ESPN Ranks ACC Basketball Teams Ahead of Final Weekend

Duke clinches regular season title as teams jockey for tournament seeding

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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With the ACC regular season nearing its end, ESPN has released its updated Basketball Power Index (BPI) rankings for the conference. Duke has clinched the outright regular season championship, while Virginia, Miami, and North Carolina have secured double-byes for the ACC Tournament. Other teams like Clemson, Louisville, and NC State are still fighting for tournament positioning in the final week.

Why it matters

The final week of the ACC regular season is crucial for teams looking to improve their seeding and positioning for the upcoming conference tournament and NCAA Tournament. The top four seeds in the ACC will earn double-byes, making the race for those spots important. Additionally, several teams on the NCAA Tournament bubble, like Miami and SMU, are looking to bolster their resumes with key wins in the final stretch.

The details

Duke leads the way in ESPN's BPI rankings, having already clinched the outright ACC regular season title. Virginia, Miami, and North Carolina have also secured double-byes for the ACC Tournament. Clemson, Louisville, and NC State are all still in contention for the final double-bye spot, with Clemson sitting just one game back of UNC. Other teams like Syracuse, Stanford, and California are fighting for their NCAA Tournament lives in the final week of the regular season.

  • The ACC regular season is nearing its conclusion, with teams having just one or two games remaining as of Wednesday.
  • Duke clinched the outright ACC regular season championship on Monday with a 93-64 win over NC State.
  • The final week of the regular season will be crucial for teams jockeying for tournament seeding, with the ACC Tournament set to begin next week.

The players

Duke

The top-ranked team in ESPN's BPI, Duke has clinched the outright ACC regular season championship with a 28-2 overall record and 16-1 mark in conference play.

Virginia

The Cavaliers have already secured the No. 2 seed and double-bye in the ACC Tournament, going 26-4 overall and 14-3 in league play.

Miami

The Hurricanes are currently the third seed in the ACC Tournament, sitting at 23-6 overall and 12-4 in conference play.

North Carolina

The Tar Heels have clinched the final double-bye in the ACC Tournament, going 24-6 overall and 12-5 in league play.

Clemson

The Tigers are one game back of UNC for the final double-bye, sitting at 21-9 overall and 11-6 in ACC play.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The final weekend of the ACC regular season will be crucial, with teams jockeying for tournament seeding and NCAA Tournament positioning. Duke will host North Carolina on Saturday, while other key matchups include Miami at SMU and Stanford at NC State.

The takeaway

The race for the top seeds in the ACC Tournament remains tight, with several teams still in contention for the coveted double-byes. The final week of the regular season will be crucial for teams looking to improve their tournament resumes and positioning ahead of the postseason.