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Week 7 ACC football rankings and reactions. While Florida State and Clemson opened up the offenses against two of the league’s better defenses, Pitt used its D and special teams to keep Georgia Tech skidding and remain unbeaten in league play.

Week 7 ACC Rankings

ACC Player of the Week

Florida State QB Everett Golson completed 26-of-38 passes for 372 yards and three scores in the win over Louisville.

1. Clemson: W, Boston College 34-17

If you can’t run on them, open things up. The Tigers became the first team in 2015 to score more than 14 points on Boston College. And since running on the Eagles is akin to banging one’s head against the wall, Clemson opened up the offense and attacked BC’s weakest defensive area, its secondary. QB Deshaun Watson made the most of his expanded role, throwing for 420 yards and three scores, and helping WR Artavis Scott to his first 100-yard game of the year.

2. Florida State: W, Louisville 41-21

Was this a turning point for the Seminoles? Florida State finally blew someone out, getting big plays from RB Dalvin Cook, QB Everett Golson and WR Kermit Whitfield to score five second-half touchdowns. FSU played its best overall game at the line of scrimmage, collecting five sacks and paving the way for 7.2 yards per play in an effort that could change this team’s direction going forward.

3. Boston College: L, at Clemson 34-17

Even with help from the pass rush, the Eagles couldn’t contain the Tiger passing game, particularly Deshaun Watson to Artavis Scott. Boston College cranked up its usual pressure, seven tackles for loss and three sacks. Yet, despite making a pair of interceptions, the Eagles lacked the speed and coverage skills to prevent Watson from delivering just the second 400-yard passing game of his career.

4. Pittsburgh: W, at Georgia Tech 31-28

It’s not always a thing of beauty, but the Panthers are learning how to win close games. And that’s a skill that only develops with plenty of practice and experience. For the third straight week, Pitt came out on top in a game decided by seven points or less. And two of those victories were on the road, in Blacksburg and in Atlanta, versus Coastal Division rivals.

5. Miami: W, Virginia Tech 30-20

After dropping back-to-back games to Cincinnati and Florida State, Miami had to have this game against the Hokies. Al Golden had to have this game to stop the bleeding. The defense gave up too many big plays, but that’s not unusual for this unit. At the end of the day, the Canes will go as far as QB Brad Kaaya can take them. And Kaaya went 19-of-30 for 296 yards, two touchdowns and no picks in an efficient all-around effort.

6. North Carolina: W, Wake Forest 50-14

While it’s not quite time to label the Tar Heels a serious Coastal Division contender, that time might be coming soon. Carolina has won five in a row since losing the opener to South Carolina. And four of those wins, including Saturday against Wake Forest, were by at least 27 points. Still, the Heels haven’t faced a quality team all year, so we won’t know their true identity until they face Pitt and Duke in a couple of weeks.

7. Louisville: L, at Florida State 41-21

Yeah, it came in a losing effort, as the Noles coasted in the second half, but rookie Lamar Jackson is beginning to operate like a true dual-threat quarterback. His athleticism is off the charts. But his passing is also improving, throwing for 307 yards and three scores in Tallahassee. And there’s a growing comfort level with WR James Quick, who caught all three of the touchdown passes.

8. Duke: Bye Week

Next week: at Virginia Tech

9. Virginia Tech: L, at Miami 30-20

Too many mistakes to win a conference road game. In a game they could have won—and needed to win—the Hokies committed eight penalties and three turnovers. And at this stage of the campaign, those are unacceptable figures for a team that’s inconsistent on offense and not generating enough big plays on D. Tech did regain the services of QB Michael Brewer, who threw a late TD pass, so there’s that to rally around over the final five games.

10. NC State: Bye Week

Next week: at Wake Forest

11. Georgia Tech: L, Pittsburgh 31-28

The Yellow Jackets finally ran the ball up to their usual expectations … yet still lost for the fifth week in a row. Tech churned out 376 yards and more than nine yards a carry, led by B-back Marcus Marshall. However, they also committed the game’s only two turnovers and no longer know how to win close games. Remarkably, the Jackets are unlikely to qualify for bowl eligibility the year after winning the Coastal Division.

12. Virginia: W, Syracuse 44-38

No matter what happens to Virginia and its coaching staff going forward, there’s no doubt that this program has heart and a lot of fight left in it. After losing their first four games with FBS opponents, the Cavaliers rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit and defeated the Orange in triple-overtime. The Hoos will lose more games in 2015 because of a general lack of talent, but not because they’ve quit on Mike London and his assistants.

13. Syracuse: L, at Virginia 44-38

The Orange defense has been exposed over the last three games as a try-hard bunch that lacks the talent to play with consistency. Syracuse played tough through three quarters, and then imploded in the fourth quarter and overtime. Rookie Eric Dungey did bring some zip to the offensive attack and looks to be the quarterback that the Orange will attempt to build around over the next three seasons.

14. Wake Forest: L, at North Carolina 50-14

If the defense begins to run on fumes, the Demon Deacons are in a heap of trouble in the second half of the year. While the offense is feeble, the program could always count on the play of a scrappy D. In Chapel Hill Saturday night, though, the Deacs were gashed for more than 500 yards and seven touchdowns, and it allowed far too many long plays to the Tar Heels.