Jack Nevins gives his ACC basketball power rankings heading into week 4 of the 2025-26 season.
Week 3 team of the week: Duke Blue Devils
Week 3 game of the week: No. 15 Texas Tech vs. Wake Forest
Week 3 player of the week: Cameron Boozer, Duke
Week 4 matchup of the week: #16 North Carolina at #12 Michigan State (Nov. 27 – 4:30 p.m. EST)
Week 4 under-the-radar matchup of the week: Syracuse at Kansas (Nov. 25 – 3:30 p.m. EST)
1) Duke Blue Devils
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)
Record: 7-0 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Niagara (100-42), W vs. Howard (93-56)
Next week: vs. No. 22 Arkansas (Nov. 27 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: Texas, Kansas
Bad losses: None
The Blue Devils enter their toughest part of their season over the next two weeks. First, they take on Arkansas and coach Calipari, followed by the National ChampionsFlorida, to then finish up their gauntlet with Michigan State on the road. Duke will see their first real test of the season over this stretch.
2) Louisville Cardinals
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-)
Record: 5-0 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Cincinnati (74-64)
Next week: vs. Eastern Michigan (Nov. 24 – 7 p.m.), vs. NJIT (Nov. 26 – 9 p.m.)
Quality wins: Kentucky, Cincinnati
Bad losses: None
The Cardinals continue their stretch in the ACC. After taking down an undefeated Cincinnati team, Louisville has two more easy games before they enter the stretch of number Arkansas, Memphis, Indiana, and Tennessee. The Cardinals are proving to be a contender out of the ACC and are trying to take the top spot over Duke in the ACC basketball power rankings.
3) North Carolina Tar Heels
Last week’s ranking: 3 (-)
Record: 5-0 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Navy (73-61)
Next week: vs. St. Bonaventure (Nov. 25 – 6 p.m.), vs. #12 Michigan St. (Nov. 27 – 4:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Kansas
Bad losses: None
Caleb Wilson continues to lead this Tar Heels team, averaging 20.6 points per game. UNC gets Michigan State and Kentucky to put them to the real test. After a good win over Kansas to start the season, Coach Izzo will get UNC at home.
4) NC State Wolfpack
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-)
Record: 4-0 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. VCU (85-79)
Next week: vs. Seton Hall (Nov. 24 – 2:30 p.m.), vs. USC OR Boise State (Nov. 25 – TBD), vs. TBD (Nov. 26 – TBD)
NC State has climbed up the ranks in the ACC and has become a powerhouse this season. They have a few tough games down the line with Auburn and Kansas, where they wrap up their ranked opponents before conference play.
5) SMU Mustangs
Record: 6-0 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (106-60), W vs. Central Arkansas (100-69)
Next week: vs. Radford (Nov. 24 – 8 p.m.), at. Mississippi State (Nov. 28 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: None
SMU is off to its best start since 2015. The Mustangs hit the century mark for the third time in four games in their victories over Arkansas Pine Bluff and Arkansas State. The Mustangs rank in the top 30 of the country in scoring (93.3), field goal percentage (51.2%), assists (19.8), steals (11.3), and turnovers forced (17.8). They continue their success with an easy schedule leading up to conference play.
6) Syracuse Orange
Last week’s ranking: 7 (+1)
Record: 5-0 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Monmouth (78-73)
Next week: vs. #3 Houston (Nov. 24 – 6 p.m.), vs. Kansas (Nov. 25 – 3:30 p.m.), vs. TBD (Nov. 26 OR 27 – TBD)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: None
The Orange are 4-0 for the first time since 2017-18 as they face a difficult draw against #3 Houston and Kansas in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. SU has scored 78 points in all four games and owns the No. 1-ranked defense with a defensive rating of 77.8, thanks to William Kyle III averaging 3.3 blocks per game. Eight players are averaging at least five points a game.
7) Virginia Tech Hokies
Last week’s ranking: 6 (-1)
Record: 5-0 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Bryant (78-61)
Next week: vs. Colorado State (Nov. 26 – 5 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: None
Virginia Tech is 5-0 for the first time in three seasons. The Hokies are 35th in the nation in scoring (95.2). 44th in offensive efficiency (122.5) and 11th in field goal attempts (69.2). Four players are averaging at least 12 points a game, with Toibu Lawal compiling a double-double (14.8 points, 12.0 rebounds) and Neoklis Avadalas (15.2 points, 5.8 assists) among the leaders.
8) Clemson Tigers
Last week’s ranking: 4 (-4)
Record: 6-1 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. West Virginia (70-67), W vs. Georgia (97-94)
Next week: vs. Alabama A&M (Nov. 28– 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: West Virginia, Georgia
Bad losses: None
Clemson swept their three games this past week, including tight victories over WVU (70-67) and Georgia (97-94 OT) to win the Charleston Classic. The Tigers’ bench, which is known for their depth, five deep, was key to their victories in Charleston. Clemson bench players scored 61 points and outscored their opponents by nine over the last two games.
9) Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Last week’s ranking: 17 (+8)
Record: 4-2 (0-0)
Last week: L vs. #11 Texas Tech (84-83), W vs. Memphis (69-68)
Next week: vs. Campbell (Nov. 25 – 7 p.m.), vs. Northeastern (Nov. 28 – 12 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: None
Wake Forest bounced back from a one-point loss to No. 11 Texas Tech in the opening round of the Baha Mar Championship with a buzzer-beating win over Memphis (69-68) in the consolation game. Juke Harris continued his outstanding start with a pair of double-doubles in the Bahamas while Myles Covin, who hit the game-winning three-pointer, tallied 19 points in each contest. Wake Forest has shown flashes as they lost to Michigan in overtime earlier in the season.
10) Virginia Cavaliers
Record: 5-1 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Northwestern (83-78), L vs. Butler (80-73)
Next week: vs. Queens (Nov. 28 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: Butler
Virginia went 1-1 in the Greenbrier Tip-off Tournament Mountain Division, defeating Northwestern (83-78) on the opening day before falling to Butler (80-73) on Sunday. Thijs De Ridder and senior guard Malik Thomas led the way for the Cavaliers in West Virginia.
11) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Last week’s ranking: 9 (-2)
Record: 5-1 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Georgia Southern (68-66), W vs. West Georgia (82-66)
Next week: vs. DePaul (Nov. 28 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: None
Georgia Tech is 5-1 after just six games for the second time in the last 10 seasons. The Yellow Jackets are seventh in defensive rating at 83.1, but they rank 343rd offensively. They also outrebound opponents by nearly four boards per game. Mouhamed Sylla, who averages a double-double for the season, and Baye Ndongo combined for 24 points, 18 rebounds, and two blocks a game. The Yellow Jackets cruise into conference play with an easy remainder for non-conference games.
12) Miami Hurricanes
Last week’s ranking: 15 (+3)
Record: 5-1 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Elon (99-72), W vs. Delaware St. (97-41)
Next week: vs. No. 9 BYU (Nov. 27 – 5 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: None
Miami went 2-1, beating Elon and Delaware State after falling to number 10 Florida the week before. Senior forward Malik Reneau has scored at least 19 points in all six games this year, and is second in points per game in the ACC with 21.5.
13) California Golden Bears
Last week’s ranking: 16 (+3)
Record: 5-1 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Presbyterian (67-57), W vs. Sacramento St. (91-67)
Next week:
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: None
Cal went 2-0 this past week. The Golden Bears are top 100 offensively, averaging 85.2 points while shooting 49.2% from the field and 36.3% from the 3-point line. Syracuse transfer Chris Bell is finally coming into his own as he has scored in double-figures in each of his last five appearances, including putting up 21 points against Sacramento State this week.
14) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Last week’s ranking: 14 (-)
Record: 3-1 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Bellarmine (86-79))
Next week: vs. No. 24 Kansas (Nov. 24 – 3:30 p.m.), vs. Rutgers (Nov. 25 – 1 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: None
Notre Dame followed its narrow loss to Ohio State with a close victory over Bellarmine in its lone game this week. Leading scorer Markus Burton (19.4 points) topped the 20-point mark for the third time this season against Bellarmine. Meanwhile, freshman Jalen Haralson has emerged as a reliable shot-maker over his last three appearances, totaling 46 points on 17 of 28 shooting (60.7%).
15) Florida State Seminoles
Last week’s ranking: 10 (-5)
Record: 4-1 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. UT Martin (87-73), W vs. Georgia Souther (98-72)
Next week: vs. Bakersfield (Nov. 25 – 7 p.m.), vs. Texas A&M (Nov. 28 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: None
FSU followed up its two-point loss to Florida with easy victories over UT Martin and Georgia Southern. St. Bonaventure transfer Lajae Jones continues his rise and leads the Seminoles with 17.8 points on 46.7% shooting from the field and 3.4 threes at a 42.5% clip.
16) Stanford Cardinal
Last week’s ranking: 11 (-5)
Record: 4-1 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Louisiana (93-66), L vs. Seattle U (77-69)
Next week: vs. Minnesota (Nov. 27 – 9:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: Seattle U
Stanford had its four-game winning streak snapped with an eight-point home loss to Seattle as star freshman Ebuka Okorie finished with 17 points, on 5 of 15 shooting, thus snapping his run of scoring at least 20 points at four games. This upset from Seattle set the Cardinal back, and maybe they are not the team many thought they would be.
17) Pittsburgh Panthers
Last week’s ranking: 12 (-5)
Record: 4-3 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Bucknell (84-50), L vs. UCF (77-67), L vs. Quinnipiac (83-75)
Next week: vs. Ohio State (Nov. 28 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: Quinnipiac
Unlike their football team who just upset number 16 Georgia Tech, their basketball team seems to be quickly hitting rock bottom. Pitt went 1-2 this past week, losing to UCF in the Legends Classic and then falling to Quinnipiac by eight. Defense was a huge issue for the Panthers in the last two games, as opponents are shooting 54.5% from the field (60-110) and 48.5% from the 3-point line (17-35).
18) Boston College Eagles
Last week’s ranking: 18 (-)
Record: 3-4 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Hampton (63-52), L vs. Davidson (59-49), L vs. Tulane (93-90)
Next week: vs. Harvard (Nov. 26 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: Central Connecticut
BC suffers yet two more losses and is looking for a possible spark, but this may not be so likely as their season seems like it is already over. BC went 1-2 this past week, losing to Davidson by 10 and Tulane in OT in the Charleston Classic. Sophomore forward Jayden Hastings had his first career double-double against Davidson, while Donald Hand added 40 points in the Charleston Classic, with 26 coming against Tulane, but they still could not hold on, and sit dead last in the ACC.