Jack Nevins gives his ACC basketball power rankings heading into week 6 of the 2025-26 season.
Week 5 team of the week: Duke Blue Devils
Week 5 game of the week: No. 13 Tennessee at Syracuse
Week 5 player of the week: Cameron Boozer, Duke
Week 6 matchup of the week: #19 Kansas at NC State (Dec. 13 – 5:30 p.m. EST)
Week 6 under-the-radar matchup of the week: SMU at LSU (Dec. 13 – 8:30 p.m. EST)
1) Duke Blue Devils
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)
Record: 10-0 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. #15 Florida (67-66), W at #11 Michigan State (66-60)
Next week: None
Quality wins: at Michigan State, Florida, Kansas (Neutral), Arkansas, Texas
Bad losses: None
With a tight win over number 15 Florida in an ACC-SEC Challenge game, with a clutch 3-pointer from Isaiah Evans in the final seconds and a big scoring night from Cameron Boozer, scoring 29 points. The Blue Devils also took down number 11 Michigan State on the road, making it their 5th ranked win this season out of 10 games.
2) Louisville Cardinals
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-)
Record: 8-1 (0-0)
Last week: L vs. #25 Arkansas (89-80), W at Indiana (87-78)
Next week: vs. Memphis (Dec. 13 – 3:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Indiana, Kentucky, Cincinnati
Bad losses: None
The Cardinals lost 89–80 at the Arkansas Razorbacks, making it their first loss of the season. The offense showed flashes, but they couldn’t keep pace after Arkansas built a lead. This is just a bump in the road as it is still early season, but this loss may put some pressure on them to bounce back quickly.
3) North Carolina Tar Heels
Last week’s ranking: 3 (-)
Record: 8-1 (0-0)
Last week: W at #18 Kentucky (67-64), W vs. Georgetown (81-61)
Next week: vs. SC Upstate (Dec. 13 – 3:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Kansas, at Kentucky, Georgetown
Bad losses: None
The Tar Heels beat Kentucky 67–64 in their ACC/SEC Challenge game, a very strong non-conference résumé boost, with Caleb Wilson still proving why he can be the best player in the ACC. This creates good momentum building as ACC play approaches.
4) SMU Mustangs
Last week’s ranking: 4 (-)
Record: 9-1 (0-0)
Last week: L at #17 Vanderbilt (88-69), W vs. Texas A&M (93-80)
Next week: vs. LSU (Dec. 13 – 8:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Texas A&M, Butler, at Mississippi State
Bad losses: None
SMU sits at 9-1 overall, after falling to Vanderbilt 88–69, and then beating Texas A&M in OT, 93-80. In the OT win vs. Texas A&M, Jaron Pierre Jr. had a monster night on 13-of-21 shooting, big free-throw work, and late clutch baskets, and carried SMU in the extra period.
5) Virginia Cavaliers
Last week’s ranking: 6 (+1)
Record: 8-1 (0-0)
Last week: W at Texas (88-69), W vs Dayton (86-73)
Next week: vs. Maryland Eastern Shore (Dec. 9 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Texas
Bad losses: None
Virginia picked up a win vs. the Texas Longhorns 88–69 on the road, making a strong statement in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The Cavaliers had impressive two-way play and were able to score efficiently while defending well. They take on Maryland Eastern Shore this week for an easier game before Maryland the following week.
6) California Golden Bears
Last week’s ranking: 9 (+3)
Record: 8-1 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Utah  (79-72), W vs. Pacific (67-61)
Next week: vs. Dominican Ca. (Dec. 9 – 10 p.m.), vs. Northwestern State (Dec. 13 – 5 p.m.)
Quality wins: UCLA, Utah
Bad losses: None
The Cal Golden Bears have been on a tear, and after taking down No. 18 UCLA, they have really proved to be the real deal in the ACC. Cal has one of the easier schedules heading into ACC basketball play, avoiding another ranked opponent until they get hit with Louisville to open up conference play.
7) Miami Hurricanes
Last week’s ranking: 7 (-)
Record: 8-2 (0-0)
Last week: W at Ole Miss (72-62), W vs. Southern Miss (88-64)
Next week: vs. UL Monroe (Dec. 13 – Noon)
Quality wins: at Ole Miss
Bad losses: None
Miami got a good win on the road at Ole Miss in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Malik Reneau continues to lead the Hurricanes, averaging 20.2 PPG. Miami has looked good with the eight wins and can keep this win streak up.
8) Virginia Tech Hokies
Last week’s ranking: 11 (+3)
Record: 8-2 (0-0)
Last week: W at South Carolina (86-83), W vs. George Mason (73-62)
Next week: vs. Western Carolina (Dec. 11 – 7 p.m.), vs. Maryland Eastern Shore (Dec. 14 – Noon)
Quality wins: at South Carolina, George Mason, Colorado State
Bad losses: VCU
With back-to-back wins for the Hokies, they sit at 8-2 in the ACC, where Jaden Schutt helped lead VT with 6 3-pointers over George Mason. Amari Hansberry scored 22 points, helping the Hokies lead past South Carolina in overtime the game before. VT has an easy schedule leading into ACC basketball play and should have three easier wins.
9) Syracuse Orange
Last week’s ranking: 14 (+5)
Record: 5-3 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. #13 Tennessee (62-60)
Next week: vs. St. Joes (Dec. 11 – 9 p.m.), vs. Hofstra (Dec. 13 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: Tennessee
Bad losses: None
Syracuse got a big win at home against Tennessee, and after a close contest with Houston in Las Vegas, the Orange proved they are they can compete with the best teams in the country. Now they have the chance to pick up some more wins at home before ACC basketball play.
10) NC State Wolfpack
Last week’s ranking: 8 (-2)
Record: 6-3 (0-0)
Last week: L at #20 Auburn (83-73), W vs. UNC Asheville (75-63)
Next week: vs. Liberty (Dec. 10 – 7 p.m.), vs. #19 Kansas (Dec. 13 – 5:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: VCU
Bad losses: None
NC State started the year off hot with some nice wins and even cracked the top 25. With some recent losses to Auburn and Texas and a loss to Seton Hall earlier in the season, the Wolfpack have some proving to do with Kansas coming up and the start of ACC basketball play.
11) Clemson Tigers
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-6)
Record: 8-2 (0-0)
Last week: L at #12 Alabama (90-84)
Next week: vs. #10 BYU (Dec. 9 – 6:30 p.m.), vs. Mercer (Dec. 12 – 3 p.m.)
Quality wins: West Virginia
Bad losses: None
Clemson stays strong in the ACC, but is still without a true leader as three players still average less than 10 points. With eight wins and a loss to Alabama, the Tigers now get ready to take on BYU and one of the hardest schedules in the ACC for non-conference play
12) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Last week’s ranking: 17 (+5)
Record: 7-3 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Missouri (76-71), W at TCU (87-85)
Next week: vs. Idaho (Dec. 10 – 7 p.m.), vs. Evansville (Dec. 13 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: Missouri
Bad losses: None
Notre Dame has had its ups and downs this season, with three losses, but those losses came to two ranked teams in Kansas and Houston. Recently, the Fighting Irish picked up two great wins against Missouri and TCU. With Markus Burton leading the charge, averaging 18.5 points, ND is in a spot where it could make a big jump soon.
13) Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Last week’s ranking: 13 (-)
Record: 7-3 (0-0)
Last week: L vs. Oklahoma (86-68), W vs. West Virginia (75-66)
Next week: vs. Queens (Dec. 14 – 5 p.m.)
Quality wins: West Virginia
Bad losses: None
Wake Forest has shown they can be a top team in the ACC with wins over Memphis and West Virginia. Unfortunately, they faced two top 15 teams to start the season, which got them off on the wrong foot and still have Vanderbilt left before ACC basketball play. Juke Harris led the Demon Deacons with seven three-pointers against West Virginia, posting 28 points, adding to the good offense Wake Forest has posted during the season.
14) Stanford Cardinal
Last week’s ranking: 10 (-4)
Record: 7-2 (0-0)
Last week: W vs. Portland (94-72), L vs. UNLV (75-74)
Next week: at San Jose State (Dec. 13 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: Saint Louis
Bad losses: Seattle U, UNLV
Stanford dropped yet another game to a poor team. Although they have seven wins and only two losses, the Cardinal do not have a good win under their belt and lost to a 3-5 UNLV team at home. Ebuka Okorie led Stanford with 18 points against the Rebels, but their stock has shot down with this loss.
15) Florida State Seminoles
Last week’s ranking: 12 (-3)
Record: 5-4 (0-0)
Last week: L vs. Georgia (107-73), L vs. # 8 Houston (82-67)
Next week: vs. UMass (Dec. 13 – Noon)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: None
Florida State is now on a three-game losing streak and has found its way toward the bottom of the ACC, losing to Georgia by 34 and has not found a spark. They have four very winnable games before taking on UNC to start ACC basketball play.
16) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Last week’s ranking: 16 (-)
Record: 6-4 (0-0)
Last week: L vs. Mississippi State (85-73), W vs. Monmouth (79-67)
Next week: None
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: DePaul
After a decent start with one loss coming to Georgia, GT finds themselves losing three straight and picking up a win after the losing streak. They are still without a true leader are must win the next three games before facing Duke.
17) Pittsburgh Panthers
Last week’s ranking: 15 (+2)
Record: 5-5 (0-0)
Last week: L vs. Texas A&M (81-73), L vs. Hofstra (80-73)
Next week: at Villanova (Dec. 13 – 4:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Ohio State
Bad losses: Quinnipiac, Hofstra
Pitt dropped two more games back-to-back and are now sitting at .500 and has seriously found themselves in a hole in the ACC. The loss to Hofstra may confuse college basketball fans because this is a team that found a way to beat Ohio State.
18) Boston College Eagles
Last week’s ranking: 18 (-)
Record: 5-5 (0-0)
Last week: L vs. LSU (78-69), W vs. New Haven (67-63)
Next week: vs. UMass (Dec. 10 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: CCSU, at FAU
Boston College still sits dead last in the ACC and cannot seem to find anything that works. They barely slipped by new Division 1 team, New Haven, and dropped another game to LSU. The Eagles will be stagnant in this conference and it will be hard to see them moving up or down in any way over the remainder of the season.