Behind Duke, ACC standings changing into chaotic

[ad_1] Practically midway via league play, No. 5 Duke is the premier squad within the Atlantic Coast Convention. However which faculty is No. 2 within the convention stays up within the air.

Issues will start to kind themselves out within the coming weeks, because the Blue Devils and different top-tier groups within the ACC go toe to toe forward of the league's postseason match in March.

Heading into motion this weekend, No. 14 Virginia gave the impression to be vying for the convention's No. 2 spot with No. 18 Clemson. Nonetheless, on Saturday at house, the Cavaliers coughed up a giant lead and finally fell to No. 22 North Carolina, 85-80.

The Tar Heels not too long ago dropped two straight, so knocking off UVA on the highway will assist catapult North Carolina again into the ACC title dialog, though it has work to do.

At this juncture within the 2025-26 season, Duke is undefeated in league contests, whereas Clemson has one blemish. There are six, possibly seven, different convention members that may make a run on the ACC's No. 2 place. Then once more, if the Blue Devils lose a recreation or two, the league race will grow to be even cloudier.

Many contenders for ACC's second spot On Monday night time, the Blue Devils will host No. 23 Louisville. Earlier in January, Duke knocked off the Cardinals by 11 factors on the highway. Louisville is taking part in higher of late, and the Cardinals will should be stellar to upset the Blue Devils in Durham, N.C.

Right here is how the battle for the ACC crown presently stacks up. Duke leads Clemson by half a recreation. Virginia, Miami and N.C. State are two video games again. Three contests again are Louisville, North Carolina and SMU.

Virginia Tech trails Duke by 3.5 video games. Groups past that doubtless haven't got a practical shot to contend for the ACC's prime tier, until they go on a large successful streak.

The ACC is stronger and deeper in 2025-26 than it has been in current campaigns. Nearly each recreation is hard, particularly on the highway. Ought to the Cardinals go 2-0 this week, that might be large. They play at Duke on Monday after which will host SMU on Saturday.

North Carolina, with that triumph in Charlottesville, could have positioned itself because the second-best ACC squad. After a blip out west in consecutive losses to Stanford and California, the Tar Heels have momentum.

Plus, apart from Duke, UNC is the one ACC workforce to have a report above .500 towards top-25 foes this season. That is a telling metric as convention play continues onward.