Three teams separating themselves from pack in ACC

Week 3 just finished up in the Atlantic Coast Conference, so it’s still early. But at this point in the 2025 college football season, three teams are separating themselves from the pack in the ACC’s pecking order.

The cream of the crop in the league thus far is No. 5 Miami (3-0), which crushed No. 18 South Florida at home on Saturday, 49-12. The Hurricanes also defeated Notre Dame in the season opener, although the No. 8 Fighting Irish are 0-2 after falling to No. 16 Texas A&M on Saturday night in a thriller, 41-40.

The two other top teams in the ACC at this juncture are Georgia Tech and No. 10 Florida State. The Yellow Jackets (3-0), on Saturday afternoon in Atlanta, stunned No. 12 Clemson, 24-21, when Georgia Tech connected on a 55-yard field goal as time expired. The Yellow Jackets also have a road conquest of Colorado on their resume.

The Seminoles (2-0) had a bye this weekend. But in Week 1, Florida State beat Alabama, 31-17, in Tallahassee, Fla. If the No. 19 Crimson Tide end up as one of the best teams in the Southeastern Conference, that victory for FSU over Alabama will only look better and better.

Premier ACC teams have emerged, but it’s still early

While Miami, Georgia Tech and Florida State appear to be the three premier teams in the ACC, it’s early in the 2025 campaign. Yes, Clemson is 1-2 overall, although if the Tigers win out — and they play Florida State, but not Miami — Clemson can repeat as ACC champs.

Florida State and Miami play each other. Georgia Tech’s remaining schedule is favorable, but the Yellow Jackets do have to face No. 6 Georgia in their regular-season finale.

Other undefeated ACC teams include N.C. State (3-0), California (3-0) and Louisville (2-0). The Wolfpack still has to play Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Miami and Florida State. That’s tough.

Cal’s remaining 2025 docket isn’t overly daunting. The Bears have to compete against Louisville and SMU, among others. The Cardinals get Miami on the road and Clemson at home.

Among one-loss ACC teams, Pittsburgh on Saturday night blew a fourth-quarter lead on the road against West Virginia, with the Panthers ultimately losing 31-24 in overtime. North Carolina, SMU and Syracuse haven’t done anything overly impressive thus far.

In notable Week 4 ACC action, Clemson will host Syracuse, SMU is at TCU, North Carolina is at UCF and Florida travels to Miami.