ACC Power Rankings: Virginia Tech's Beamer leaves some big shoes to fill

On Sunday, Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer announced he would be retiring at the end of this season. The Hokies have been spoiled with Beamer at the helm, and the impact he has had on the school's football program will never be matched. Beamer probably isn't the first person to come to mind when you think of the best college coaches, but he has a resume that is hard to match.

When it comes to winning, very few people have been more consistent than Beamer. With a solid finish to this season, Beamer would have his 23rd consecutive winning season and an appearance in a 23rd straight bowl game. He's also won seven conference championships along the way. Beamer took Virginia Tech into the Big East, and then from the Big East into the ACC. At Murray State, Beamer coached four ranked teams and had only one losing season.

He's a Virginia man with a Virginia Tech degree, and Beamer also played three years at cornerback for the Hokies. Virginia Tech was the dream job, and after a while everyone knew he would retire with the school.

Beamer was a specialist in making the defense an offense. During his tenure with Virginia Tech a player from every position has scored a touchdown, and 35 players have scored on special teams. Someone will have to replace Beamer in 2016, but that person will not be able to fill the shoes that are being left behind.

ACC Atlantic Power Rankings

1. Clemson (last week: 1)

It was a good effort by the NC State offense, but Deshaun Watson wasn't having it. 383 yards and five touchdowns through the air was more than enough to get Clemson the win.

2. Florida State (last week: 2)
When you're trying to bounce back from your first loss, Syracuse is a good opponent to draw. The Seminoles beat the Orange by 24 without Dalvin Cook or Everett Golson.

3. Louisville (last week: 3)

The Cardinals have won four of their last five after a miserable start to the season. Louisville and Wake Forest combined for three points in the second half as the Cardinals won 20-19.

4. Syracuse (last week: 5)
Speaking of bad defenses, the Orange couldn't stop Florida State’s backups Saturday. The loss turned a lot of fans against head coach Scott Shafer, who made some poor decisions despite already being on thin ice.

5. NC State (last week: 4)
ACC play has not been kind to the Wolfpack, who have gone 1-3 in the conference after starting the season 4-0. It was a lack of defense that gave NC State the loss, Deshaun Watson and Wayne Gallman combined for over 500 yards on their own.

6. Wake Forest (last week: 6)
The Demon Deacons have now lost three games by one possesion, two of them against Florida State and Louisville. Wake Forest may be a better team than its record shows, but not very much better.

7. Boston College (last week: 7)
Two teams have yet to lose an ACC game this year, but Boston College is the only team that hasn't won one. You can only play so many non-conference games, and Boston College’s only one left is against Notre Dame.

ACC Coastal Power Rankings

1. North Carolina (last week: 2)

The Tar Heels have won seven in a row and are now the favorites to win the Coastal division. A statement win over Pittsburgh put North Carolina in the top 25 and the Tar Heels aren't looking back.

2. Pittsburgh (last week: 3)
Pitt knew the winner of its game against North Carolina would become the favorite to go to the ACC title game, but couldn't get the job done.

3. Duke (last week: 1)
Sometimes you get unlucky, and this week Duke's luck may have cost it its ACC Championship hopes. Miami's game-winning touchdown was impressive (though poorly officiated), but Duke did what it needed to do to win the game and still came up short.

4. Virginia Tech (last week: 5)
Can the return of Michael Brewer get this team back on track? The Hokies beat Boston College this week and very easily could have beaten Duke last week, so it's a possibility.

5. Miami (last week: 6)

Miami is undefeated since firing Al Golden. Okay, it's been one game, but what a way to start the Larry Scott era.

6. Virginia (last week: 7)
In Week 1 a victory over Georgia Tech would have been a quality win, but in Week 9, even after the Yellow Jackets' win over the Seminoles? Not so much.

7. Georgia Tech (last week: 4)
This is really starting to get repetitive. Georgia Tech lost. The Jackets just aren't as good as we thought. See you next week.