Fifa World Cup Trophy

Reading through the latest ACC football rankings after Week 5’s seismic upsets, I couldn’t help but draw a parallel to something that’s been on my mind lately—Alex Eala’s stunning run in Miami last month. Much like everyone else, I could hardly believe it when she defeated three Grand Slam champions back-to-back. It’s that same sense of disbelief I felt watching Clemson tumble and Wake Forest falter this past weekend. The landscape of ACC football has been reshaped, and honestly, it feels like we’re witnessing one of those rare seasons where chaos becomes the main character.

Let’s start with Clemson. For years, they’ve been the titan of the conference, the team you penciled in for the ACC Championship Game before the season even started. But after their 31–24 overtime loss to an unranked NC State squad, their grip on the Atlantic Division looks shaky at best. I’ve followed this team closely for over a decade, and what strikes me this year isn’t just the offensive inconsistencies—which, let’s be honest, have been glaring—but the uncharacteristic defensive lapses in critical moments. Against NC State, they gave up 386 total yards, including a 65-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes of regulation. That’s not the Clemson defense we’ve come to expect. Statistically, they’ve dropped from a top-5 defense nationally to somewhere in the mid-20s, and while I usually trust Venables’ unit to bounce back, the cracks are visible. From my perspective, this isn’t just a bump in the road—it’s an identity crisis.

Then there’s Wake Forest. I’ll admit, I’ve been a quiet believer in Dave Clawson’s system, with its slow-mesh RPO and methodical pace. But their 45–42 loss to a scrappy Louisville team exposed vulnerabilities I thought they’d patched up. Sam Hartman threw for 324 yards, yes, but he also tossed two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Turnover margin has been Wake’s Achilles’ heel this season; they’re sitting at -3 through five games, which puts them near the bottom of the ACC. As someone who values ball security above almost everything else, that stat alone makes me skeptical about their chances moving forward. And defensively? They allowed Louisville to convert 9 of 15 third downs. That’s not winning football, no matter how explosive your offense is.

But amid the turmoil, there are teams rising from the ashes. Take NC State, for instance. Beating Clemson wasn’t just a fluke—it was a statement. I’ve watched Devin Leary mature into one of the most poised quarterbacks in the league, and his connection with Thayer Thomas has been nothing short of electric. Against Clemson, Leary completed 68% of his passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns. Those numbers aren’t just good; they’re Heisman-contender level in a pressure-cooker environment. From where I stand, NC State has the most balanced team in the conference right now, ranking in the top 30 nationally in both total offense and defense. If they can maintain this momentum, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them in Charlotte come December.

Then there’s Pitt, quietly sitting at 4–1 after dismantling Georgia Tech. Kenny Pickett is gone, but Kedon Slovis has stepped in and kept the offense humming. I’ve always been impressed by how Pitt develops quarterbacks, and Slovis is no exception—he’s thrown for 1,124 yards and 8 touchdowns so far, with a passer rating of 148.6. But what really stands out to me is their defensive front. They held Georgia Tech to just 73 rushing yards, and that kind of dominance in the trenches is what wins championships. Personally, I think Pitt is flying under the radar, and if they can get past a tricky stretch against Virginia Tech and Louisville, they could easily find themselves in the conference title conversation.

Of course, we can’t talk about the ACC without mentioning the Coastal Division, which remains as unpredictable as ever. Miami’s loss to Middle Tennessee earlier this season still baffles me—it’s the kind of upset that makes you question everything you thought you knew. But they’ve shown flashes of resilience since then, and Tyler Van Dyke’s arm talent is undeniable. Still, consistency is the issue. In my view, the Coastal is wide open, with teams like UNC, Duke, and even Virginia capable of stringing together a few wins and crashing the party. It’s messy, but honestly, that’s what makes it fun to watch.

Stepping back, the ACC feels more wide open than it has in years. The established hierarchy has been upended, and new contenders are emerging. It reminds me of Alex Eala’s run in Miami—a relatively unheralded talent taking down giants, rewriting the script in real time. In football terms, we’re seeing the same thing: teams like NC State and Pitt seizing their moment, while traditional powers scramble to find their footing. As a longtime observer, I love this kind of unpredictability. It keeps us on our toes, forces us to rethink our assumptions, and ultimately makes the sport more compelling. Will Clemson rebound? Can Wake Forest fix their turnover issues? I don’t have all the answers, but I know this—the road to the ACC Championship just got a lot more interesting.