The Panthers picked up a big win against Syracuse this past week to move to 6-1 on the season and after not moving the past couple of weeks, finally gained a spot in this week's power rankings.
Moving them ahead of Florida State is somewhat controversial move, but as I've said throughout, this is more about how teams are playing at the moment. And with the Seminoles fresh off a loss to a Georgia Tech team that Pitt beat on the road, the Panthers should leap over them based on that logic.
For the moment I still have Pitt behind both Duke and North Carolina because they have looked more impressive to date as a whole. That played out again this week. Not only did the Panthers need a last-second field goal to beat Syracuse, but North Carolina beat Virginia by 13 (a team Pitt beat by only seven). And while Duke needed four overtimes to defeat Virginia Tech, the Hokies again have starter Michael Brewer under center - he wasn't there when Pitt beat them earlier in the season.
| Ranking | Previous | School | Record | Notes |
| 1 | 1 | Clemson | 7-0 | Crushed Miami, 58-0 |
| 2 | 3 | North Carolina |
6-1 | Beat Virginia, 26-13 |
| 3 | 4 | Duke |
6-1 | Beat Virginia Tech, 45-43 in four overtimes |
| 4 | 5 | Pitt | 6-1 |
Used last-second field goal to defeat Syracuse, 23-20 |
| 5 | 2 |
Florida State |
6-1 | Stunned by Georgia Tech on field goal return for touchdown in 22-16 loss |
| 6 | 7 |
North Carolina State |
5-2 | Led 28-0 in first quarter on way to 35-17 win over Wake Forest |
| 7 | 10 | Georgia Tech |
3-5 | Move up two spots after Florida State win |
| 8 | 8 | Louisville | 3-4 | 17-14 win over Boston College |
| 9 | 6 |
Miami |
4-3 | Fall several spots after ugly loss to Clemson |
| 10 | 9 | Virginia Tech |
3-5 |
Nearly beat one-loss Duke |
| 11 | 11 | Virginia |
2-5 | Lost to North Carolina |
| 12 | 12 | Syracuse |
3-4 | Lost to Pitt |
| 13 | 13 | Wake Forest |
3-5 | Lost to NC State |
| 14 | 14 | Boston College |
2-5 | Lost to Louisville |
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