For the past three years, it was Florida State. The Seminoles won the big games, including the ACC Championship Game and even a national title. Dabo Swinney and his Tigers had to watch as Florida State kept winning at their expense. This year, it's Clemson's turn.
With its win over Florida State on Saturday, Clemson did much more than improve to 9-0 on the season. It clinched the ACC's Atlantic division, and officially ended the Seminoles' run at a fourth straight conference title. With Florida State taking a second loss, and a one-loss team likely not having a shot in the weak ACC, Clemson is now the conference's last hope at being represented in this year's College Football Playoff. The Tigers are No. 1 in the latest AP poll and will likely remain atop the College Football Playoff rankings. This year, Clemson is the team to beat instead of the one everyone expects to see lose.
The Tigers are only four wins away from playing on New Year's Eve. Whether or not they make it there, it's fair to say Dabo Swinney has already established this team as elite. Nobody is doubting this team's credibility anymore, and now it has a real shot at making history.
ACC Atlantic Power Rankings
1. Clemson (last week: 1)
Clemson has spent all year earning the No. 1 spot in the Atlantic, and on Saturday proved once and for all they're the best team in the division by clinching a spot in the ACC Championship game.
2. Florida State (last week: 2)
Florida State had only a glimmer of hope for the College Football Playoff as a one-loss team in the ACC, but the Seminoles saw both their national and conference hopes disappear all at once Saturday.
3. Louisville (last week: 3)
The Cardinals won by their second-largest margin this season when they beat Syracuse 41-17. Louisville is now a win away from a bowl game with three winnable games still on the schedule.
4. NC State (last week: 5)
Defense was the key to the Wolfpack's 24-8 victory over Boston College, in which the Eagles ran for only 28 yards and less than a yard per carry. The win makes NC State bowl-eligible for the fifth time in six years.
5. Wake Forest (last week: 6)
It was a bye week for the Demon Deacons, who need to win out to make a bowl game. Wake Forest's last three games are against Notre Dame, Clemson, and Duke, so good luck with that.
6. Syracuse (last week: 4)
The Orange took another bad loss at the hands of Louisville this week. Syracuse will also need to win out to make a bowl (and maybe save Scott Shafer's job), but the Orange host the No. 1 team in the country this week when Clemson comes to the Carrier Dome.
7. Boston College (last week: 7)
The Eagles became the first ACC team to guarantee a sub-.500 season with their seventh loss Saturday. Boston College's offense couldn't do anything against NC State, and will not be bowling.
ACC Coastal Power Rankings
1. North Carolina (last week: 1)
Talk about a statement win. The Tar Heels didn't just beat the rival Blue Devils on Saturday, they destroyed them. The 66-31 win put North Carolina in the top 25, and (for now) dismissed any doubt of who the best team in the Coastal is.
2. Pittsburgh (last week: 2)
The Panthers couldn't quite get over the hump and beat No. 5 Notre Dame this week. Luckily, the Irish aren't technically an ACC opponent and Pittsburgh stays just a game behind North Carolina in the standings.
3. Duke (last week: 3)
Duke has now lost two in a row and needs everything to go its way in order to make the ACC Championship. It looks like another middle-of-the-road season for the Blue Devils.
4. Miami (last week: 5)
The success of the post-Al Golden era continues. Miami beat Virginia to improve to 2-0 without Golden, further fueling the Hurricanes fans who wanted him gone earlier.
5. Virginia Tech (last week: 4)
A bye week for the Hokies, who could use some extra time to prepare for their final push for a bowl game. Virginia Tech needs to win two of its last three to go bowling, and games against Virginia and Georgia Tech make that a good possibility.
6. Georgia Tech (last week: 7)
No game for Georgia Tech this week, either, but the Yellow Jackets need more than some extra thinking time to salvage their season. The onetime favorites to win the Coastal now sit at the bottom of the standings.
7. Virginia (last week: 6)
Virginia may have two conference wins, but they came against Georgia Tech and Syracuse. A loss to Miami this week means the Cavaliers will need to pick up wins over Louisville and Duke to see a bowl game.