The best non-conference win, through two weeks, for an ACC Football program, using the ESPN Football Power Index as the guide?
North Carolina’s 15-10 win over TCU (FPI: 41) in Ireland in Week 0.
The best FPI win overall: SMU’s 27-24 win at FSU (FPI: 37) on Labor Day.
The first two weeks, plus Week 0, hasn’t given us much in terms of getting to know what we have in 2026.
Week 3 should give us the beginning of some clarity.
- #5 Miami (FPI: 5) at Wake Forest (FPI: 52)
- #16 SMU (FPI: 24) at #23 Louisville (FPI: 28)
- #25 Virginia (FPI: 25) vs. West Virginia (FPI: 61)
- Virginia Tech (FPI: 31) at Maryland (FPI: 45)
- FSU (FPI: 37) at #10 Alabama (FPI: 7)
- Duke (FPI: 40) hosts Stanford (FPI: 87)
- North Carolina (FPI: 42) at Clemson (FPI: 46)
- NC State (FPI: 58) at Vanderbilt (FPI: 39)
Happy trails: Georgia Tech
We already have clarity on Georgia Tech, which was undefeated and ranked in the Top 10 nationally into November last year, then lost four of their last five.
The Jackets are off to an 0-2 start in 2026, losing 14-13 to Colorado on a blocked field goal on the final play in Week 1, then getting boatraced 45-24 at home by Tennessee in Week 2.
The Vols gashed the Tech defense for 299 yards on the ground in the beatdown in Atlanta.
Team of the Week: Duke
Illinois is, technically, in the Big Ten, so, Duke’s 31-27 win at Illinois on Saturday is a P4 road win.
The 17-3 Duke win over Tulane in their opener is also, technically, a win over a program that was in the CFP last year, though the coach and a bunch of his players and staff bolted for Florida after their run last fall, and Tulane followed up its Week 1 loss in Durham with a narrow 28-24 win over South Alabama in Week 2.
My early favorite for Team of the Week in Week 3
Virginia Tech has a toughie on the road at Maryland.
I don’t see FSU winning at Alabama, but an upset there would guarantee the honor for the ‘Noles.
Assuming there that Wake Forest doesn’t somehow beat Miami in Winston-Salem.
I’ll go with Virginia Tech as my favorite going into the chutes.
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Chris Graham
