (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Ranking: 4th out of 17
Game Recap: The Seminoles defeated the FCS East Texas A&M Lions, 77-3
Next Game: vs. Kent State Golden Flashes
2. California Golden Bears (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Last Week’s Ranking: 2nd out of 17
Game Recap: The Golden Bears defeated the FCS Texas Southern Tigers, 35-3.
Next Game: vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
1. NC State Wolfpack (2-0, 0-0 ACC)*
Last Week’s Ranking: 8th out of 17
Game Recap: The Wolfpack defeated the Virginia Cavaliers, 35-31.
Next Game: at Wake Forest Demon Deacons
*Note: This game was played as an out-of-conference matchup. This match will not count as an ACC in-conference win for NC State.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: ACC Football Standings after Week 2: NC State, California rises
Reporting by Jacob Smith, FSU Wire / FSU Wire
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