ACC Power Rankings 2016: Week 1

Sometimes, the Wolfpack tend to be the forgotten team in the Tar Heel State, especially when rivals North Carolina, Wake Forest and Duke have actually been to the conference title game while N.C. State has been watching from home. A convincing win over William and Mary will help give them some momentum as the will have to face divisional opponents that you are going to read recaps about.

The defending conference champs were supposed to come out this weekend against Auburn and absolutely dominate en route to their eventual showdown with Florida State in nearly two months. Instead, Deshaun Watson and Dabo Swinney were brought back to earth and were pretty darn close to getting upset. For that, they get knocked down a peg for one week.

While much of the attention in the ACC this season – and, in particular, the Atlantic Division – is paid to both Clemson and Florida State, the Cardinals showed they have no intention of being left out this season. Eight touchdowns by quarterback Lamar Jackson in the opening game win over Charlotte is keeping them in the conversation (especially with the Seminoles coming to down in just over a week).

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