TNIAAM ACC Football 2014 Season Power Rankings: Week 13

Each week, the TNIAAM football staff ranks all 14 ACC teams in a completely subjective manner, just like everyone else on the internet. Feel like we're completely off base? Chime in with your own ACC power rankings below.

Welp, no bowl game for Syracuse. You probably expected it, but it doesn't make it hurt less, y'know? Other teams are in similar spots, though, so if you want to change your mindset when reading through these rankings, perhaps you focus on that? Otherwise, not sure what else to say. This sucks, though the conference at least has a few quality teams (hooray for them). And if you're at all curious about who's a #disloyalidiot? Here's the voting breakdown.

1. Florida State Seminoles (10-0) (7-0) (LW: 1)

Last Week: W, 30-26 over Miami; Next Week: vs. Boston College

Highest Position: 1; Lowest Position: 1

"Dead" again, Florida State still refused to truly die, gutting out a tight -- but well-earned -- victory over the rival Miami Hurricanes. Everyone keeps saying Jameis Winston can't do it all, but based on what we've seen in this year's comeback wins, perhaps he can. Granted, the big key to these second-half turnarounds could be defensive improvements, but Winston also simply knows how to put this team in position to win late.

2. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-2) (6-2) (LW: 5)

Last Week: W, 28-6 over Clemson; Next Week: Bye

Highest Position: 2; Lowest Position: 5

Might as well stop doubting this team. Georgia Tech's grabbed nine wins in 11 games, re-inspired faith in Paul Johnson as a coach, and even re-inspired some faith in their triple-option attack, too. On Saturday, however, you really had to hand it to this Tech defense against Clemson. No matter who was throwing, the Wreck completely shut them down and might have knocked a million dollars off Chad Morris's offseason pricetag in the process.

3. Louisville Cardinals (7-3) (5-3) (LW: 4)

Last Week: Bye; Next Week: at Notre Dame

Highest Position: 2; Lowest Position: 5

Louisville can't win the Atlantic, but the Cardinals still have plenty to play for this season over the final two games. Beat both Notre Dame and Kentucky, and they may end up playing in the Orange Bowl as the best non-Florida State team in the ACC. While Notre Dame is still considered a formidable opponent, they have shown vulnerability in recent weeks (especially after losing to Northwestern), and it wouldn't be a shock to see 'Ville knock them off.

4. Clemson Tigers (7-3) (6-2) (LW: 2)

Last Week: L, 28-6 to Louisville Next Week: vs. Georgia State

Highest Position: 2; Lowest Position: 6

Welp... that was the egg folks had been expecting from this Clemson offense for weeks. For once, the Tigers' defense just couldn't save them, and the offense just completely unraveled in front of a national audience early Saturday. Clemson's big postseason dreams aren't dead yet -- win out and they could still make the Orange Bowl -- but the big loss to the Wreck will likely sting for quite awhile.

5. Duke Blue Devils (8-2) (4-2) (LW: 3)

Last Week: L, 17-16 to Virginia Tech; Next Week: vs. North Carolina

Highest Position: 3; Lowest Position: 6

Like Clemson, this one was a few weeks in the making for Duke too. Though the timing really could not have been worse for the Blue Devils, who could have set themselves up to be within one win of a second straight division title going into this Thursday's game with UNC. Now, with Tech's ACC slate all wrapped up, Duke is forced to win out if they hope to head back to Charlotte and perhaps to the Orange Bowl, too. And to think, just days ago, this was in our future...

6. Miami Hurricanes (6-4) (3-3) (LW: 6)

Last Week: L, 30-26 to Florida State; Next Week: at Virginia

Highest Position: 2; Lowest Position: 7

Soooo close, Miami. And while this team could be a "year away" with Brad Kaaya at the helm, you have to wonder what happens to this running game without Duke Johnson. Joseph Yearby seems like he may be able to pick up part of the load on the ground, but as the 'Canes saw later in the FSU game: things just aren't the same without Johnson carrying the ball. Still, the tone's set that this Miami team will be much improved for 2015.

7. Boston College Eagles (6-4) (3-3) (LW: 7)

Last Week: Bye; Next Week: at Florida State

Highest Position: 7; Lowest Position: 8

Not to read too far into things, but could this upcoming matchup with Florida State be the scene of BC's second huge upset of the season? The Eagles are coming off a bye, while the 'Noles pulled out yet another emotionally draining close win, so I suppose it's within the realm of possibility. But with an increasing number of Boston College players banged up and a lack of speed to compete with FSU, I'll hold off on those sorts of predictions... for now.

8. North Carolina Tar Heels (5-5) (3-3) (LW: 8)

Last Week: W, 40-35 over Pittsburgh; Next Week: at Duke

Highest Position: 8; Lowest Position: 12

The Heels have two games left to win one game. Unfortunately for them, those final two are against their biggest rivals, Duke and NC State. But with their backs to the wall in recent years, UNC does tend to rise to the occasion (plus, I'm none too impressed with State anyway), and for what it's worth, we all know they're better than their 5-5 record shows, too. A 6-6 campaign will cut it this year, but the pressure is building for Larry Fedora to deliver next year now

9. Virginia Tech Hokies (5-5) (2-4) (LW: 12)

Last Week: W, 17-16 over Duke; Next Week: at Wake Forest

Highest Position: 8; Lowest Position: 12

Like a couple years ago when the Hokies seemed as if they were about to let their bowl streak end, they found the strength to blow through their last few opponents and finish with a winning record. We're about to see the same thing all over again. With Wake and UVa remaining, a left-for-dead, 4-5 Tech team could finish 7-5 in the regular season despite a lack of any discernible offensive attack. That's quite an accomplishment.

10. Virginia Cavaliers (4-6) (2-4) (LW: 10)

Last Week: Bye; Next Week: vs. Miami

Highest Position: 7; Lowest Position: 12

Mike London's fired, right? I mean, he has to be. Despite a strong start, UVa's offense has mostly crapped out and now they're likely to finish 4-8. That's not okay for any team, but especially one like the Hoos who have continually fallen short of (admittedly unrealistic) expectations and have squandered a lot of talented players on both sides of the football in recent seasons.

T-11. Pittsburgh Panthers (4-6) (2-4) (LW: 9)

Last Week: L, 40-35 to North Carolina; Next Week: vs. Syracuse

Highest Position: 9; Lowest Position: 11

Pitt's on the brink of disaster, like a lot of other Coastal teams. So of course, to help ease the pain, they're set to face the Orange. Syracuse's defense will challenge the Panthers a bit, but how can they stop the running game powered by James Conner? This will be a close one, but if Pitt was going to get to bowl eligibility this year, they have to beat Syracuse (obviously).

T-11. NC State Wolfpack (6-5) (2-5) (LW: 11)

Last Week: W, 42-13 over Wake Forest; Next Week: Bye

Highest Position: 8; Lowest Position: 12

State's not in great shape as a team, but wins are wins, and six wins are definitely six wins. The Wolfpack will bowling this season, just 12 months removed from a 3-9 campaign. And why? Smart scheduling. Sure their non-conference slate was deplorable this year, but they got four wins out of that, so two more equaled bowl eligibility. The growth will come, but they're willing to play in the mud first and get those all-important extra practices now -- so they pay off later.

13. Syracuse Orange (3-7) (1-5) (LW: 13)

Last Week: Bye; Next Week: at Pittsburgh

Highest Position: 13; Lowest Position: 13

You should know what's wrong with Syracuse football already. But how do we fix it. Perhaps you've read Sean's three-part series last week, but I'd highly recommend you read it again. This is the way forward, and until the Orange start adopting at least a few practices outlined there, we're destined for mediocrity. Let's not be destined for mediocrity, SU Athletics. Start improving football now.

14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-8) (0-6) (LW: 14)

Last Week: L, 42-13 to NC State; Next Week: vs. Virginia Tech

Highest Position: 14; Lowest Position: 14

Another week in ACC play, another massacre. If there's one thing Syracuse fans can take solace in, it's that we're not at the depths of Wake Forest yet. The once-proud Deacs have a very long way to go, but Dave Clawson seems like a very capable coach. We should keep an eye on how things progress down in Winston-Salem in the coming years. If Wake surpasses SU, who knows how far these depths may go.