With every ACC team (except Miami) having played 3 games, I think it's an opportune time to rank their performance thus far. I don't like preseason rankings because they mean basically nothing, so I think starting now is the way to go.

1. Miami (2-0). I have to say, before the year I was almost expecting Miami to go at best 2-2 in their first three games. Well it's still a little early to tell, but after a gut-check win over Florida State to open the season and a drubbing of Georgia Tech last Thursday night, the 'Canes look to be for real. They face a tough Virginia Tech team this week in a battle of the ACC's two best (looking) teams.

2. Virginia Tech (2-1). Big win against Nebraska this week for the Hokies as they continue to rebound from their opening season loss to Alabama. They crushed Marshall, and Saturday's win over the Cornhuskers helps put them back into the national title picture. Their matchup this week with Miami should prove to be the ACC game of the week.

3. Florida State (2-1). Allow me to solve the Seminole Identity Crisis of 2009: this is a VERY good football team. Losing a heart-breaker to Miami (which could have very easily been an FSU win in the final seconds) to open the season isn't the way you'd like to start, but the 'Noles have bounced back with two big wins, including a slaughter of early-season darling BYU. South Florida should be a good tune-up for the rest of the season for Coach Bowden and his team.

4. North Carolina (3-0). Sure, the Tar Heels are undefeated. Sure, they beat an under-appreciated UConn team and ground out a win against an emotional ECU team. But a team that returned 16 starters from last year needs to play like it, and the Heels have looked vulnerable over the last two weeks. They need to put it all together this week if they want to win in Atlanta against Georgia Tech.

5. Georgia Tech (2-1). This is a gut-check week for the Yellow Jackets. After their embarrassing loss to Miami, if they can't beat a slightly overrated UNC team at home their chances for an ACC title are essentially over - and it's not even October yet. The defense and offense need to make some adjustments if they are going to keep pushing for a BCS berth.

6. Clemson (2-1). This team has some great playmakers on both sides of the ball. I've been really impressed with DE Ricky Sapp this year, and RB C.J. Spiller is the ACC's most exciting player. But freshman QB Kyle Parker needs to cut down on the turnovers if the Tigers are going to have a chance at the Atlantic division title. TCU is a very good team that could give Clemson trouble this week.

7. Wake Forest (2-1). This team lost a tough game to open the season against Baylor, but bounced back against Stanford and easily defeated FCS power Elon last week. QB Riley Skinner is a 5th-year senior who needs to keep playing well, and the defense needs to continue to step up if the Demon Deacons are going to make noise this year. Boston College is up next, and I like the Deacs' chances in that game.

8. NC State (2-1). NC State hasn't really shown me a whole lot on offense this year, though QB Russell Wilson did set the NCAA record for most completions without an INT last week in the destruction of FCS opponent Gardner-Webb. Their defense has been very good, only giving up 33 points in three games. We'll see if the Wolfpack can get their first win against an FBS opponent this week when Pittsburgh comes to Raleigh.

9. Boston College (2-1). Boston College finally showed me what I expected them to show me this esason - without a proven quantity at QB, this team will struggle. The Eagles turned the ball over WAY too much against Clemson if they want a shot at a bowl game this year. Their tilt against Wake Forest might not be the best ACC matchup of the week, but it's vitally important for both teams moving forward in the division race.

10. Dook (1-2). What can you say about the Blue Devils last week? Kansas is just a better football team, and they showed it as they absolutely destroyed one of the worse teams in the ACC. Dook has shown some flashes this year (especially beating Army two weeks ago), and we know that the QB situation will be in flux all year as Thad Lewis and Sean Renfree continue to split time. NC Central will come to Wallace Wade this week, and Dook should win...unless NCCU plays like Richmond.

11. Maryland (1-2). This team was definitely lack-luster last week against Middle Tennessee State. The bigger picture shows that this Terrapins team is 0-2 against MTSU over the last two years. Now either MTSU is a good football team...or the Terps simply are not. I'm inclined to go with the latter. Rutgers comes to College Park and they haven't been impressive either by any stretch this year, but the Scarlet Knights could embarrass Maryland at home and begin the end of Ralph Friedgen at UMD.

12. Virginia (0-3). William and Mary. TCU. Southern Miss. No BCS-conference teams in that triumvirate. Only two FBS teams in that group. The way UVA looked against all three of them, it doesn't look like I would include them in that FBS group either. The fact that Al Groh still has a job as head coach in Charlottesville baffles me. They have a bye week to prepare for UNC and their ACC opener, and if they lose in Chapel Hill next week, it wouldn't shock me to see Groh's head roll in the immediate aftermath.