Several years ago, the ACC made a move that would change the sports world as we know it and make one weekend in February one of the greatest in all of sports. The first UNC/Duke matchup was historically on a weekday night up until the 2020 season when the ACC moved it to the first Saturday in February. Depending on when that Saturday fell, that meant the first UNC/Duke game could conceivably be played the Saturday before the Super Bowl—and for the first time since 2021, that is happening this weekend.
Of course, there is more to the ACC than just two storied programs that have 11 national titles and four hall of fame coaches between them, but this is the biggest weekend in sports and well, yeah.
So without further ado, here are this week’s ACC Men’s Basketball Power Rankings.
1. Duke Blue Devils (21-1, 10-0)
Last Game: won 67-49 against Boston College
The Blue Devils won their 21st straight game against ACC opponents with their win over the Eagles. Not only was the win against Boston College their tenth straight win for the second time this season, it was also Duke’s sixth straight win by at least 14 points. The Blue Devils will look to make it 11 straight wins for the second time this season, as well as four straight wins in the rivalry series, when they travel to take on a Tar Heels team that is 13-0 at home this season on Saturday night.
Next Game: at North Carolina (2/7)
2. Clemson Tigers (18-4, 8-1)
Last Game: won 63-52 against Pittsburgh
The Tigers continued their impressive season with their win over the Panthers. Clemson, who have now won 11 of their past 12 games, will look to not fall victim to the dreaded West Coast road trip starting this Wednesday against the Cardinal.
Next Game: at Stanford (2/4)
3. Virginia Cavaliers (19-3, 8-2)
Last Game: won 67-47 against Pittsburgh
The Cavaliers won their third straight game since a home loss to North Carolina. The win against the Panthers was also Virginia’s eighth in their last nine. The Cavaliers will look to keep their place near the top of the conference when they welcome in Syracuse on Saturday.
Next Game: vs Syracuse (2/7)
4. NC State Wolfpack (17-6, 8-2)
Last Game: won 84-83 against SMU
The Wolfpack won their fifth straight game since an odd home loss to Georgia Tech by overcoming an eight-point deficit at halftime, and then held on by blocking the Mustangs game-winning shot at the buzzer. NC State, who have also now won 10 of their past 12 games, will look to keep the wins coming as they welcome in the Hokies this weekend.
Next Game: vs Virginia Tech (2/7)
5. North Carolina Tar Heels (18-4, 6-3)
Last Game: won 87-77 against Syracuse
The Tar Heels, who are winners of four straight since their deflating West Coast road trip, did what they needed to do and didn’t slip up in their trap game against the Orange on Monday. Though the ending wasn’t to anyone’s standards, just the fact that North Carolina came out on top was a victory in a game that has not been kind to them the past six seasons (1-5 in the game before the first Duke game). Up next for the Tar Heels is one of the biggest games of the ACC season as they host the rival Blue Devils on Saturday.
Next Game: vs Duke (2/7)
6. Louisville Cardinals (15-6, 5-4)
Last Game: won 88-74 against SMU
The Cardinals have now won two of their past three games since the return of Mikel Brown Jr, the latest being a big home win over the Mustangs. Louisville, who is still looking for a signature win in conference play, will look to avoid a resume-damaging home loss to a Fighting Irish team that can get hot from behind the arc.
Next Game: vs Notre Dame (2/4)
7. Miami Hurricanes (17-5, 6-3)
Last Game: lost against California 86-85
After looking as though they had righted the ship with wins over Syracuse and Stanford, the Hurricanes lost at home to the Golden Bears. Miami will look to get things back on track Saturday when they travel to play an Eagles squad that is pesky but should be another W for Miami.
Next Game: at Boston College (2/7)
8. Virginia Tech Hokies (16-7, 5-5)
Last Game: lost against Duke 72-58
The Hokies continue to hover around .500 in conference play as their at large chances continue to hover around the bubble. Virginia Tech never really gave the Blue Devil’s much of a fight in their latest attempt to add another quality win to their resume. The Hokies will look to fix that this weekend when they travel to take on a Wolfpack squad that has been vulnerable at home this season.
Next Game: at NC State (2/7)
9. SMU Mustangs (15-7, 4-5)
Last Game: lost against NC State 84-83
The Mustangs looked well on their way to yet another home win over a team from North Carolina before getting blitzed in the second half by the Wolfpack. Give SMU credit for fighting back and giving themselves a chance to win with the last shot, only to fall just short. The Mustangs will look to get back to .500 in conference play when they travel to take on the Panthers on Saturday.
Next Game: at Pittsburgh (2/7)
10. California Golden Bears (16-6, 4-5)
Last Game: won 86-85 against Miami
The Golden Bears kept their at-large hopes alive with their one-point road win over the Hurricanes after torpedoing th0se hopes earlier in the week with a loss to Florida State. The win over Miami pairs nicely with California’s other big wins over UNC and UCLA. The Golden Bears will look to get back to even in conference play when they welcome in the Yellow Jackets on Wednesday.
Next Game: vs Georgia Tech (2/4)
11. Syracuse Orange (13-10, 4-6)
Last Game: lost against North Carolina 87-77
Give the Orange credit, they did not lay down and die when the Tar Heels got up by 32. Instead, they fought back and made the game a close one with just about two minutes to go. Moral victories aside, Syracuse is still looking for another marquee win this season to go with their earlier victory over Tennessee and will look to get that this weekend when they travel to play the 18th-ranked Cavaliers in Charlottesville.
Next Game: at Virginia (2/7)
12. Florida State Seminoles (10-12, 3-6)
Last Game: won 88-80 against Stanford
The Seminoles have now won two straight games and three of their past four since opening ACC play with five straight losses. The two wins this past week over California and the Cardinal gave Florida State three wins against the Golden State this season (maybe the Seminoles should relocate to the new Pac12 instead of the SEC). Florida State will look to make it three in a row when they travel to take on a flailing Irish team this weekend.
Next Game: at Notre Dame (2/7)
13. Stanford Cardinal (14-8, 3-6)
Last Game: lost 88-80 against Florida State
The Cardinal have now lost four straight games since their huge home win over North Carolina three weeks ago. Losses to ranked teams like Duke and Virginia are understandable; a loss to the Seminoles is not. Stanford will welcome the Tigers to town this week.
Next Game: vs Clemson (2/4)
14. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-11, 2-7)
Last Game: lost against North Carolina 91-75
The Yellow Jackets lost their third straight game on Saturday with their home defeat to the Tar Heels. Georgia Tech, who has now lost seven of their last nine games, will look to get back on the winning track as they make the West Coast Road Trip this week starting with the Golden Bears on Wednesday.
Next Game: at California (2/4)
15. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-11, 2-7)
Last Game: lost against Syracuse 86-72
After nearly upsetting Virginia, the Fighting Irish fell for the seventh time in their past eight games with their loss to the Orange. Notre Dame’s only win during that stretch was a four-point win over Boston College. The Irish will look to get their first signature win of the season when they travel to take on the Cardinals on Wednesday evening.
Next Game: at Louisville (2/4)
16. Boston College Eagles (9-13, 2-7)
Last Game: lost against Duke 67-49
The Eagles loss to the Blue Devils was their third straight. Boston College will look to avoid their second four-game conference losing streak of the season when they welcome in the Hurricanes this Saturday.
Next Game: vs Miami (2/7)
17. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (11-11, 2-7)
Last Game: lost against NC State 96-78
The Demon Deacons find themselves continuing their free fall to the bottom of these rankings after losing eight of their past ten games, including a current four-game skid. Wake Forest most recent loss resulted in a sweep by the Wolfpack for the first time since 2023. The Deacons will look to end this current losing spell with a home victory over the Cardinals on Saturday.
Next Game: vs Louisville (2/7)
18. Pittsburgh Panthers (9-14, 2-8)
Last Game: lost against Virginia 67-47
The Panthers lost their second game since beating Wake Forest to end their third three-game losing streak of the season, which is one three-game losing streak more than they have conference wins so far this season. Pittsburgh will look to avoid a fourth such streak when they welcome in SMU this weekend.
Next Game: vs SMU (2/7)