Jack Nevins gives his ACC basketball power rankings heading into week 16 of the 2025-26 season.
Week 15 team of the week: Syracuse Orange
Week 15 game of the week: Syracuse defeats Cal 107-100 (2OT)
Week 15 player of the week: Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
Week 16 matchup of the week: #1 Michigan vs. #3 Duke (Feb. 21 – 6:30 p.m.)
Week 16 under-the-radar matchup of the week: #16 North Carolina at Syracuse (Feb. 21 – 1 p.m.)
1) Duke Blue Devils
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)
Record: 23-2 (12-1)
Last week: W at Pitt (70-54), W vs. #20 Clemson (67-54)
Next week: vs. Syracuse (Feb. 16 – 7 p.m.), vs. #1 Michigan (Feb. 21 – 6:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Michigan State, Kansas (Neutral), Florida, Arkansas, Louisville (2x), Clemson, SMU, Texas
Bad losses: None
Duke stays atop the ACC and is the powerhouse of the conference. This past week, they bounced back with wins over Pitt and Clemson. Cameron Boozer’s offensive efficiency gets the attention, but their team defense is what makes them a real National Championship contender. This week, they get a red-hot Syracuse team and the number one team in the nation, the Michigan Wolverines.
2) Virginia Cavaliers
Last week’s ranking: 3 (+1)
Record: 22-3 (10-2)
Last week: W at Florida State (61-58), W vs. Ohio State (70-66)
Next week: at Georgia Tech (Feb. 18 – 9 p.m.), vs. Miami (Feb. 21 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Louisville, at NC State, at SMU, at Texas, Virginia Tech
Bad losses: Butler
Virginia expanded their win streak to six, closing out on a fiery FSU team and got the job done against a bubble team in Ohio State. This is Ryan Odom’s masterpiece, and the Cavaliers are now 20th in KenPom. They have an easier path to the end of the season, but get stumped by #4 Duke in the middle of their triumph.
3) North Carolina Tar Heels
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-1)
Record: 20-5 (8-3)
Last week: L at Miami (75-66), W vs. Pitt (79-65)
Next week: at NC State (Feb. 17 – 7 p.m.), at Syracuse (Feb. 21 – 1 p.m.)
Quality wins: Duke, at Virginia, Kansas, at Kentucky, Ohio State
Bad losses:
After the big win against Duke, the Tar Heels traveled to Coral Gables and lost to Miami. They also lost star forward Caleb Wilson to a broken hand in the game. UNC has not given a clear timeline, but he is an exceptional player, and without him, they might not be a top-five team in the ACC. They get two tough games on the road at NC State, and will travel to Syracuse to play the Orange to end the week.
4) Louisville Cardinals
Last week’s ranking: 6 (+2)
Record: 19-6 (8-4)
Last week: W vs. NC State (118-77), W vs. Baylor (82-71)
Next week: SMU (Feb. 17 – 7 p.m.), vs. Georgia Tech (Feb. 21 – 2:15 p.m.)
Quality wins: Kentucky, Indiana, NC State, Virginia Tech, Baylor
Bad losses: None
Louisville was dominant in a 118-77 win over NC State, and Mikel Brown Jr. had 45 points, with Ryan Conwell adding 31. NC State is an offense-first team, but its defense really shed light on the Cardinals. The Cardinals then took on Baylor and got an 11-point non-conference win on Saturday. Brown scored 29, dominating once again. Louisville is now 14th in KenPom.
5) Clemson Tigers
Last week’s ranking: 4 (-1)
Record: 20-4 (10-1)
Last week: L vs. Virginia Tech (76-66), L at #4 Duke (67-54)
Next week: at Wake Forest (Feb. 18 – 7 p.m.), vs. Florida State (Feb. 21 – 12 p.m.)
Quality wins: Miami-Fla, SMU, Georgia, West Virginia
Bad losses: at Georgetown
Similar to NC State, the Tigers had a horrible week. Clemson gave a lifeless defensive effort in the first half against Virginia Tech and found themselves down by seven at halftime. The defense looked better in the second half, but hot 3-point shooting from VT and poor FT shooting made a comeback far from possible. Dillon Hunter continues to look sluggish, especially against Duke, only putting up four points.
6) Miami Hurricanes
Last week’s ranking: 8 (+2)
Record: 20-5 (9-3)
Last week: W vs. #11 North Carolina (75-66), W at NC State (77-76)
Next week: vs. Virginia Tech (Feb. 17 – 8 p.m.), at #14 Virginia (Feb. 21 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: North Carolina, at NC State
Bad losses: Florida State
This was a huge week for Miami. Their tournament chances were barely better than half before this week, but now they’re coming close to punching their ticket. After an exciting back-and-forth game against UNC went their way, it seemed like NC State would knock them off. The Pack held a seven-point lead with under a minute left, and Miami got an and-1, a put-back, and then got fouled on a 3-point shot, to knock off the Wolfpack.
7) NC State Wolfpack
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-2)
Record: 18-8 (9-4)
Last week: L at #24 Louisville (118-77), L vs. Miami (77-76)
Next week: vs. #16 North Carolina (Feb. 17 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Clemson, at SMU, VCU, Liberty, Virginia Tech
Bad losses: Georgia Tech
Did anyone have a worse week than NC State? After getting blown out by Louisville, they blew a lead in the final minute to Miami. The Wolfpack needs a bounce-back week, but follows the two-game losing streak with UNC and Virginia.
8) SMU Mustangs
Last week’s ranking: 7 (-1)
Record: 17-8 (6-6)
Last week: W vs. Notre Dame (89-81), L at Syracuse (79-78)
Next week: vs. #21 Louisville (Feb. 17 – 7 p.m.), vs. Boston College (Feb. 21 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: North Carolina, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech
Bad losses: LSU
SMU just cannot seem to get anything done, and dropped a tough game to Syracuse. Samet Yigitoglu fouled out, which played a role since he is such a good rim protector, rebounder, and true center. The loss makes their NCAA tournament hopes very questionable. Despite being 6-6, it is important to remember that the other losses have come to Duke (twice), Clemson, Louisville, and Virginia. As long as SMU doesn’t fall apart, a 5-1 finish to push them to 11-7 in conference play is possible, and their tournament hopes would then be fine.
9) Virginia Tech Hokies
Last week’s ranking: 9 (-)
Record: 17-9 (6-7)
Last week: W at #20 Clemson (76-66), L vs. Florida State (92-69)
Next week: at Miami (Feb. 17 – 8 p.m.), vs Wake Forest (Feb. 21 – 12 p.m.)
Quality wins: Virginia, George Mason, at Clemson
Bad losses: Wake Forest, Florida State
The win over Clemson helped the Hokies’ tournament life greatly. Yes, before anyone says anything, FSU beat VT. They should be ahead of them, but Virginia Tech knocked off a red-hot #20 Clemson team, their second ranked win of the season. FSU does not have the resume just yet.
10) Florida State Seminoles
Last week’s ranking: 12 (+2)
Record: 12-13 (5-7)
Last week: L vs. #15 Virginia (61-58), W at Virginia Tech (92-69)
Next week: vs. Boston College (Feb. 17 – 6 p.m.), at Clemson (Feb. 21 – 12 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Miami-Fla, Cal, Stanford
Bad losses: UMass, Wake Forest
FSU has won five of its last seven. They are the hottest team in ACC basketball right now, besides Duke, and the rest of their schedule is definitely winnable. They kept it within three of #15 Virginia, and blew out Virginia Tech by 23.
11) Syracuse Orange
Last week’s ranking: 13 (+2)
Record: 15-11 (6-7)
Last week: W vs. California (107-100), W vs. SMU (79-78)
Next week: at #3 Duke (Feb. 16 – 7 p.m.), vs. #16 North Carolina (Feb. 21– 1 p.m.)
Quality wins: Tennessee, SMU
Bad losses: Hofstra, Boston College
Syracuse defeated Cal in double overtime, hurting the Golden Bears’ tournament chances. Then, they held off SMU in a thriller coming down to the wire. The Orange led for a total of 1 minute and 30 seconds that whole game. Their chances of making it to March are low, but they have become the kryptonite in the ACC and could shock the world with Duke and UNC this week.
12) California Golden Bears
Last week’s ranking: 10 (-2)
Record: 18-8 (6-7)
Last week: L at Syracuse (107-100), W at Boston College (86-75)
Next week: vs. Stanford (Feb. 21 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: North Carolina, UCLA, at Miami-Fla
Bad losses: at Kansas State, at Florida State
Cal needed to sweep this Yankee road trip against Syracuse and Boston College. After being tied in the first half and second half, Cal lost at Syracuse in double-OT.
13) Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Last week’s ranking: 14 (+1)
Record: 13-12 (4-8)
Last week: W at Georgia Tech (83-67), W vs. Stanford (68-63)
Next week: vs. Clemson (Feb. 18 – 7 p.m.), at Virginia Tech (Feb. 21 – 12 p.m.)
Quality wins: Virginia Tech, West Virginia
Bad losses: Oklahoma, at Pitt
Wake Forest took down GT with ease, and Juke Harris went 12-13 from the FT line against Ebuka Okorie and Stanford, knocking them out of any at-large bid chance at March Madness.
14) Stanford Cardinal
Last week’s ranking: 11 (-3)
Record: 16-10 (5-8)
Last week: W at Boston College (70-64), L at Wake Forest (68-63)
Next week: at Cal (Feb. 21 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: North Carolina, Louisville, Saint Louis
Bad losses: Seattle U, UNLV, Notre Dame, at Florida State, at Wake Forest
Stanford needed to sweep Boston College and Wake Forest to have any chance at making the NCAA Tournament. They beat the Eagles but lost at Wake. The Cardinal have lost six of their last eight, with the only two wins coming to BC and Wake.
15) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Last week’s ranking: 15 (-)
Record: 12-14 (3-10)
Last week: L at SMU (89-81), W vs. Georgia Tech (89-74)
Next week: at Pitt (Feb. 21 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: TCU, Missouri
Bad losses: Purdue Fort-Wayne, Florida State
Notre Dame snapped their five-game losing streak with a 15-point win over Georgia Tech. They are miles better than the bottom three teams of this conference, but with the loss of their star, Markus Burton, in the heat of the season, that’s what will happen.
16) Boston College Eagles
Last week’s ranking: 17 (+1)
Record: 9-16 (2-10)
Last week: L vs. Stanford (70-64), L vs. Cal (86-75)
Next week: at Florida State (Feb. 17 – 6 p.m.), vs. SMU (Feb. 21 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: None
Bad losses: CCSU, at FAU, UMass, at Georgia Tech
Boston College welcomed both West Coast ACC basketball teams at home, losing to both. I do not see the Eagles winning another game besides maybe the Notre Dame game to close out the season.
17) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Last week’s ranking: 16 (-1)
Record: 11-15 (2-11)
Last week: L vs. Wake Forest (83-67), L at Notre Dame (89-74)
Next week: vs. #14 Virginia (Feb. 18 – 9 p.m.), at #21 Louisville (Feb. 21 – 2:15 p.m.)
Quality wins: at NC State
Bad losses: DePaul, Drake, Mississippi State, Pitt, Wake Forest, at Notre Dame
Georgia Tech has lost six straight and nine out of its last 10. They dropped games to both Wake Forest and Notre Dame.
18) Pittsburgh Panthers
Last week’s ranking: 18 (-)
Record: 9-17 (2-11)
Last week: L vs. #4 Duke (70-54), L at #11 North Carolina (79-65)
Next week: vs. Notre Dame (Feb. 21 – 2 p.m.), at Stanford (Feb. 25 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: Ohio State
Bad losses: Quinnipiac, Hofstra, at Boston College
This team’s season is officially over. They look lost. Pitt might not be a double-digit winning team and find the bottom of the ACC Basketball Power Rankings for the second week in a row.